Roasted Cauliflower – Super Crispy! (VIDEO)

4.98 from 45 votes
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Roasted Cauliflower is my favorite way to eat cauliflower – the flavor and texture is so good, it makes for the perfect vegetable side dish! It’s a simple recipe that only requires a handful of ingredients but one you’ll reach for over and over again!

Roasted cauliflower on a tray.

Watch the Roasted Cauliflower Recipe Video Below!

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I love making easy vegetable side dishes like Roasted Cauliflower – if you’re looking for other ideas, try my Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Crispy Smashed Potatoes, Crispy Brussels Sprouts (or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts), or Honey Roasted Carrots. All of these delicious vegetable side dishes go perfectly with some of my favorite main dishes, like Meatloaf with the Perfect Glaze, Crispy Chicken Parmesan, Easy Fried Chicken, or Steak with Peppercorn Sauce.

Be sure to also complete your meal with some freshly baked Milk Bread rolls!

What Ingredients do I need for Roasted Cauliflower?

Roasted Cauliflower only requires a handful of ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!

Raw ingredients for Roasted Cauliflower on a table.

Want to make Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower?

  • If you want to add Parmesan Cheese for an extra oomph of flavor, you can sprinkle the Roasted Cauliflower with 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese in the last 5 minutes of cooking!

Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!

Roasted Cauliflower: Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

1. Preheat Baking Sheet, Oven, and Prep Cauliflower

Preheat oven to 450F. Place an empty baking sheet in the oven to preheat. This is a key tip, as having a hot baking sheet will help the cauliflower avoid getting mushy when roasting.

Cut the cauliflower into similar sized pieces. This will help ensure they cook evenly. I break them into 3 inch florets and try to make sure they have a flat side to them – this will allow them to form a great crust on the baking sheet when roasting!

Raw cauliflower florets in a bowl.

2. Season the Cauliflower

Place the cut cauliflower into a large bowl. Season with 1/4 cup of olive oil along with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper, if using.

Mix until all of the cauliflower pieces are evenly coated.

Cauliflower florets seasoned in a bowl with spice and olive oil.

3. Drizzle Olive Oil Over Pan

Once the oven is done pre-heating, pull out the hot baking sheet and place on a heatproof surface.

Drizzle about 1/4 cup of olive oil evenly across the baking sheet.

Pouring olive oil on a preheated baking sheet.

4. Add Cauliflower Flat Side Down

Carefully place the seasoned cauliflower pieces flat side down on the tray. (If a cauliflower piece does not have a flat side, that’s okay!). Make sure there is even spacing in between the cauliflower florets. This will ensure the individual florets crisp up in the oven during roasting.

Raw seasoned cauliflower on a preheated baking tray.

5. Roast the Cauliflower in the Oven

Roast the cauliflower in the oven for 25-30 minutes until crispy and golden brown. Check the cauliflower occasionally and flip at least once about halfway through cooking so the Roasted Cauliflower brown and cook evenly.

A piece of roasted cauliflower on a fork over a tray of cooked cauliflower.

PRO TIPS

Expert Tips for Making The BEST Roasted Cauliflower at Home!

  • Cut Your Cauliflower the Same Size: Cutting your cauliflower into similar sizes ensures they will all cook evenly! This is such a simple but effective tip to get the best Roasted Cauliflower.
  • Pre-heat the Baking Sheet: Leave the baking sheet in the oven as it pre-heats. Pre-heating the baking sheet means the surface will be dry and hot; when you place the cut cauliflower on the hot sheet, the high heat will help evaporate any moisture, preventing the cauliflower from cooking in it’s juices and steaming. Rather, the cauliflower can roast and caramelize (instead of becoming mushy)!
  • Don’t Overcrowd the Baking Sheet: Leaving enough space around your cauliflower is key! When your cauliflower is roasting, it will give off steam – if there isn’t enough space for airflower, the steam will end up making your cauliflower mushy. Leaving enough space around each piece ensures they will caramelize and crisp up.
  • Flip Occasionally: Flipping the cauliflower pieces occasionally will help them brown and cook evenly – otherwise, your Roasted Cauliflower can get too dark or roasted on one side only.

Storage and Reheating

Once cooked, you can store any leftover Roasted Cauliflower in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Roasted Cauliflower tastes best freshly roasted but if you want to reheat leftovers, you can do so in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.

If you tried this Roasted Cauliflower Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

4.98 from 45 votes

Roasted Cauliflower (SUPER CRISPY)

Servings: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
A piece of roasted cauliflower on a fork over a tray of cooked cauliflower.
This easy and delicious Roasted Cauliflower recipe will be your new go to side dish! Just a handful of ingredients and simple technique will turn this simple cauliflower into a delicious roasted vegetable for your next dinner!

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 450F. Place an empty baking sheet in the oven to preheat. Meanwhile, prepare the cauliflower by cutting or ripping them into 3 inch florets. If possible, ensure they have a flat side to them so that they form a nice crust on the baking sheet.
  • Transfer the cauliflower to a bowl. Season with 1/4 cup of olive oil along with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper, if using. Mix until all the cauliflower is evenly coated in the oil and spices.
  • Once the baking sheet is hot, carefully set it on a heatproof surface and drizzle about 1/4 cup of olive oil evenly across the baking sheet.
  • Carefully add the cauliflower and place them flat side down on the tray.
  • Roast the cauliflower in the oven for 25-30 minutes until crispy, flipping occasionally over once about halfway through cooking.

Notes

    • Cut Your Cauliflower the Same Size: Cutting your cauliflower into similar sizes ensures they will all cook evenly! This is such a simple but effective tip to get the best Roasted Cauliflower.
    • Pre-heat the Baking Sheet: Leave the baking sheet in the oven as it pre-heats. Pre-heating the baking sheet means the surface will be dry and hot; when you place the cut cauliflower on the hot sheet, the high heat will help evaporate any moisture, preventing the cauliflower from cooking in it’s juices and steaming. Rather, the cauliflower can roast and caramelize (instead of becoming mushy)!
    • Don’t Overcrowd the Baking Sheet: Leaving enough space around your cauliflower is key! When your cauliflower is roasting, it will give off steam – if there isn’t enough space for air flow, the steam will end up making your cauliflower mushy. Leaving enough space around each piece ensures they will caramelize and crisp up.
  •  
    • Flip Occasionally: Flipping the cauliflower pieces occasionally will help them brown and cook evenly – otherwise, your Roasted Cauliflower can get too dark or roasted on one side only.
  •  
    • Depending on your oven, the cooking time may vary. If the cauliflower is not sufficiently crispy by the 30 minute mark, continue roasting in the oven at intervals of 5 minutes until the desired doneness is achieved.

Storage and Reheating

Once cooked, you can store any leftover Roasted Cauliflower in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Roasted Cauliflower tastes best freshly roasted but if you want to reheat leftovers, you can do so in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 47kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 924mgPotassium: 536mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 353IUVitamin C: 82mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

About CJ

Iโ€™m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

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4.98 from 45 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




37 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I loved roasted cauliflower. The first time I had them was when a friend ordered them and I tried them. It was so good!
    Lover this recipe as itโ€™s so easy to make at home and so yummy.

    IG: @tlee351

  2. 5 stars
    So simple and delicious! Roasting vegetables is now my go to and it keeps getting better!

    @__ssue

  3. 4 stars
    IG: @myeastbayorchard
    always looking to incorporate more veggies into our dinners and this was perfect! Even our toddler loved it!

  4. 5 stars
    Iโ€™ve been on the hunt for a delicious roasted cauliflower recipe and let me tell youโ€ฆ THIS. IS. IT. 10/10
    @venessajillian