Air Fried Cauliflower

Name: Air Fried Cauliflower
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 large head cauliflower; 1 to 2 Tablespoons olive oil; 1 Tablespoon paprika; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder

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Air Fryer Cauliflower is nutty and flavorful, and it's the perfect low-carb, diet-friendly side dish. Crispy cauliflower florets are seasoned and roasted to perfection in less than 20 minutes for an easy side dish and healthy addition to your favorite meal.

Two bowl of fresh made air fryer cauliflower.

Cauliflower has come into its own in the food scene over the last few years. This versatile cruciferous vegetable is flavorful, can be seasoned in countless ways and can be eaten on almost any diet plan.

Roasting cauliflower gives it an incredible nutty flavor and making air-fried cauliflower is so simple. The cauliflower cooks to a perfect golden brown with crispy, slightly caramelized edges. And it's ready in just a few minutes of cooking time. You will love this simple recipe!

Air fried cauliflower is perfect as a side dish for your favorite meals, or serve it as a healthy snack that's naturally low carb and gluten free. The air fryer uses very little oil in comparision to deep frying. It is a great way to keep the calories low, clean up is a breeze.

This cauliflower has no breading so it's naturally low carb and keto friendly. But air fryer cooking will still produce a crispy outside so you get a super delicious cauliflower recipe.

Ingredients

Cauliflower - Choose a large head of cauliflower that doesn't have any brown or discolored spots.
Olive Oil – Or use your favorite light, neutral flavored oil.
Seasoning – Use a combination of paprika, salt, black pepper and garlic powder.

See recipe card below for exact quantities and instructions.

Instructions

Combine the paprika, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a small bowl.

2. In a large bowl, drizzle the cauliflower florets with oil and toss until well coated.

3. Sprinkle the cauliflower with the seasoning blend and toss again to coat.

4. Place the seasoned cauliflower into the air fryer basket preferably in a single layer. Cook at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Toss the cauliflower and cook an additional 8-10 minutes.

Hint: It’s very important that you pause and toss the cauliflower halfway through the cooking process so the vegetables cook evenly.

Variations and Substitutions

Air Fried Cauliflower is ideal for various diets including vegan, vegetarian, keto, low carb, Paleo, Whole30 and gluten free! It's such a versatile food and these simple changes or additions can make it the perfect side dish.

Low Sodium Diet - You can halve or eliminate the salt in the seasoning blend for a low sodium diet.
Change the Seasoning - You can really use any seasoning you desire in this recipe. Some great options are Italian seasoning, onion powder or lemon pepper to the fresh cauliflower florets.
Chili Lime - Add red chili powder or cayenne pepper to the seasoning blend and some freshly squeezed lime juice.
Garlic Parmesan – Add fresh garlic to the seasoning blend and sprinkle the cauliflower with grated parmesan cheese halfway through cooking.
Buffalo Sauce – Toss the air fryer cauliflower bites with buffalo hot sauce and serve with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks. It is like the vegetarian spin on chicken wings and a perfect appetizer for game day.
Kid-friendly - Serve with your kids' favorite dipping sauce.
Extra Crunch - For an extra crunch toss the cauliflower with panko breadcrumbs and the seasonings after it has been drizzled with oil.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftover air fried cauliflower can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat it in the air fryer for a few minutes until warm.

Roasted cauliflower can be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge, then reheat in the air fryer. The cauliflower will not be as crunchy as it was when first prepared.

Top Tips

Feel free to add more seasoning to the cauliflower or none at all. This is just a great starting point if you are new to air frying veggies.
This recipe should work in just about any air fryer size, unless it’s a really small one. 3 quarts or larger is perfect for this recipe, but if it’s smaller, just cut the recipe in half or only cook half at a time.
Toss the cauliflower well when adding the oil and seasoning blend so each piece gets evenly coated. This will give your air fryer roasted cauliflower lots of flavor and a beautiful golden brown color.
Cut the cauliflower into similar-sized pieces so it cooks evenly.
Add a bit of lemon juice for a bright flavor.
Serve with a tasty dipping sauce like Homemade Tzatziki Sauce, Bang Bang Sauce or seasoned sour cream.

Serving Suggestions

Make this as a size dish next to one of these entrees:

Roaster Slow Cooker Chicken
Messy Meatloaf
Pan Roasted Swordfish with Cherry Tomatoes and Capers
One Pan Mushroom Swiss Burgers
Lemon Pepper Wings from Budget Delicious

FAQ

Can I use pre-cut cauliflower?

Pre-cut cauliflower works just as well as fresh cauliflower, saving you some time. Just make sure it is fresh cauliflower. Frozen cauliflower has a little different approach for the air fryer.

Can I use frozen cauliflower?

You can use frozen cauliflower for this recipe, but it must be completely thawed. I also recommend that you drain it thoroughly and remove any excess moisture with paper towels before seasoning and adding it to the air fryer. Too much moisture will give you mushy cauliflower.

Can I make this without oil?

You can make this without oil however, your texture will not be quite the same and the cauliflower will not get that signature golden color of roasted cauliflower. If not using oil, we recommend seasoning the cauliflower right before serving.

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