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!
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.
Lisa says
My family and guests loved it!!!! Recommend for sure
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
YAY!! That's awesome! Thank you so much, Lisa!
Adam says
Right after trying this recipe (LOVE it!! ), I made your roasted broccoli as well and it was a huge hit! Thank you so much!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Adam! That's fantastic! Thank you so much for making my recipes!
Joey says
I can't thank you enough for this recipe, Anna! My whole family devoured it! Never liked cauliflower until now. Yay!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Joey! Yay! I am so glad you and your family loved the cauliflower! Thank you!!
Angie says
Made this recipe last night. Everyone LOVED it! Best idea for cauliflower ever!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Awesome! Thank you so much, Angie!
Natalie says
This recipe turned my whole family into cauliflower fans! It's unbelievably delicious! Thank you so much!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Isn't it just the best? Thank you so much, Natalie!
Kathy says
When you say grated Parmesan cheese, are you talking about the kind in the green can such as made by Kraft? Or are you talking about freshly shredded Parmesan cheese?
Thanks
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Kathy! Either one works great in this recipe.
Diane says
Great recipe! My husband loved this! I also loved this recipe as I am not a cauliflower fan. Will use this recipe again, Thanks!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Diane! Yay! That's fantastic! Thank you so much!
knelson says
Can you use frozen cauliflower?
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
I do not recommend using frozen cauliflower as it will release water and the breading won't be crunchy and each piece will be soggy.
Robin says
Love this recipe! First time in 16 years together that I've seen my husband eat cauliflower. Now he even suggests making it and we prepare it this way around once a week.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Robin! That's amazing! Yay! I am so happy you and your husband enjoyed my cauliflower recipe. Thank you so much!!
Diane says
Hi can you use panko bread crumbs?
Anna says
Yep, panko works great too!
Tonya says
Holy moly! This is AMAZING. I had it with steak and salad. As soon as I took a bite I stopped eating everything else on the plate. Even went back for seconds without touching another thing outside this cauliflower.
cindy says
Has anyone tried this recipe with Panko?
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Cindy! Panko will make the cauliflower bites even more crunchy. Still delicious!
Joanne says
When Ithink of the time I have spent frying cauliflower over the past 50 years and I find this gem.Thank you for sharing my family always loved this but the time involved ugh.so needless to say since I found your method I made it several times and shared it with others.Id like to share my different ways of serving it ,with just more grated cheese is tops for me , but my family also likes when I put sauce on top and add mozzarella cheese and bake or seve it as appetizer with dipping sauce ranch,blue cheese or spaghetti sauce.again thanks.ps it can be made GF.
Dean says
A HUGE hit. Everyone loved it!!!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
That's wonderful! Thank you so much, Dean!
Diana says
I made this today for me and my husband, and it was absolutely fabulous! Thank you so much! We will definitely repeat this!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Diana! Yay! That's fantastic! Thank you so much for letting me know!
Lisa says
made it oh so good
Peggy cruse says
Can the potassium level be lowered I’m on low potassium diet
Julie Dicker says
I have this in the oven as I am writing this. My husband says it’s driving him nuts, it smells so good. Snuck a little piece and yum! What a fun new way to make cauliflower.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Hi Julie! Haha! I love that! It's my Hubby's favorite cauliflower dish so I am happy to know you guys love it too. Thank you so much for giving it a try!
Dina Polyashov says
Thank you for this recipe Anna! I made this for my family today and we all loved it. Great recipe! 🙂
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
That's fantastic! I am so happy to know you and your family loved this cauliflower! It's a family favorite here too! 😀 Thank you so much, Dina!