Easy Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe

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This Air Fryer cauliflower recipe is the perfect side dish for your summer BBQ parties and cookouts, or just for a simple dinner you’re hosting.

It is vegan, gluten free and incredibly easy to put together. The roasted cauliflower has the perfect savory flavors that make it so addictive.

This recipe is perfect to try out when you have some leftover cauliflower that you want to put to use, or just want to get some roasted vegetables on your plate.

What I Love About the Recipe

Apart from the fact that these Air Fryer cauliflower florets taste absolutely delicious, their simplicity is what I love the most.

You literally need a head of cauliflower and a seasoning blend or spices of your choice to put the perfectly roasted cauliflower together- it is sure to become one of your favorite recipes .

This is the perfect healthy side dish you could make and serve for the entire family, and I’m sure everyone will love it, just like everyone in my family did! If you want to roast a whole cauliflower in one go then check out this fantastic roasted whole cauliflower recipe from Healing Tomato.

Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe Cooking Times

• Prep Time: 2 Minutes
• Cook Time: 18-20 Mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients For the Air Fried Cauliflower Recipe

You’ll need just 5 simple ingredients to make this crispy Air Fryer cauliflower.

• 2 Cauliflower Heads
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Salt

How to Make the Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe

Got all your ingredients ready? Here’s what you’ll need to do to make the crispy cauliflower in the Air Fryer.

Step 1: Prepare Cauliflower Florets

Snip the cauliflower heads down to bite-sized florets using kitchen scissors or a knife. Place them in a large bowl.

Step 2: Toss in Spices

Drizzle the florets with the oil and cover with the spices. Toss the cauliflower around in the bowl to ensure the cauliflower florets are evenly coated.

Step 3: Air Fry Cauliflower

Place seasoned cauliflower in the preheated air fryer basket evenly. Cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Toss, preheat the air fryer basket halfway, and cook for another 8-10 minutes.

Step 4: Cool and Serve

Let them cool and serve immediately.

Tips & Tricks to Make the Air Fried Cauliflower

Before you jump right into the recipe, here are some tips and tricks to help you nail the recipe.

• I’ve used olive oil to grease the cauliflower florets a bit and help the seasoning blend stick to the cauliflower. You could also consider using avocado oil if you don’t want to use olive oil.
• If you don’t have fresh cauliflower, you could also use frozen cauliflower florets. Just remember that the cooking time for the florets will be slightly higher.
• Make sure you arrange all the seasoned cauliflower florets in a single layer in your Air Fryer basket. This will help all the florets get golden brown and nice, and get those perfect crispy edges you’re looking for.
• If you have any leftover Air Fryer cauliflower, you can refrigerate them and store them for later too. Just remember to use an airtight container to store them to keep them fresh.

What Other Seasonings Can I Use?

I’ve used a simple seasoning mix of paprika, salt and pepper, but you could also try out any other seasonings of your choice.

Smoked paprika can be a great option if you really want that extra punch of flavor. You can also choose to season the cauliflower florets in onion powder, chili powder, curry powder and garlic powder.

Using chili powder and garlic powder to season the florets will give you a nice Indian Air Fryer cauliflower.

To lend the Air Fryer cauliflower some extra tangy flavor, you can also choose to squeeze some fresh lemon juice on the top, right before you serve.

Can I Make this Without an Air Fryer?

You sure can! Just remember that air frying is what helps the roasted cauliflower get nice and crispy. However, you can still use the oven and bake the cauliflower if you don’t want to use your Air Fryer.

To make the cauliflower crispy, you can choose to coat the florets in bread crumbs or almond flour.

When I do decide to make breaded cauliflower florets, I usually use panko breadcrumbs and always grease my baking sheet with some cooking spray or olive oil, just to be safe.

How Do I Serve the Air Fried Cauliflower?

This healthy vegetable side dish can be enjoyed on its own, or can be teamed up with any tasty dipping sauce of your choice.

I love teaming it up with some Ranch, mustard or just some plain old ketchup. You can also serve Air Fryer cauliflower with a squeeze of lime juice if you want a bit of a tangy flavor.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Loved this roasted cauliflower recipe? Inspired to try some more fun and interesting Air Fryer recipes? Here are a few handpicked ones you might want to check out.

• Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
• Easy Air Fryer Broccolini
• Korean Beef Air Fryer Recipe
• Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings