Parmesan Oven Roasted Cauliflower

By Rena Awada | Updated On June 4, 2023

Garlic Parmesan oven-roasted cauliflower makes a perfect side dish recipe to add to your dinner table. Super easy to make with a handful of ingredients and only 5 mins of prep time.

top view of roasted cauliflower in a white bowl


You will love this roasted cauliflower recipe. They are loaded with flavor and super easy to make. Only a handful of pantry staple ingredients is needed to make these roasted cauliflower bites. Made with herbs like smoked paprika and garlic powder to give it that flavor boost to keep it from tasting bland. They are also topped with parmesan cheese for some cheesy goodness. Some may prefer cauliflower roasting their cauliflower with just oil, salt, and pepper, just as delicious. These parmesan oven-roasted cauliflower bites will be your go-to vegetarian side dish recipe.

Why you will love this cauliflower side dish recipe

  • Easy to make: with just 5 mins of prep time, it is very easy to make this roasted cauliflower recipe. Season the cauliflower, pop in the oven, and you can have them ready in just 30 minutes.
  • Delicious: You are going to love this cauliflower recipe. It will be one of your favorite ways to serve cauliflower and get in that fiber.
  • Healthy: All ingredients used clean and healthy. This cauliflower side dish recipe is low in carbs and perfect for those who are on keto.
side shot of roasted cauliflower

Ingredients you will need to make this side dish

head of cauliflower
olive oil
salt and pepper
herbs: garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika
parmesan cheese – if you want to keep this recipe low in fat, skip the cheese
fresh parsley to garnish- this can be an optional ingredient.

ingredients to make roasted cauliflower

How to make roasted cauliflower

Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the cauliflower florets into a large bowl.

Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with all the seasonings. Using your clean hands toss well to get all pieces evenly coated.

Transfer the cauliflower to the prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer.

Roast for 15 minutes, then sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Bake for 15 minutes more, or until crisp tender.

Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!

top view roasted cauliflower in a white bowl

recipe notes and tips

  • Cut the cauliflower into bite-size pieces
  • to keep this roasted cauliflower recipe vegan-friendly, you may use dairy-free cheese or skip the cheese completely.
  • If you prefer to bake these cauliflowers instead of roasting, you can set the oven temperate on Bake at 400 F. Halfway through add the cheese and follow the same directions.
  • Use garlic powder, not fresh garlic
  • Any other oil of choice will work.
  • You may cook longer if you like your cauliflower to be more on the crispy side.
top view cauliflower in white bowl

How to make this cauliflower recipe in the air fryer

The great thing about cauliflower is the different ways you can cook them and end up with perfect-tasting cauliflower. Here is what you need to do if you want to make this oven-roasted cauliflower in the air fryer instead of the oven.

  • Turn your air fryer on at 400F. It will need about 5 minutes to preheat and reach 400F for 5.
  • Place the seasoned cauliflower in your air fryer in batches and air fry them for 20 minutes give or take.
  • After 10 minutes open the air fryer and flip or toss the cauliflower. Then allow it to air fry again for another 5-10 minutes.
  • Check on the cauliflower every 5 minutes if needed to toss and check on the desired doneness.
  • We do have an air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites recipe to check out if you like.
close up cauliflower bites

frequently asked questions

Do I have to wash cauliflower before roasting?

We recommend you wash all your veggies before cooking. Be sure you pat them dry with a paper towel before adding oil and spices to the cauliflower.

Why is my cauliflower mushy?

There are a few reasons why your cauliflower ends up being mushy instead of crispy. One of them being overcrowding. Do not overcrowd the pan and allow space between the cauliflower florets. Also, your cauliflower is mushy instead of crispy due to the fact that you cooked it too much. It needs to be removed from the oven right when it starts crisping. Do not parboil the cauliflower before roasting or baking.

Can I freeze raw cauliflower ?

Thee quick answer is Yes you can. Make sure the cauliflower is fresh without any brown spots or has any funky smell to it. Cut the cauliflower into florets, wash and pat dry. Place into freezer bags and freeze for 6-8 months.

top view roasted cauliflower

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top view of roasted cauliflower in a white bowl

Parmesan Oven-Roasted Cauliflower

Perfectly roasted cauliflower with garlic, parmesan, and smoked paprika. Easy to make and ready in just 30 minutes.
5 from 17 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Calorie, Low Fat
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 137kcal
Author: Rena

Ingredients

  • 1 large head of cauliflower cut into florets
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oi
  • Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • Fresh parsley to garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Place the cauliflower florets into a large bowl.
  • Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with all the seasonings. Using your clean hands toss well to get all pieces evenly coated.
  • Transfer the cauliflower to the prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer.
  • Roast for 15 minutes, then sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Bake for 15 minutes more, or until crisp tender.
  • Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Cut the cauliflower into bite-size pieces
  • to keep this roasted cauliflower recipe vegan friendly, you may use dairy-free cheese or skip the cheese completely.
  • If you prefer to bake these cauliflowers instead of roasting, you can set the oven temperate on Bake at 400 F. Halfway through add the cauliflower and follow the same directions.
  • Use garlic powder, not fresh garlic
  • Any other oil of choice will work.
  • You may cook longer if you like your cauliflower to be more on the crispy side.

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 264mg | Potassium: 662mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 344IU | Vitamin C: 101mg | Calcium: 197mg | Iron: 1mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa Tobin says

    5 stars
    If I could give this 6 stars, I would. Fabulous flavor, delicious and easy way to spruce up cauliflower. If you don’t want to add the cheese, it is still really good. Thank you! !

  2. Nancy Hann says

    I think there’s a typo in this. “If you prefer to bake these cauliflowers instead of roasting, you can set the oven temperate on Bake at 400 F. Halfway through add the cauliflower and follow the same directions.?” I assume you mean to add the cheese halfway through. Otherwise, what would be in the pan in the first half of the time? Also, not sure what the difference is between roasting and baking in the oven. Thanks for your clarifications.

    • Rena Awada says

      Yes, it would be add the cheese not cauliflower, I will fix that. As foe baking or roasting, if roasting it will char and crisp mush quicker. I honetsly just prefer convection baking.

  3. Mary says

    5 stars
    Thank you for this outstanding
    recipe! I’ve been eyeballing it for a couple of weeks and finally made it . It is amazing! I can’t praise it enough!

  4. Kitty says

    5 stars
    what is the difference between roasting and baking???
    Per Instructions: “If you prefer to bake these cauliflowers instead of roasting, you can set the oven temperate on Bake at 400 F. Halfway through add the cauliflower and follow the same directions.”

    • Elizabeth Angela says

      I have the same question. I put these on the top rack of the oven, which I think gets a more concentrated heat. At any rate, this recipe has become a favorite for friends and family!

  5. Jana E says

    5 stars
    These look great! How is “roast” different than “bake” if the temperature and instructions are all the same?

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