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.
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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.
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 method in 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!
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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.
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:
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.
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.
Absolutely! Use them along with plain bread crumbs or on their own. They will add even more crunch!
More delicious side dish recipes:
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
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.
Roman says
I made these and followed the direction to the ' T " , they came out wonderfully, so very good. I will be making this again for sure.
Thank you,
Roman
Dawni says
Deeelish! I've made cauliflower many different ways including seasoned roasted cauliflower steaks. We felt like a snack and as I was scrolling through recipes I came across Anna's Blog, Crunchy Creamy Sweet! Thank you for this delicious recipe. Its extremely simple & appearance was just like the photo. We dipped some in Franks red hot sauce too! Soo good and satisfying when you want a snack or Appy. Thank you Anna!
Leslie says
These were Great!!
Wanda says
Made this in the air fryer . 200 degrees for 15 minutes. It was a big hit. Will definitely make again.
Su Reale says
I made this tonight - I used chopped crushed garlic from a jar! My husband is not a fan of cauliflower but he really like this recipe! I thought it was so so good! It will be a recipe keeper for me!
Chris says
Absolute hit. Best cauliflower I've ever eaten
Nadene says
Thanks so much for this recipe. I followed recipe exactly and it was perfect. I made a spicy aioli for dipping. So delicious!
GmaPat says
Really good! Simple and easy to fix. Will keep in my favorites recipe box.
Lissa says
It was delicious. Hubby and the granddaughters devoured them 😊
Eileen says
I love this recipe. Easy & delicious.
Shirley says
Delicious, the crunchiest were sooooo good and the cauliflower very tasty.
Debbie Pension says
Totally delicious
Sailnsun says
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.
Sailnsun says
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.
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.
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!
Przyprawionesercem.com@gmail.com says
Thank you Anna for this wonderful recipe. I will be happy to make it for my family