Roasting cauliflower in the air fryer is such a time-saver! With a simple blend of pantry staple seasonings, this flavorful air fryer cauliflower recipe crisps up perfectly and meshes with a variety of cuisines.
Lately if I buy a head of cauliflower, I have a hard time making something other than this air fryer cauliflower recipe. Achieving the ultimate recipe trifecta of being quick and easy, delicious, and healthy for you, it's no wonder I keep it on repeat.
Much like with an air fryer baked potato, the big benefit here is the time savings. The texture will be similar to that of traditionally roasted cauliflower, with golden-brown crispness and little pockets of extra toastiness.
Reasons to Love This Recipe
- Less than 15 minutes of cook time are all you need to go from raw to perfectly crisped and browned florets, thanks to the speed of the air fryer.
- Using the air fryer to "roast" something that traditionally would go in the oven frees up room in there for another part of the meal.
- This seasoning blend is packed with flavor, but can easily be adjusted to use what you have on hand or with what fits in with your meal's cuisine.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cauliflower: One medium-to-large head of cauliflower is used here, though there's some wiggle room. This'll be somewhere around 4 cups of florets, give or take.
- Olive oil: Oil provides a welcome richness (over olive oil spray) to something ultra healthy like cauliflower. You can also use your favorite neutral-flavored cooking oil, such as avocado, grape seed, or canola oil.
- Paprika: Regular paprika works, or you can replace a portion of it with smoked paprika for an extra deep and smoky flavor.
- Curry powder: This really ties all of these seasonings together in a warm, spiced way. A standard-variety curry powder found in American grocery stores is delicious here, as is a zippier Jamaican-style curry powder.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Peel back and remove the cauliflower leaves, then slice away the floret sections from the core. Further slice the florets into smaller, relatively equal-sized pieces. Rinse the florets well, pat dry, then add them to a bowl.
- Drizzle the olive oil over top and toss to combine. Add the seasonings and toss again until evenly coated.
- Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray (important so the cauliflower doesn't stick) and add the cauliflower florets in a single layer. Leave a little room between them so the air can circulate all around them.
- Air fry at 375°F (191°C) for 11-12 minutes, stopping once halfway through to toss the florets, or until they've crisped up to your liking.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Quick Prep: Buy fresh or frozen pre-sliced cauliflower florets. If using frozen cauliflower, you do not need to thaw. Just add a little extra air fry time, if needed, until they're cooked through and crisp.
- Reduce Waste: Both the cauliflower stem and leaves are edible. You may wish to peel the stem (it can be tough) before using in soups, sautes, or purees. The leaves can also be rinsed and sauteed or roasted.
- Reheating: Place leftover air fryer cauliflower back in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes at 350°F (177°C) to reheat it back to its crisped up state.
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Air Fryer Cauliflower
Roasting cauliflower in the air fryer is such a time-saver! With a simple blend of pantry staple seasonings, this flavorful air fryer cauliflower recipe crisps up perfectly and meshes with a variety of cuisines. Switch up the seasonings as you like.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 130kcal
Ingredients
- 1 medium/large cauliflower (roughly 4 cups of florets)
- 2 ½ Tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon curry powder
Instructions
- Peel back and remove the leaves from the cauliflower, then cut the floret sections away from the core stem. Slice these sections into smaller florets of roughly similar sizes (about one-inch across) so they cook in the same amount of time. Rinse florets and pat dry.
- Add cauliflower florets to a bowl and toss with olive oil.
- Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and curry powder to a small bowl and stir to combine. Scatter spices over the cauliflower and toss to combine until evenly coated.
- Spray the air fryer basket generously with cooking spray (or grease in your preferred manner), then pour the cauliflower onto it in a single layer, arranging the florets as needed so there's a tiny bit of space between each one. If your air fryer basket is on the smaller side you may need to cook in several batches.
- Place the basket in the air fryer and air fry at 375°F (191°C) for 6 minutes, then carefully flip the florets over and air fry for 5-6 more minutes, or until the cauliflower has crisped and cooked to your liking.
Notes
Ingredient Notes
Cauliflower: Using fresh or frozen pre-sliced florets eliminates much of the prep work. If using frozen, do not thaw. Just increase the cook time, if needed.
Oil: Another neutral-flavored cooking oil can be used, such as avocado, grape seed, or canola.
Paprika: For an extra smoky twist, replace a portion (half or so) of the regular paprika with smoked paprika.
Curry powder: The standard variety of curry powder works great, as does the zippier Jamaican-style curry powder.
Recipe Tips
- Cook Time: The cook time can vary depending on the air fryer model, so adjust as needed so this air fryer cauliflower becomes golden-brown and roasted to your liking.
- Reduce Waste: The stem and the leaves of cauliflower are edible, though you may want to peel the stem a bit as that part can be tough. The stem can be used in soups, sautes, or purees, while the leaves can be sauteed or roasted.
- Reheat Instructions: Add cauliflower back to the basket of the air fryer, then air fry at 350°F (177°C) for 4-5 minutes, or until warmed and crisp again.
Nutrition
Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 11.6g | Protein: 4.3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1.3g | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 644mg | Fiber: 5.3g | Sugar: 5.2g | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 1mg
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Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
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