Roasted Cauliflower

Golden brown and tender with just the right amount of crunch, this roasted cauliflower recipe is a healthy side dish that is easy enough for a weeknight. We also included multiple different flavor options, so you can make it unique each time!

Why This Is the Best Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

This roasted cauliflower is crispy, tender, flavorful and goes with just about any meal. Here’s why it’s such a great recipe.

• Easy to Make: Recipes don’t get much easier than this one. You only need 4 ingredients to make these tender bites of cauliflower. The recipe only takes half an hour and the oven does all the hard work! It’s a great side dish for when you don’t have a lot of hands on time.
• Goes with Everything: Cauliflower is such a versatile vegetable, so this crispy side dish goes with almost any meal. You can serve this oven roasted cauliflower with all of your favorite entrees. 
• Healthy: Cauliflower is rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin K, folate, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, and is packed with fiber. The only ingredients in this recipe are cauliflower, seasonings, and olive oil. It’s an incredibly healthy side dish that will make any meal not just tastier, but better for you.
• So Many Different Flavors: This recipe shows you how to make the best basic roasted cauliflower, but we also included multiple flavor options with different seasonings and sauces. Buffalo cauliflower, ranch cauliflower, lemon pepper cauliflower and more…there are so many tasty options!

Ingredients Needed

You only need 4 ingredients to make this roasted cauliflower! Besides the cauliflower, you probably already have all the other ingredients in your pantry. For full ingredient amounts and directions, scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Cauliflower: Fresh cauliflower cut into florets.
• Olive Oil: You can use avocado oil if you prefer.
• Garlic Salt
• Black Pepper: For the most flavor, we highly recommend using freshly cracked pepper.

How to Make Roasted Cauliflower 

This garlicky, oven roasted cauliflower is perfectly crispy and caramelized on the outside, but juicy and tender on the inside. Plus, it only takes 30 minutes to make! Be sure to check out the recipe card for detailed instructions on how to roast cauliflower.

• Prep the cauliflower. Preheat your oven to 400°F, place the cauliflower in a bowl, and toss with oil. Lay out on a lined baking sheet and season with garlic salt and pepper.
• Bake. Cook the cauliflower until it’s tender, about 25 to 30 minutes, then serve. 

Tips and Tricks For Best Oven Roasted Cauliflower

It couldn’t be easier to make these caramelized roast cauliflower florets, but here are a few tricks and tips to get you started.

• Similar Size: When cutting the cauliflower, try to cut the florets into similarly-sized pieces. If the cauliflower is consistently cut, then all the pieces will cook at the same time, and you won’t have any pieces that are undercooked or overcooked.
• Don’t Crowd: Try not to crowd the pieces of cauliflower on the baking sheet. Some can be touching, but you want a little bit of space between most of them so that they can crisp up and caramelize. Make sure no cauliflower florets are stacked on top of each other.
• Use Pre-Cut Cauliflower: If you want to save a little bit of time, you can use pre-cut cauliflower from the supermarket. We prefer cutting our own so it’s extra fresh, but pre-cut works great in a pinch.
• Rotate If Necessary: Some ovens don’t heat consistently, and it can result in your roasted cauliflower being cooked unevenly. Check the cauliflower halfway through roasting, and if you notice some pieces cooking faster than others, rotate the baking sheet. 

Flavor Variations

This recipe is the perfect basic roasted cauliflower, but if you are feeling adventurous here are some fun flavor variations you can try!

• Parmesan or Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower: 2 minutes before the cauliflower is done roasting, sprinkle the top with freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese and pop it back into the oven. For garlic parmesan flavor, you can pump up the garlic flavor by adding a tablespoon (or two!) of freshly minced garlic to the raw cauliflower before roasting.
• Buffalo Cauliflower: After roasting, drizzle or toss the cooked cauliflower in a mixture of 1 tablespoon melted butter and 3 tablespoons Frank’s hot sauce (or buffalo sauce). Serve topped with sliced green onions and ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping.
• Ranch Cauliflower: Replace the garlic salt with 1 tablespoon of our homemade ranch seasoning, or store bought ranch seasoning. Taste before serving, you may want to add an additional pinch of salt.
• Spicy Cauliflower: You can do this in a couple of different ways! One of our favorites is to use 2 teaspoons of our favorite homemade cajun seasoning in place of the garlic salt. This will make your cauliflower mild in heat. To pump up the heat, add an additional 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper. The second way we like to spice up our cauliflower is to add a hearty drizzle of sriracha to the cauliflower before roasting. It will turn it a little pink, but it’s delicious!
• Lemon Pepper Cauliflower: Replace the garlic salt with 2 teaspoons of lemon pepper seasoning. Before serving, squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the cauliflower.

What to Serve With Roast Cauliflower

This tender and well-seasoned oven roasted cauliflower recipe goes well with just about everything. But it’s best served alongside a hearty and meaty entree like these pan fried pork chops, easy meatloaf, or this easy recipe for juicy skirt steak cooked in a cast iron skillet.

If you are looking for a lighter dinner, try this cauliflower along side some garlic butter shrimp, easy lemon pepper chicken, or this blackened mahi mahi ready in just 10 minutes!

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Leftover roast cauliflower will last in the fridge for 5 days, as long as you store it in an airtight container. To reheat, we like to use the air fryer set to 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes, until warmed through. You can also place the cauliflower in a 350°F oven for 7-8 minutes, or cook in a microwave in 30-second increments. 

Can The Leftovers Be Frozen?

You can definitely freeze oven roasted cauliflower florets to eat at a later time. The texture will be softer, but it will still be tasty! Make sure cauliflower is fully cool, then store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating for best results.

More Easy Vegetable Side Dishes 

Side dishes can be a quick and easy way to get healthy veggies on your plate, and also make your dinner more delicious. Here are a few more recipes to try out.

• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon
• Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
• Green Beans Almondine
• Stewed Okra and Tomatoes
• Sautéed Zucchini and Squash
• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Roasted Green Beans