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The very best Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower recipe that pairs well with ANY entree or protein. Minimal ingredients yet with big flavor, this roasted cauliflower recipe will impress even the biggest veggie skeptics.
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Lightly charred and crispy at the edges, sweet and caramelized within, this garlic-Parmesan roasted cauliflower is anything but ordinary.
If you’re still waiting for your breakthrough moment with cauliflower, this recipe will certainly change the game.
The first night I prepared it, my husband and I polished off the whole tray in record timing.
It’s the kind of veggie dish I would happily serve dinner guests, but it’s easy enough for a busy weeknight.
Beyond serving it as a side, you can also pile it inside a pita, taco, or burrito bowl.
How to Make Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
The magic lies in both the roasting method and the flavor agents.
To achieve the crispiest, most unctuous florets, the oven temperature needs to be HIGH (we’re talking 450ºF).
- It’s also important to preheat your baking sheet (more on this below) to optimize roasting.
The Ingredients
- Cauliflower: You need 1 medium head of cauliflower, which should amount to 7 to 8 cups of florets.
- Alternatively, you can buy the bags of pre-chopped florets.
- Olive Oil: You need a generous amount of olive oil roasting, which encourages optimal browning. Olive oil is a fantastic source of polyphenols and heart-healthy fats, so need to skimp!
- Garlic: I suggest 3 to 4 cloves depending on the size (and your love of garlic!).
- Paprika: For a bright hue and touch of sweet flavor.
- Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan is added at the very end of cooking to amp up the umami.
- If making the cauliflower vegan, use nutritional yeast instead.
- Lemon: For a jolt of brightness, lemon juice adds a fresh finish.
- Parsley: For a pop of green and bright, herby notes. Alternatively, you can use fresh dill or chives.
The Directions
Step 1: Prepare Cauliflower by placing a baking sheet in the center oven rack and preheating oven to 450ºF.
Cut the cauliflower into small florets and add to a large bowl. Toss with olive oil, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Step 2: Roast Cauliflower. Empty cauliflower out onto preheated baking sheet. Place back in the oven and roast for 20 to 25 minutes minutes, until lightly charred.
Step 3: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and garlic over cauliflower and place back in the oven for 5 more minutes.
Lastly, garnish with fresh parsley and lemon juice!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Here are the tips and tricks to achieving the very best oven-roasted cauliflower:
- Cut the cauliflower into evenly sized florets: This encourages even roasting.
- Aim for flat edges on the florets: The more flat edges that make contact with the pan, the better caramelization.
- Use Plenty of Oil. Dry florets have a higher tendency for burning. Use lots of heart-healthy olive oil!
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: The florets should have adequate space to encourage browning. If they are too crowded, they still steam and end up mushy.
- Roast at HIGH Heat: I’m talking 450ºF for ideal roasting!
- Preheat Baking Sheet: So the cauliflower will start to cook the moment it touches the baking sheet.
Health Benefits of Cauliflower:
Cauliflower is part of the cruciferous vegetable family. This group of veggies is rich in fiber and low in calories – a combination that will help you feel full and satisfied without overeating.
Cauliflower, specifically, is also a good source of riboflavin, niacin, and magnesium.
Serving Suggestions:
This roasted cauliflower recipe can be double as side dish or the main event. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve it:
- Cauliflower Tacos: Fill tortillas with this roasted cauliflower and add your favorite toppings!
- Hearty Green Salad: Top a hearty kale salad with cauliflower and drizzle with a creamy tahini dressing.
- Grain Salad: This roasted cauliflower pairs especially well with pearl couscous.
- Cauliflower Bowls: Add your favorite grain and sauce and turn this cauliflower into a weekday lunch.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips:
- Make-Ahead: The cauliflower can be cut into florets up to 3 days ahead.
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: To re-establish the cauliflower’s crisp, reheat in the air-fryer or a 350ºF oven until warm. Alternatively, you can heat in the microwave, however the cauliflower florets will be much softer.
More Roasted Cauliflower Recipes
Harissa Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad
Asian BBQ Roasted Cauliflower
Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower Bowls with Whipped Feta
Roasted Cauliflower and Potato Salad with Tarragon Tahini
If you give this roasted cauliflower recipe a try, snap a pic and tag #dishingouthealth so I can see your beautiful creations.
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Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Equipment
- Large rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets (about 8 cups)
- 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. cracked black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 to 3 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Place a large rimmed baking sheet on the center rack of the oven; preheat oven to 450ºF.Cut the cauliflower into small florets and add to a large bowl. Toss with olive oil, paprika, salt, and black pepper.Empty cauliflower out onto preheated baking sheet. Arrange florets in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, tossing once midway through, until lightly charred and tender.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and garlic over cauliflower and place back in the oven for 5 more minutes.Spritz lemon juice overtop and garnish with fresh parsley; toss and serve.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: To re-establish the cauliflower’s crisp, reheat in the air-fryer or a 350ºF oven until warm. Alternatively, you can heat in the microwave, however the cauliflower will be much softer.
Nutrition
I calculate these values by hand to ensure accuracy, however expect up to a 10% variable depending on food brands.
So good! Didn’t get crispy but the flavor was fantastic! I mixed all the “flavor” ingredients together first and then put it over the cauliflower florets and stirred it up real good. Thought the minced garlic might get bitter being cooked that long, but they didn’t. Everyone wanted the recipe so it was a hit!
Delicious and savory. It will be hard to eat roasted cauliflower any other way. I served it to a friend who immediately wanted the recipe.
This is the best cauliflower recipe ever. We love it, I make all the time.
I am not a veggie lover but I like cauliflower and am always trying to make it less boring to eat. We tried this dish as per the recipe as a veg dish with a pulled pork shoulder with BBQ sauce, roast potatoes and tenderstem broccoli. I tried some of the cauliflower before adding the garlic and Parmesan and it was wonderful and I would have happily eaten it just like that. However we were following the recipe…but quite how one ‘sprinkles’ grated garlic (and I don’t know what ‘minced’ is in relation to garlic) onto the cauliflower is beyond me as it is wet.
As a dish on its own or with other veg it might work but the Parmesan (and I adore Parmesan), really didn’t work as part of a roast meal and adding the lemon juice was a huge mistake; lemon juice with cheese was never going to work for me. Also, with only 5 mins cooking time the garlic was really rather raw.
I intend to do it again in my air fryer using garlic salt instead of salt ordinaire and without the garlic, cheese or lemon and I am sure it will be wonderful. Also, this would work well with Cumin, curry powder or Ras-al-Hanout in place of Paprika.
I cant see anywhere in this recipe where she says “sprinkle grated garlic” It does however say “sprinkle grated parmesan cheese”
It says it in the instructions to “sprinkle Parmesan and garlic” I agree that sprinkling grated garlic or minced garlic is non possible as it all sticks together. It’s not sprinkleable
Dawg GOOD! I used lime juice as I didn t have lemons, lime works fine & I used no salt as I.m on low sodium menu. Definitly will make agaim.
Absolutely delicious! Will certainly make this again, and again! Thank you.
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for coming back and leaving a review!