Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2024)

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This Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower recipe makes crispy cauliflower bites with garlic Parmesan breading. They are baked in the oven instead of fried. It's bound to become your favorite vegetable side dish!

Cauliflower is my favorite vegetable. When I don't roast it, I make Mashed Cauliflower and my Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce.

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (1)
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients:
  • How to make roasted cauliflower?
  • How long does it take to roast cauliflower in the oven?
  • Helpful Tips!
  • Recipe FAQs:
  • More delicious side dish recipes:
  • Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Roasting cauliflower is my favorite way of preparing it. This underrated vegetable has so much to offer and roasting it definitely tops the list. It brings out its delicious flavor and paired with garlic, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs create an irresistible dish. To make crunchy breaded cauliflower bites, you can use one of two methods. The final result is irresistible crunchy cauliflower bites!

This Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower is the best idea for a side dish featuring this vegetable. Aside from turning it into a vegetarian, healthy Alfredo sauce, or mashed cauliflower of course.

Ingredients:

  • cauliflower - I used a medium size fresh cauliflower head. I do not recommend frozen cauliflower florets.
  • butter - Not only does it allow the breading to stick to the cauliflower, but helps the florets brown nicely.
  • garlic - Add flavor during roasting. I recommend using fresh garlic bulbs, but garlic powder works in a pinch.
  • bread crumbs - I used plain, but Italian style or even panko can be used. If you don't have any on hand, make my homemade bread crumbs. It's so easy!
  • Parmesan cheese - Adds toasted cheese flavor and crunch to the florets.
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2)

How to make roasted cauliflower?

  • First cut the cauliflower head into florets, roughly the same size. You can slice the big florets in half if needed.
  • You can either toss the cauliflower with olive oil or melted butter and then sprinkle with the breading mixture and stir to coat. I use this methodin my The Best Roasted Broccoli recipe. The other option, that helps prevent any breading from falling off the cauliflower pieces, is to dip each floret into melted butter and then into the breading mixture. I use this method in my Baked Artichoke Hearts recipe and it's perfect!

How long does it take to roast cauliflower in the oven?

The time of baking cauliflower in the oven depends on the size of the pieces. If you cut the cauliflower head into florets, bite-size pieces, you need to preheat the oven to 400 degrees F for 25 to 27 minutes, or until the breading is golden brown. The whole cauliflower will take longer and the timing again will depend on how big the cauliflower head is. For an average size head, it may take anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes. Cauliflower steaks take about 15 minutes of baking time.

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (3)

Helpful Tips!

  • Cut the cauliflower into same-size florets so they all bake evenly.
  • To save time, you can use a zip loc bag to coat the cauliflower. Place it in the bag, drizzle with butter, and shake to coat. Add breading, shake again, and place all on a baking sheet.
  • After baking, drizzle hot sauce over the florets for the hot wings flavor!

Recipe FAQs:

Can I use frozen cauliflower florets to make this?

I recommend using fresh cauliflower. Frozen florets need to be thawed and will still have excess moisture. This can cause the cauliflower to burn and not roast properly.

Can I make this dish in an air fryer?

Of course! Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F and roast the cauliflower for 15 minutes. An air fryer will usually cut the roasting time in half. Make sure to not overcrowd the basket or tray. The air needs to circulate around the food.

Can I use panko bread crumbs?

Absolutely! Use them along with plain bread crumbs or on their own. They will add even more crunch!

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (4)

More delicious side dish recipes:

  • Garlic Parmesan Baked Eggplant Recipe
  • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli Recipe
  • Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots Recipe
  • Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (9)

If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (10)

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower recipe

Author: Anna

This Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower recipe makes crispy cauliflower bites with garlic Parmesan breading. They are baked in the oven instead of fried. It's bound to become your favorite vegetable side dish!

4.88 from 162 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Calories 247 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cauliflower head
  • ½ cup butter melted
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup Italian or plain breadcrumbs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400℉. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

    1 medium cauliflower head

  • Remove all leaves from cauliflower head. Cut cauliflower into florets, all roughly the same size. You can slice the large florets in half, if needed.

  • Melt butter and in a small bowl. Add garlic and stir in.

    ½ cup butter, 2 garlic cloves

  • Place breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese in another bowl.

    1 cup Italian or plain breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper

  • Dip each cauliflower piece into butter first, then to breadcrumbs.

  • Place each breaded piece on prepared baking sheet. Repeat until you use up all cauliflower.

  • Roast cauliflower for 35 to 32 minutes, or until the breading is golden brown.

Video

Notes

  • This cauliflower can be served as a side dish or an appetizer along with a dipping sauce, like Ranch.
  • This breading method prevents the coating mixture from falling off the cauliflower pieces. You can also pour the melted butter over cauliflower bites in a bowl and toss gently to coat. Then sprinkle with breading mixture and stir to coat. Bake as instructed in the recipe above.
  • Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 496mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Vitamin C: 8.6mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know!

  1. Debbie Pension says

    Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (15)
    Totally delicious

    Reply

  2. Sailnsun says

    Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (16)
    Adding to my previous comment. Easy & delicious. We put the cauliflower florets close together on the cookie sheet. We had a lot of bread crumb and parmesan cheese mixture. Not much of the grated parmesan stuck to the florets, so we spooned the rest overtop of the cauliflower. That portion that fell to the side baked crispy and was delicious to eat too.

    Reply

  3. Sailnsun says

    Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (17)
    This recipe was easy to prepare and delicious. Initially I was going to make as appies for a party, but cut it as had too much food and not enough time to make 1 more thing. But I had bought the ingredients for it. Together my husband and I made it and that was our dinner. It was so tasty and I would definitely make this as an appetizer in the future. I think one could add a dash or two of cayenne pepper to add a little zing to it. Something I thought we could do another time. We will definitely be making this again. We are planning on making it as a vegetable side dish for Easter, but not with cayenne, don't think the grandkids would like that on their sensitive mouths. Easy & delicious.

    Reply

  4. Donna Beasley says

    Wonderful recipe! However, I throw away sooo much breadcrumb/parmesan mixture. I can never seem to reduce it enough to avoid waste. I eat gluten free so the breadcrumbs are both expensive and a little difficult to find (the good ones). I would caution others on this one exception to an otherwise terrific recipe! I will try to remember to cut back even more the next time.

    Reply

    • Anna says

      Hi Donna! Thank you for making my recipe! I'm so glad you enjoy it. To save the breadcrumb mixture, simply toast in in a pan over medium low heat, cool completely and store in a jar. It's a delicious topping for pasta or salads! Hope this helps!

      Reply

  5. Przyprawionesercem.com@gmail.com says

    Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (18)
    Thank you Anna for this wonderful recipe. I will be happy to make it for my family

    Reply

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Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe - Crunchy Creamy Sweet (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

If you're planning to roast the cauliflower whole or slice it into steaks, slice off the thick stem at the base. Drop the whole cauliflower head upside-down into cool, salted water. Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes to remove dirt, residue and bugs.

How do you keep cauliflower from getting mushy? ›

If you cut all the way through the floret, you're cutting through the cell structure of the curd — and when you cook it, that part will get mushy. Easier still: Place the larger florets on a baking sheet, sprinkle with a little olive oil and roast them. Michael Marks is the marketing manager for FreshPoint.

Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy? ›

Overcrowding the baking tray will result in mushy and not evenly cooked cauliflower. Choosing a proper cooking fat ensures roasted cauliflower goodness. The two I recommend are avocado oil and grass-fed ghee, both of which can tolerate high-heat cooking.

Does cauliflower need to be washed before roasting? ›

Caramelization is the key to giving the roasted cauliflower flavor. Give all the florets a thorough rinse in a colander. Shake them dry. Spread the florets out in an even layer on the baking sheet.

What happens when you add lemon juice to water when cooking cauliflower? ›

Keep The Cauliflower White. The pigments in white vegetables like cauliflower and onions will stay white with the addition of an acid such as lemon juice to the cooking water (as long as they are not overcooked).

Why isn't my roasted cauliflower crispy? ›

Crowding the Baking Sheet

Cauliflower has a very high water content, so it won't get crispy if you bake the florets crowded together. "Be sure to give each floret a bit of room so that the they have space for airflow. I'd also recommend baking them on a silicone baking mat," says Blay.

How do you clean cauliflower before roasting? ›

Cut the florets of Cauliflower or Broccoli and soak them in bowl of water with 2 table spoons of salt. Soak them for 5 minutes and drain. Rinse the florets with tap water a couple of times.

Can you cook cauliflower too long? ›

The general rule of thumb is about 20 minutes. Cauliflower that is overcooked will lose up to 50% of its vitamins and minerals. If you want a healthy meal, cook it for just a few minutes less.

How do you keep roasted vegetables crispy? ›

The #1 Tip for Extra-Crispy Roasted Vegetables
  1. Preheat oven to 425℉.
  2. Prep veggies and pat dry (ensuring the veggies are dry will help avoid clumping with the cornstarch). ...
  3. Add 1 tablespoon cornstarch per pound of vegetables. ...
  4. Roast until fork-tender and crispy, 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the vegetable.
Apr 3, 2023

What brings out the Flavour of cauliflower? ›

There are two really simple techniques that bring out the best in cauliflower: grilling and pickling. Dumping cauliflower florets in a mixture of salt and lemon juice for 45 minutes to an hour turns them into spiky little flavor bombs, delivering high-pitched squeaks in salads, sandwiches or the stew recipe here.

Why does my cauliflower taste sweet? ›

Cauliflower has been selectively bred over the years to have an overall flavor that's fairly nutty and almost sweet. This makes it a desirable vegetable to eat and serve. However, cauliflower also can have a bitter base note flavor.

How to cook cauliflower Gordon Ramsay? ›

Cooking instructions

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the cauliflower florets and cook for 4-5 minutes until just tender. Drain and refresh in iced water, drain again and transfer to a large ovenproof dish.

Why is roasted cauliflower good for you? ›

It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium. A one-cup serving contains only 25 calories, 5 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of dietary fiber.

How to make cauliflower puree Gordon Ramsay? ›

Remove the cauliflower stalks and cut them into small pieces. Heat the butter and milk in a pan and stew the cauliflower in it until softened. Add the cream and return to a high temperature. Immediately strain and liquidise the cauliflower then season and pass through a fine chinois.

Should I soak cauliflower in salt water? ›

Next, transfer the florets to a colander and place them under running water to wash off the dirt and bigger bugs. After this, it is suggested to blanch them in salt water to kill bacteria and parasites for 10–20 minutes.

How do you soak cauliflower? ›

Steps for cleaning cauliflower:

Take all the floret halves and place them into a water-filled bowl / pan. Move around the florets; allow the florets to soak in the bowl / pan for five minutes.

How much salt do you soak cauliflower in? ›

Add about 2 Tbsp salt per quart warm water to get it nice and salty. Submerge the head, florets down (they float, so a weight to keep it submerged will help). Let sit 5-10 minutes, remove, rinse, and eat as you please. The salt in the water helps to kill the bugs and encourage them to let go.

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