I love cauliflower. In my opinion, it’s a very underrated vegetable. It’s versatile, can be made into so many things (soup! main courses! side dishes!), plus it’s nutrient dense and full of fiber.
If you are looking for an easy and delicious way to prepare this, then you must try this air fryer cauliflower recipe.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, I love my air fryer. I’ve shared many recipes you can make in an air fryer and this one is great. It’s healthy, flavorful, quick, and inexpensive.
Related: Looking for more ways to prepare cauliflower? Try Roasted Cauliflower, Cauliflower and Leek Soup, Cauliflower Crust Pizza, or Cauliflower Au Gratin.
Ingredients
- Cauliflower
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Air Fryer Cauliflower
Prepare the head of cauliflower by cutting off the bottom stem with any leaves that remain. Then, cut into bite-size florets.
In a small bowl, toss the cauliflower in the oil, spices, salt and pepper.
Air fry at 390°F for 15 minutes. Halfway through the time (7 or 8 minutes is fine), pause the air fryer and give the basket a good toss so the cauliflower pieces get tossed around.
Serve warm with a main dish. If you have any fresh herbs like chives or parsley, you can toss a few tablespoons over the top, but this is optional. Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Tips & Substitutions
- It’s best not to overcrowd the air fryer pan if possible. One medium to small head of cauliflower should fit in most air fryer baskets just fine. I have an air fryer with two baskets so I can air fry two heads of cauliflower at once.
- If cayenne just isn’t your thing or you want to make this less spicy (heat), you can swap it for paprika or another spice you prefer.
- Toss a little grated Parmesan cheese over this just as it comes out of the air fryer and is still hot. It’s so good!
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer cauliflower is a great side dish to almost any main course, like:
- Baked Chicken – I make this exact recipe at least once a week!
- Easy Calzone Recipe – customize as you like
- How to Broil Steak – Bacon Wrapped Filets
- Deep Dish Pizza Recipe – always great to serve a veggie side with pizza
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use parchment paper in the air fryer?
Yes, you can. It’s not necessary for air fryer cauliflower or most dishes that won’t stick to the grates. But using parchment paper can help with clean up, so it’s up to you.
Are cauliflower leaves and stems edible?
Yes, they are. While I usually cut them off and discard them, for most recipes you can certainly eat them or save them for things like homemade vegetable stock.
Can I air fry cauliflower without oil?
Yes. If you are avoiding oil, you can follow this recipe but simply leave the oil out (or swap for a different oil/fat like coconut oil or melted butter). The final texture will be a little different and slightly less crispy, but it will still be yummy.
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Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the head of cauliflower by cutting off the bottom stem with any leaves that remain.
- Then, cut into bite-size florets.
- In a small bowl, toss the cauliflower in the oil, spices, salt and pepper.
- Air fry at 390°F for 15 minutes.
- Halfway through the time (7 or 8 minutes is fine), pause the air fryer and give the basket a good toss so the cauliflower pieces get tossed around.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- It’s best not to overcrowd the air fryer pan if possible. One medium to small head of cauliflower should fit in most air fryer baskets just fine. I have an air fryer with two baskets so I can air fry two heads of cauliflower at once.
- If cayenne just isn’t your thing or you want to make this less spicy (heat), you can swap it for paprika or another spice you prefer.
- Toss a little grated Parmesan cheese over this just as it comes out of the air fryer and is still hot. It’s so good!
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
So good! This tasted just like roasted cauliflower and I didn’t have to turn on the oven. 👍🏼👍🏼
I didn’t see an announcement anywhere but has this become strictly a food blog now?
Hi! No, we still share a variety of posts from food to crafts, plant care, home decor, and random things. We also have our weekly podcast that includes all sorts of topics (including food sometimes). It might surprise you, but most of our top posts from the last few years are recipes so we are leaning in to that as it seems like something that our audience is liking / clicking on our site for. 🙂
I happened to have a bag of cauliflower florets in my fridge but no plans for how to use them. I whipped this up at lunchtime, and WOW!! Absolutely delicious and flavorful. I have never liked cauliflower, but now I love it, thanks to this recipe!
Yay! this makes me so happy!
Delicious!
Hi Emma! You influenced me to buy an air fryer, and I use it almost every day. I can’t wait to try this recipe. What sauce do you serve with these? I think I want to drink the one pictured 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
You don’t have to serve it with any sauce BUT at our we serve way too many things with Yum sauce and that’s what is pictured here. 🙂