How to Roast Cauliflower

To make this roasted cauliflower recipe, you’ll just need 4 ingredients: olive oil, salt, pepper, and a head of cauliflower.

• • Start by preheating the oven to 425°F. A hot oven helps the florets crisp up and caramelize as they cook. Don’t go any lower than 425 degrees F
  • Then, break the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. I like to break mine with my hands rather than cutting it with a knife. This way, I get prettier florets!
  • Next, season the cauliflower. Toss the cauliflower florets with plenty of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Don’t skimp on the oil! A generous drizzle of olive oil and a big pinch of salt is key for making really flavorful roasted cauliflower.

Roasted Cauliflower Recipe Tips

• • Use convection bake if you have it. If your oven has a convection setting, now’s the time to use it! Similar to an air fryer, a convection oven circulates air constantly. Convection baking cooks faster, more evenly, and is better at browning. If you don’t have convection bake don’t worry. You’ll still get delicious roasted cauliflower.
  • Don’t crowd the florets. Leave some space between the florets. If they’re too crowded, they’ll steam and soften in the oven instead of getting brown and crisp around the edges. If you need more space, use two baking sheets.
  • Break the florets into similar sizes. That way, they’ll cook evenly. You don’t want too small florets to burn before bigger ones are tender!
  • Don’t throw away the core and greens. They are packed with nutrients! You can chop the core into bite-sized pieces and roast them along with the florets or turn them into cauliflower rice, If your cauliflower has good greens attached, you can cook those too. Toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast them on a separate baking until the leaves are lightly brown and crisp.

Roasted Cauliflower Serving Suggestions

Lightly crisp and browned around the edges, oven-roasted cauliflower is a delicious side dish on its own! Serve it simply, with sea salt and black pepper, or try one of these variations:

• • Toss it with lemon zest and fresh herbs such as chopped parsley, fresh thyme, or minced rosemary.
  • In the last few minutes of baking, remove the cauliflower from the oven and sprinkle it with grated Parmesan and minced garlic. Bake for about 2 minutes more, until the cauliflower is crisp and the cheese is melted.
  • Spice it up! When the cauliflower has just come out of the oven, toss it with your favorite spices while it’s still warm. 
  • Or add a sauce.  Any of your favorite sauces will be delicious.

Favorite Roasted Vegetable Recipes:

If you love this roasted cauliflower recipe you’re sure to appreciate these other roasting recipes.

• • Roasted Broccoli 
  • Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. Let me know in the comments below.