Our favorite versatile vegetable is at it again. As expected, cauliflower performs like a champ in the air fryer – soft, tender insides and crisp, charred outsides. Air Fryer Cauliflower gives you oven-roasted results in a quarter of the time. Scroll down for lots of seasoning ideas and serving suggestions!
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I certainly hadn’t intended to eat several heads of cauliflower by myself as I was testing this recipe. I mean, okay, I knew it was a possibility given my slight obsession with cauliflower recipes in general. But also? These crispy little bites were so good. It was just too easy to pretend I work in the Lay’s potato chip test kitchen when “Do Us a Flavor” time rolls around.
Anyway, I had intended to just test times and temps and stick with the tried and true “triad” (olive oil, salt, and pepper), but it began to feel like a missed opportunity.
So, in addition to knowing every way to cook cauliflower, you now have the benefit of knowing pretty much every way to season air fried cauliflower because, well, I tried them all (skip down to the “Cauliflower Seasoning Options” section for the good stuff!). You’re welcome.
Watch The Recipe Video!
Why Use the Air Fryer
- One: we will always hold oven roasted cauliflower as the OG, the gold standard, the Cadillac of cooked cauliflower recipes. But it’s not a quick recipe. Air Fryer cauliflower takes way less time than roasting in the oven. Like, less than half the time if you’re cooking a small-ish batch.
- Two: if you have picky kids (ahem) and adventurous adults (double ahem), it’s pretty straightforward to cook one plain batch, and then one seasoned batch.
- Three: the air fryer uses less oil than oven roasted cauliflower (1-2 tbsp vs ¼ cup).
- Four: you don’t need to turn on the oven in the summer months. Bless the air fryer for this benefit alone!
Ingredients
- Head of Cauliflower: cut down into florets. Learn how to cut cauliflower using our easy, mess-free method.
- Oil: we use olive oil, but feel free to use avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil.
- Salt and Pepper: kosher salt and ground black pepper are our go-to seasonings for simple, air fried cauliflower.
- Fresh Herbs: garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or or basil
Cauliflower Seasoning Options
Go beyond the basics with one of the following combinations. Add dried herbs and seasonings along with salt and pepper prior to cooking cauliflower in the air fryer; garnish with fresh herbs and citrus just before serving.
- Italian: 1 tsp Italian seasoning and ½ tsp garlic powder
- Mexican: 1 tsp each red pepper flakes and cumin; drizzle with fresh lime juice just before serving.
- Shawarma: use the cauliflower shawarma seasoning from this post; drizzle with fresh lemon juice just before serving.
- Classic Barbecue: 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ oregano; and yes, dunking into your favorite BBQ sauce is an excellent idea!
- Greek: ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp oregano; garnish after cooking with 1 tbsp fresh mint, 1 tbsp fresh parsley, and 1 tsp lemon zest
How to Air Fry Cauliflower
Super simple sides just got shockingly simpler. Air Fryer Cauliflower is fast, easy, and oh-so satisfying. Fresh or frozen, these nutty, crispy cauliflower florets are never greasy or soggy and cook to tender perfection in practically no time at all. Toss with olive oil, season, and “fry” away – just don’t forget to stir ’em up often.
For an interactive visual, click here to view the web story for this recipe!
- Toss the cauliflower with oil and seasonings.
- Spread into an even, single layer in air fryer basket.
- Cook at 390°F for 12 minutes, tossing every 4 minutes.
- Garnish as desired and serve immediately.
Chef’s Tips
- Preheat your Air Fryer if necessary (check manufacturer instructions).
- Shake at least once halfway through cooking, more if your basket is on the fuller side.
- Don’t overfill the basket. For BEST results, arrange the cauliflower in a single layer for air frying. If you have just a bit more, go ahead and toss it in there, but a single layer will produce the crispiest cauliflower that’s evenly cooked.
- Slice into smaller, 1″-1.5″ florets for maximum crispiness. See our post on How to Cut Cauliflower for the easiest, mess free way to do it!
PRO TIP: If you have to cook in batches, place the air fried cauliflower on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven to keep warm. When you’re done, combine both batches in the air fryer basket and cook for 1-2 minutes at 370°F.
Oiling Vegetables for the Air Fryer
Coat the cauliflower with oil and seasonings in a separate bowl. I recommend this method for all roasted vegetables, whether cooked in the oven or the air fryer.
For one, it’s the best way to ensure that every nook and cranny is well coated with oil and evenly seasoned.
For two, it’s the best way to keep your air fryer in great shape for years to come. That’s because air fryers and aerosol cooking sprays are like oil and water. You should never spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray. I do recommend investing in an olive oil mister, as certain foods cook best if misted or brushed with oil halfway through.
Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower?
You sure can! Toss frozen cauliflower florets in olive oil (or spread onto a baking sheet and spray with oil), season, and air fry as directed. Add 1-2 minutes to the cook time and be sure to stir frequently.
How to Serve Air Fryer Cauliflower
- On its own as a side side dish with a dipping sauce. Try Romesco Sauce for an extra kick of protein (and flavor!), Green Tahini for lots of healthy fats, or a drizzle of pesto to change things up.
- Drizzle with buffalo sauce for super clean and keto cauliflower buffalo bites.
- Fold into pasta with a creamy pasta sauce or mild pestos.
- Air fryer cauliflower makes a great base for cauliflower soup.
- Season with cumin and turmeric and sub for the roasted cauliflower in our cauliflower salad.
More Air Fryer Side Dishes
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Zucchini
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Potatoes
- Air Fryer Apples
Did you make this Air Fryer Cauliflower? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Cauliflower
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin RecipeRecommended Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 small head cauliflower, divided into florets (about 4 cups)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh herbs
Instructions
- Toss cauliflower florets with the olive oil, salt, and pepper (and other seasonings as desired, see notes) in a large bowl until well combined.
- Spread into an even layer in the basket of the air fryer. Do not fill the basket more than halfway full, but for best results, aim for a single layer.
- Program to 390°F for 12 minutes. Remove the basket and toss at least once halfway through, but preferably every 4 minutes. (You can also program in 4-6 minute increments as a more firm reminder to toss). If the cauliflower isn’t cooked through, program an additional 2-3 minutes (smaller florets will cook more quickly).
- Sprinkle with fresh herbs (we like basil and/or parsley) and serve immediately.
Notes
- For larger batches, scale up oil and seasonings as necessary. The cauliflower should very lightly coated with oil and well seasoned with herbs and spices.
- Keep previously cooked batches warm in a 200°F oven before combining and serving.
- Italian: 1 tsp Italian seasoning and ½ tsp garlic powder
- Mexican: 1 tsp each red pepper flakes and cumin; drizzle with fresh lime juice just before serving.
- Shawarma: use the cauliflower shawarma seasoning combo from this post; drizzle with fresh lemon juice just before serving.
- Classic Barbecue: 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ oregano; and yes, dunking into your favorite BBQ sauce is an excellent idea!
- Greek: ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp oregano; garnish after cooking with 1 tbsp fresh mint, 1 tbsp fresh parsley, and 1 tsp lemon zest
[…] as I discovered when I went wild on air fryer cauliflower, there is truly something to be said for “bespoke” small-batch vegetables. This sounds […]