The BEST oven-roasted cauliflower and it’s so easy. The flavor and texture are perfect with just some simple seasoning, oil, and butter.
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Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
This baked cauliflower recipe is a go-to side dish like Corn on the Cob and Roasted Brussels Sprouts. It’s a dish you’ll make over and over.
This oven-roasted cauliflower is easy and excellent. The combination of butter and olive oil caramelizes the florets and they are baked to crisp-tender perfection. The best thing about this recipe is that you can customize the seasoning with what you have on hand with great results.
The Best Seasoning for Cauliflower
Cauliflower goes well with just about any seasoning. Even a simple salt and pepper seasoning works well. These are the seasonings we love most:
- Salt – we love fine sea salt
- Black Pepper – freshly cracked
- Garlic Powder – or try garlic salt
- Paprika – adds color and flavor (a little goes a long way)
Can I add cheese? we love to add cheese to cauliflower. Sprinkle cauliflower with 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese in the last 5 minutes of cooking for a parmesan roasted cauliflower.
How to Roast Cauliflower
This roasted cauliflower recipe is so easy to make and uses ingredients you most likely already have on hand
- Preheat the oven to 425˚F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
- Slice the cauliflower into traditional florets or into flat cauliflower steaks.
- Seasoning- Add the cauliflower to the center of your baking sheet, drizzle with oil and butter, and toss to coat. Season the cauliflower and toss again then spread into a single layer.
- Bake cauliflower for 15-20 minutes, or until desired tenderness and golden at the edges. The baking time may vary depending on the size of your pieces.
How to Slice Cauliflower into Steaks: Slice the cauliflower head into 4-5 wedges. Then, cut the wedges into even 1/2″ thick steaks and break them apart into bite-sized pieces. As they are roasted, the flat sides caramelize against the baking sheet adding a depth of flavor. It also results in evenly browned pieces.
How Long to Bake Cauliflower?
The bake time for roasted cauliflower will depend on the size, thickness, and desired doneness of your pieces.
- Smaller pieces – you only need about 15-20 minutes.
- Larger florets – bake 20-25 minutes. Until the cauliflower is caramelized and golden.
Air Fryer Instructions:
Cooking cauliflower in an air fryer is quick and easy. When air frying, I skip the butter and just use 2-3 Tbsp olive oil. Air fry cauliflower at 375˚ for 10-15 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes, until golden and tender.
Make-Ahead
- Meal Prep – you can pre-chop your cauliflower a few days ahead, cover and refrigerate then add seasoning before roasting.
- Refrigerate – once cooled to room temperature, you can cover and refrigerate leftover roasted cauliflower for up to 3 days.
- Reheating – You can reheat the cauliflower on the stovetop, oven, or air fryer just until heated through.
More Side Dish Recipes
If you loved this roasted cauliflower, be sure to try these fail-proof side dish recipes:
- Easy Roasted Carrots
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Vegetable Stir Fry
- Tomato Mozzarella Salad
- Creamy Mushroom Asparagus
Oven Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower, sliced in small florets, or 1/2" thick steaks
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ¼ tsp ground paprika
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the head of cauliflower into 1/2" thick steaks, breaking up wedges into even, bite-sized pieces.
- Add the cauliflower to the center of the baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil and melted butter and toss to combine.
- In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, salt, paprika, and pepper for the seasoning. Sprinkle onto caulliflower and toss to evenly coat.
- Spread the cauliflower evenly on the baking sheet and bake at 425˚F for 15-20 minutes, until cauliflower reaches desired crispiness.
Notes
You may substitute oil instead of butter if you don’t want to use any butter.
Nutrition Per Serving
Valentina Ablaev
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I love this!! I shredded some parmesean cheese and added to the last 5 minutes baking time like the suggestion in your recipe. Added some hot sauce and I’m in heaven!
So glad you loved it!
An immediate hit with both adults and kids, none of us with a particular fondness for cauliflower. I only made this because cauliflower was 75% off, and now I go out of my way to buy some on shopping trips.
Hi Jenn, good to hear that it was a huge success!
I saw roasted cauliflower in the grocery food bar but at $15.99/pound, I passed. I started looking online for a good recipe and found this. I’m glad I waited. I made almost two pounds of this delicious veggie and it cost less than $5. I’ll make this again
Hi Kevin! That’s great. I’m so glad you found this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
what is a good dip for this ,we had it at a restruant and served with a dipping sauce we think was oyster sauce but not sure any suggestions?
Hi Sheila, a few of my readers mentioned they served this with béarnaise sauce, BBQ sauce, or lemon cream sauce, I don’t think there is a right/wrong sauce for it, I believe it’s just preference.
Can I combine all ingredients for cauliflower night before in bowl next day toss and then bake.
Hi Nina! Yes, you could prepare the spices/seasonings and then continue the recipe as instructed the next day.
Easy recipe I used olive oil & Smokey Paprika and it was fantastic added Vegan Parmesan
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Never had so many compliments on a vegetable!
Definitely a keeper
That’s wonderful, Helene! I’m so glad it was a hit!
So good! I made this for my family and every one of them loved this cauliflower. I used smoked paprika because that’s all I had but it was amazing. I added it to a salad, my husband ate it as a side to his burger. Very versatile.
Hi Gina! That’s wonderful. I’m happy to hear it was enjoyed. It’s definitely versatile and can be made/served with a variety of sides.
Made this for my mom and she loved it! She said it was better than the roasted cauliflower she has had at a couple restaurants and a certain organic store.
That’s amazing, Jennifer! So glad to hear that.
I mix cauliflower, oil and the rest of the ingredients in a plastic bag and spread on parchment. This way everything gets covered.
Sounds good, glad you enjoy it!
This is my third time making this – it’s so yummy! Even my extremely picky eater enjoys it, and that’s saying a lot!! Thank you for the recipe.
That’s wonderful to hear! Thank you for the great feedback, we’re glad that you enjoyed it.
Yum! I didn’t know what to expect but this was SO yummy! I probably cooked it less time by a couple of minutes but I loved a bit of crunch. I’ll be using this many times this summer!
Hi Rhonda! I’m glad you liked it. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Such a flavorful dish without any work! Thanks for sharing it.
You’re welcome! So glad that you like it.
I love this recipe. I always like Natasha’s recipes. When I’m searching for recipes and see one from her I always gravitate to it. This was easy to make and my family loves It everytime
Great to hear that your family is enjoying my recipes! Thank you for sharing that with us.
You are absolutely correct. We made this tonight. This will be our oven-roasted cauliflower recipe from now on. Absolutely fabulous!!
Hi Steve! I’m so glad you loved it. Thank you.
Just made it tonight. My guy loved it to death, so did I. it cooked perfectly. Didn’t change a thing except I put the caul. in a bag, added the O&butter and then added spices and shook the heck out of it. Added cheese last 5 minutes. Turned out Super. He wants it again. I had it with Mahi Mahi, what a combo.
Love it! Thanks so much for sharing that with us, we’re glad that he loved this recipe a lot!
I was looking for snack food instead of chips. Perfect. I put shredded cheddar on top and let it melt after I turned off the oven. Fantastic.
Sounds good, this recipe is healthier so glad you chose to try this.
I loved this. I will try it again but will mix the seasoning into the butter and oil before putting it on the cauliflower.
Loved this!
Sounds good, I’m glad you loved it!
Chris, I did what you said mixing the seasoning with the oil and butter and then mixing in the cauliflower. Nice even coating! Thank you so much!
I just made and ate it for lunch….I thought I had rice to go with it but my husband finished that last evening….so I ate it with buttered bread. AMAZING AND DELICIOUS….I enjoyed it as much as any vegetable I have ever eaten. Thank You. I used herbs and spices I had on hand.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Bond!
I just prepared this substituting avocado oil for the olive oil and used smoked paprika instead of traditional paprika. Avocado oil has a higher smoke point so no burning. It turned out fabulous!! Great recipe!!
I’m glad it turned out great! Thanks a lot for sharing that with us.