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Roasted Cauliflower

November 12, 2024

Roasted cauliflower is a gift for all the vegetable lovers in your life. It’s easy to make and tastes so good you’ll have to stop yourself from eating it directly from the baking sheet.

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roasted cauliflower seasoned with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and grated Parmesan
Photography by Gayle McLeod

Want More Roasted Veggies?

Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

We make roasted cauliflower frequently, crave it often, and love it every single time we eat it. We were pleased as punch to discover our kids love perfectly caramelized roasted cauliflower too. It is now on weekly rotation in our house and hopefully will be in yours as well! Serve it with Homemade Shake and Bake and a Chopped Salad With Herb Yogurt Dressing for a perfect ten dinner. For a slightly different roasted cauliflower experience, try our easy Roasted Cauliflower Tacos, Whole Roasted Cauliflower, Roasted Cauliflower with Toasted Panko and Golden Raisins or Cauliflower Rice Sheet Pan.

raw cauliflower florets, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan in prep bowls

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Easy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

Our roasted cauliflower recipe calls for parmesan cheese, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and smoked paprika. But, if you’re looking to mix it up, here are a few of our other favorite rossted cauliflower toppings:

cauliflower florets tossed with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika and red pepper flakes on a baking sheet
roasted cauliflower florets seasoned with salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika & red pepper flakes sprinkled with parmesan

How to Roast Cauliflower in the Oven:

Roasted cauliflower is all about actual ROASTING. Roasting is not the same as baking, and the difference between the two terms is HEAT. To “roast” infers high heat. You want the inside of your roasted cauliflower to be soft and the outside to be crispy, therefore high heat is your friend here. Have the heat too low, and you’ll end up with mushy cauliflower. What kind of heat are we talking about? We’re talking high!

  1. First, crank that oven to 425°F.

  2. Cut cauliflower into florets. Yes, a whole roasted cauliflower is dramatic, but we like as much cauliflower to get browned and crispy so we cut ours into florets.

  3. Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.

  4. Roast. Spread the florets out. Give them a good amount of space on the baking sheet.

  5. Turn. We find our tongs to be the best tool for this, chopsticks are also handy.

  6. Sprinkle with parm and roast some more.

  7. Serve.

roasted cauliflower florets seasoned with  olive oil, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan

How to Store Roasted Cauliflower + FAQ

  • How nutritious is cauliflower? It is loaded with Vitamin C and is super low in both carbs and calories. If you’re following a ketogenic diet, or watching your carbs, cauliflower is where it’s at.

  • How long does it take to roast cauliflower at 425°F? After 35 minutes in the oven, your cauliflower should be perfect! Don’t trust a recipe that tells you roasted cauliflower can be cooked in 15 or 20 minutes. Cauliflower takes a little longer than most other vegetables and if you pull it out too early you’re missing out on all that fantastic nutty flavor and incredible texture that only shows up when cauliflower cooks down to half its size.

  • Can you roast frozen cauliflower? Yes! No need to thaw the frozen cauliflower, if using. Just follow the same steps as above.

  • Can you freeze roasted cauliflower? Yes! You can freeze roasted cauliflower. Just let it cool to room temperature before freezing in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days.

roasted cauliflower seasoned with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and grated Parmesan

More Simple Roasted Vegetable Recipes From The Modern Proper

Find Our Best Roasted Cauliflower Recipe + More!

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Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

  • Serves:  6
  • Prep Time:  15 min
  • Cook Time:  45 min
  • Calories:  195

Ingredients

  • 1 large head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), cut into small florets (about 8 cups)
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ⅔ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the center position.

  2. On a large rimmed sheet pan, toss the cauliflower with the olive and arrange in a single layer. Evenly sprinkle the cauliflower with the salt, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.

  3. Roast the cauliflower for 20 minutes. Remove the sheet pan from the oven. Turn the cauliflower and roast for another 10 minutes, or until browned and tender. Remove the sheet pan from the oven. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, then roast until the cheese is melted and browned, about 5 minutes more.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories 195
  • Protein 3 g
  • Carbohydrates 18 g
  • Total Fat 13 g
  • Dietary Fiber 2 g
  • Cholesterol 12 mg
  • sodium 615 mg
  • Total Sugars 11 g

Roasted Cauliflower

Questions & Reviews

Join the discussion below.

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  • Smith

    Can I make ahead?

    Sure!

  • Kay

    Whew, that was good. Will never steam a cauliflower again, roasting is the only way to go.

    Thanks Kay!

  • Allen

    Thank you very much for this recipe. It is now my go to recipe for cauliflower.

    That's so great! We love to hear when something becomes a go to!