Turn this simple veggie into an epic side that’s also good for you! With the following tips, you’ll learn how to roast this nutritious veggie to perfection.
What Does Roasted Cauliflower Taste Like
Plain cauliflower has a mild, slightly nutty taste, but when you roast it, its natural sweetness shows up and it gets a toasty flavor. But the best part is that cauliflower takes all the flavors of the seasonings and spices you add!
In this recipe, I simply add olive oil and my favorite seasoning for roasted veggies to transform plain cauliflower into a delicious vegetable side dish. Boring, tasteless cauliflower? Never again!
Is Roasted Cauliflower Good for You?
Cauliflower, whether roasted, steamed, or sauteé, has a lot of health benefits, since it’s a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, B vitamins, potassium, and fiber. Plus, plain cauliflower is low in calories and carbs.
Ingredients
With simple ingredients you can turn plain cauliflower into a flavorful veggie that makes a great side or a healthy snack for dipping!
Check what you need:
- Cauliflower: a head cut into florets or use pre-chopped florets.
- Olive oil: coats the cauliflower with the seasonings and turns it golden brown.
- Salt: just a little to enhance the flavors.
- Roasted vegetable seasoning: the key ingredient to make roasted cauliflower taste amazing!
- Parsley: optional for garnish.
You’ll find the measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Cut Cauliflower into Florets for Roasting
Top tip: use a sharp knife to make it easier and prevent injuries. Now, with the sharp knife, cut the outer leaves and slice the end. Slice cauliflower in half and then again in quarters.
Finally, slice off the core and separate the large pieces of cauliflower into florets using your hand or a knife. Cut them into even-sized pieces so they cook evenly in the oven. In this post you can check all the details to cut cauliflower like a pro.
Should You Soak Cauliflower Before Roasting?
If you soak the cauliflower before roasting, it will absorb moisture, and when baked in the oven, it will release steam; this, my friend, yields an undesirable mushy texture.
Cauliflower florets are usually pre-washed. However, if you purchased a head of cauliflower, you’ll want to rinse off the cauliflower head so it’s free of dirt, bugs, or debris. This only requires you to rinse it under running water, not soak it, and then pat dry well with a kitchen towel. Once clean, you can slice it into florets, add the seasonings, and roast it to perfection!
How to Roast Cauliflower
Once you see how easy roasted cauliflower is to make -and how scrumptious it tastes- you’ll soon be making this recipe every week!
The simple steps to roast cauliflower are:
- Prep the oven
Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking pan with parchment paper. - Prep the cauliflower
Wash and trim the cauliflower so the florets are similar in size. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. - Season
Combine the olive oil, salt, and roasted vegetable seasoning in a large bowl. Add the cauliflower florets and toss to coat the veggies with the seasoning. - Bake
Spread the cauliflower onto the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes or until the florets are tender and the edges golden brown. - Enjoy!
Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley (optional), and serve.
How Long to Roast Cauliflower
The best way to get tasty caramelized cauliflower, tender on the center and crispy on the outside, is to roast it at high temperature: between 400F to 425F for 15 to 30 minutes. While it will be tender before the cooking time is up, you’ll want to wait until it gets delicious golden.
Roasting time may vary depending on the size of your cauliflower pieces. In this recipe, roasting cauliflower florets for 25 minutes at 400F is perfect, but if you’re baking smaller bite-size pieces for recipes like cauliflower tacos, cooking time should be shorter or temperature lower.
Below are the approximate cooking times for a single sheet pan of cauliflower florets, placed in the middle rack of a preheated oven.
| Temperature | Roast Time |
|---|---|
| 375F | 30-35 min |
| 400F | 25 min |
| 425F | 18-20 min |
How to Know When Roasted Cauliflower is Done
You know roasted cauliflower is done once it’s golden on the outside and tender in the center when poking with a fork.
Spices and Flavorings for Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower absorbs all the flavors of the spices and seasonings you add, so you can enjoy different flavorings every time! Here’s a list of tasty combinations that will make you drool:
- Curry
½ tablespoon curry powder + ½ teaspoon garlic powder + ½ teaspoon salt + 1 tablespoon olive oil. - Buffalo
¼ teaspoon salt + 3 tablespoons Buffalo sauce + 1 tablespoon melted butter + 1 tablespoon lemon juice + 2 tablespoons olive oil. - Parmesan & Herb
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning + ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese + ½ teaspoon salt + 1 tablespoon olive oil. - Southwest
1 teaspoon chili powder + 1 teaspoon ground cumin + ½ teaspoon smoked paprika + ½ teaspoon salt + 1 tablespoon olive oil. - Spicy
1 tablespoon Sriracha + 1 tablespoon honey + 1 tablespoon soy sauce + pinch of red pepper flakes + 1 tablespoon olive oil.
What Else Can You Roast with Cauliflower
There are many vegetables you can easily roast with cauliflower florets by setting the right oven temperature and cooking time. Color makes any side dish more inviting, so adding more veggies in the same baking pan is a terrific way to kick up nutrition and flavor effortlessly!
When roasting veggies, cut them into pieces so they’ll cook more or less evenly. If you set the oven to 400F and cook cauliflower for about 25 minutes, these are other veggies you can cook at the same time, in the same baking sheet:
- Butternut Squash
- Acorn Squash
- Zucchini
- Onion
- Cherry tomatoes
- Corn (husked)
- Green beans
- Cabbage (½-inch thick slabs)
Of course, you can always roast extra florets and turn them into a delicious roasted cauliflower soup recipe!
Roasting Tips for Perfect Cauliflower
Want to roast perfect cauliflower every time? Check out these tips:
Space the florets
The #1 hack to avoid soggy cauliflower is to distribute it evenly on the baking sheet. If you crowd the pan with too many florets, they will create steam and turn out mushy.
Rack placement
I recommend placing your oven rack in the middle position of the oven so the heat can be distributed evenly. The top of the oven tends to be slightly hotter, even in convection, and it tends to cook veggies faster.
Bake at high temperature
To get perfect roasted cauliflower florets, tender on the center, and crispy on the outside, you need to cook them at high temperature, between 400-425F. Make sure the oven has reached that temperature before placing the baking sheet.
Cut florets even in size
When roasting veggies, cut them even in size. This way, they’ll cook evenly.
Coat and season cauliflower florets
Seasoning the cauliflower pieces takes no time, but just make sure that the oil and the spices are evenly coating everything so you can enjoy delicious flavors in every bite.
Roasted Cauliflower (Beginner Friendly!)
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons roasted vegetable seasoning, or your favorite seasoning
- Fresh chopped parsley, optional for garnish
Instructions
Prep oven:
- Position the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Get the cauliflower ready:
- Wash and trim the cauliflower so the florets are similar in size. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- Combine the olive oil, salt, and roasted vegetable seasoning in a large bowl. Add the cauliflower florets and toss to coat the veggies with the seasoning.
- Spread the seasoned cauliflower florets on the prepared baking sheet.
Roast:
- Bake for 25 minutes or until the florets are tender and the edges golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley (optional), and serve.
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