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You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Side Dish / Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe

Published: Jul 23, 2018 · Modified: May 27, 2023 by Anna 257 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

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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.

Closeup shot of breaded roasted cauliflower bites.
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients:
  • How to make roasted cauliflower?
  • How long does it take to roast cauliflower in the oven?
  • Helpful Tips!
  • Recipe FAQs:
  • More delicious side dish recipes:
  • Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower recipe

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.
Side shot of breaded cauliflower florets on baking sheet.

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.

Overhead shot of golden crispy cauliflower bites.

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:

Can I use frozen cauliflower florets to make this?

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.

Can I make this dish in an air fryer?

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.

Can I use panko bread crumbs?

Absolutely! Use them along with plain bread crumbs or on their own. They will add even more crunch!

Side shot of roasted breaded cauliflower bites on white plate.

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    Garlic Parmesan Baked Eggplant Recipe
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    Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli Recipe
  • Brown sugar garlic roasted carrots on white plate.
    Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots Recipe
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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

Author: Anna
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!
4.85 from 176 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 247 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 496mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Vitamin C: 8.6mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.85 from 176 votes (66 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Bonnie Evans says

    April 23, 2025 at 11:48 am

    5 stars
    This cauliflower became an absolute hit in our house.

    Reply
  2. Kate says

    January 30, 2025 at 5:25 am

    2 stars
    A great idea for cauliflower but a couple of things didn’t work well (I made it exactly per the recipe).

    If you’re dunking the cauliflower in butter 1/2 cup is not enough. I ran out halfway through so had heaps of leftover crumb mixture and half the amount of food I expected - I didn’t want to use 1 entire cup of butter on veges as it defeats the purpose lol.

    Cooked for about 28mins, cauliflower was cooked perfectlt but the crumb was not! Half of the cauliflower was great but the other side was so crumbly, I had to shake the excess crumbs off each piece before serving.

    Next time I’ll try tossing in olive oil as suggested in the notes (but not in the actual recipe) to save my arteries. Also will flip halfway through cooking so half of the crumbs aren’t raw.

    Reply
  3. Faith says

    January 16, 2025 at 1:43 pm

    I haven't made this yet, but could you just toss the califlower in the bowl of butter and then put it into the bowl of breadcrumb mix to toss? Instead of dipping each peice indiviually? Im not sure if it makes a difference but that's where my brain wants to take this if I bake it!

    Reply
  4. Toni says

    December 21, 2024 at 7:35 am

    It was SO good and easy!

    Reply
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