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    You are here: Home » Air Fryer Recipes » Best Damn Air Fryer Cauliflower

    Best Damn Air Fryer Cauliflower

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    Last Modified: February 6, 2022

    This air fryer cauliflower is seasoned with a vibrant blend of savory spices and roasted to perfection in 15 minutes. The deep flavors are brought to life with just the right char and crispiness on the outside to bring out the sweetness which makes it impossible to put down. This recipe is a treat make and an excellent choice for an easy side-dish or snack.

    recipe for air fryer cauliflower

    Cauliflower is such an amazing vegetable which possesses a versatility that allows it to be used in any number of ways. It fits in perfectly in a vegetable medley, can be used in place of meat for many popular dishes, and when roasted such as this, brings about a whole other quality that is a treat to behold.

    Fresh Cauliflower

    When choosing a head of cauliflower, look for one that is free of any blemishes or dark spots, has tightly packed florets, and good green leaves. Cauliflower should feel heavy for it’s size, and will have a nice creamy white color. It should also smell fresh and be free of any overwhelming odor.

    recipe for air fryer cauliflower

    Cutting Cauliflower

    In preparing our cauliflower for the air fryer, we first cut away the leaves, and any excess parts of the stem.  This is easily achieved by inserting a knife just outside the cauliflower stem and cutting around it. Next, we can cut the florets off around the stem or even pull them off my hand. We want to end up with nugget sized chunks that can be enjoyed in just a bite or two.

    Recipe for air fryer cauliflower

    Cauliflower Seasoning Mix

    We’re essentially using our air fryer to make roasted cauliflower, which has an outstanding flavor all it’s own. When the florets begin to char a bit, they release a sweetness which makes each bite a wonderful experience. We don’t want to completely overwhelm the natural flavors, rather, we want to accentuate them with a seasoning blend that is vibrant and brings out all the best characteristics of this wonderful vegetable. To achieve this, we’ll use many common spices which you likely already have in your spice rack or pantry: smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, oregano, onion and garlic powder, ground mustard, salt and pepper. The smoked paprika and turmeric will also provide that rich, golden color.

    recipe for air fryer cauliflower

    Easy Prep

    Mix all dry ingredients and set aside. Cut the cauliflower into nugget chunks of an inch or two and toss them in a large bowl with 1 ½ tablespoons of vegetable oil. Now add the seasoning mix and toss for a minute or two by hand and get all the goodness to coat all pieces of cauliflower.

    recipe for air fryer cauliflower

    Air Fry at 400°(F) for 15 Minutes

    Cooking our cauliflower couldn’t be any easier. Start by preheating your air fryer at 400°(F) for 5 minutes. When ready, place the seasoned cauliflower into the air fryer basket or tray and use the “air fry” setting at 400°(F) for 15 minutes. During the cooking time, flip, shake or stir the cauliflower 2 or 3 times to achieve the most evening browning.

    recipe for air fryer cauliflower

    Ready to serve!

    When the 15 minutes are up, your roasted cauliflower is ready to serve right away! There’s so many ways to enjoy it and the possibilities are endless. You can use a fork or even your hand and eat it like popcorn for a snack. It’s also excellent with a spritz of lemon juice from some fresh lemon slices. It can also be a side-dish for just about any meal. It’s excellent with pork chops, chicken and fish.

    recipe for air fryer cauliflower

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    recipe for air fryer cauliflower

    Best Damn Air Fryer Cauliflower


    ★★★★★

    4.9 from 17 reviews

    • Author: RecipeTeacher
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Air fryer cauliflower is seasoned with a vibrant blend of savory spices and roasted to perfection in 15 minutes.


    Ingredients

    • 1 head of fresh cauliflower
    • 1 tsp coarse salt
    • ½ tsp smoked paprika
    • ½ tsp turmeric
    • ½ tsp cumin
    • ½ tsp ground mustard
    • ½ tsp oregano
    • ½ tsp onion powder
    • ½ tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp black pepper
    • 1.5 tbs vegetable oil

    Instructions

    1. Trim cauliflower and cut into chunks of 1-2 inches in size. Add to a large bowl.
    2. Mix all dry ingredients, set aside.
    3. Toss cauliflower chunks with vegetable oil and add seasoning mix. Toss well to get everything coated.
    4. Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°(F).
    5. Place seasoned cauliflower into air fryer basket or on tray and air fry at 400°(F) for 15 minutes, stirring or shaking basket 2-3 times during cooking to achieve uniform browning.
    6. Remove from air fryer and serve immediately.

     

    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 15 min
    • Category: Side dish
    • Method: Air Fryer
    • Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe?

    Be sure to leave a comment and rating below. I appreciate your feedback!

    Also, tag @recipe_teacher on Instagram and hashtag it #recipeteacher

    recipe for air fryer cauliflower

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    Comments

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Allison

      January 30, 2023 at 9:33 pm

      Easy, delicious and fast!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Sandra

      December 23, 2022 at 6:39 pm

      this is so good, second time making it…have even eaten it cold….use a combination of broccoli and cauliflower,..cooks closer to 10 minutes..

      Reply
    3. Darlene

      October 17, 2022 at 7:45 am

      Delicious! I made this as a side for Thanksgiving and could have eaten the entire thing myself. So good.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Kate Connor

      September 18, 2022 at 5:19 pm

      Delicious! I have made this twice in 2 days. I used bagged florets from Costco. Followed the recipe exactly but the second time I decreased the salt to 1/2 tsp. Fantastic!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Paula Koch

        December 30, 2022 at 10:17 pm

        The recipe name says it all!! Wow, followed recipe (forgot the oregano) and used toasted sesame oil. Mmmmm. New fav in my house. Checked on doneness last 5 min. Just about 13 min. Would use 1/2 the salt next time.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
    5. Stacey

      July 03, 2022 at 11:40 am

      I cooked it for 10 minutes. They came out with a little crunch. Delicious flavor. Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Chrissy

      June 22, 2022 at 8:34 pm

      You lost me at Vegetable oil…..I used avocado oil….trying to eat healthy

      Reply
      • Andrea

        October 20, 2022 at 6:20 pm

        Really? 🙄

        Reply
    7. Kelly

      May 29, 2022 at 12:12 pm

      15 minutes is too long. 13 minutes will leave some forms on the cauliflower. Otherwise, I enjoyed the recipe.

      ★★★★

      Reply
      • MJ

        June 27, 2022 at 3:02 pm

        1/2 the salt, 10 minutes next time

        Reply
    8. Amber

      May 24, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      This was really good! I kept to the recipe except cut the oil in half and it turned out just fine.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    « Older Comments

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