Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower (Oven or Air Fryer)

Your taste buds will find it impossible to resist these caramelized Roasted Cauliflower florets sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. Truly the perfect side dish. Includes methods for both oven-roasted and air fryer.

Try these wavy french fries or zucchini sticks recipes if you’re searching for more great-tasting side dishes using an air fryer or oven.

Jump to:

• Introduction
• Mise en place
• Instructions
• The final touch
• Tips
• FAQ
• More roasted vegetable side dishes
• Recipe inspiration
• Best Vegetables to Roast
• Recipe

Introduction

Cauliflower has quickly become one of the most popular vegetables due to recent food trends, notably low-carb diets. 

As a result, there are countless creative ways to have this mild-flavored vegetable, from soups to starters and so much more!

For example, if you like salads, adding fennel and lemons to this cauliflower salad provides you with the perfect burst of freshness.

As you probably know, it also makes the perfect vegetable side dish. It’s so versatile that it can be served with almost any main dish, such as baked cod fish or Italian stuffed pasta shells. 

Let’s look at how to roast cauliflower using your oven or an air fryer. If you like easy recipes, this is for you. 

Mise en place

To get lots of crispy edges, we need high temperatures. So the first thing we are going to do is preheat our appliances.

• If using the oven, preheat to 425℉ (220°C)—place the rack in the lower third of the oven.
• For the air fryer, preheat to 400° F (200°C).

As with most vegetable side dishes, there is a little chopping and prepping.

How to cut fresh cauliflower

Let’s begin by removing the large leaves at the base of the cauliflower. This will expose the large stem.

With a paring knife, cut around this core to remove it.

With your fingers, gently snap off the florets from the base. 

Place in a colander and rinse under running water. Towel dry.

Depending on the size of the floret, slice it in half or quarters.

Notice there is very little mess left behind. Place the cut cauliflower florets in a large bowl and set them aside.

Instructions

Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Specifically, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 4-5 cloves of garlic cut in half, and  ½-1 teaspoon red chili flakes. Add kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Please note that the chili is optional.

Additional seasonings can include sprigs of thyme or rosemary. 

How to oven-bake cauliflower

Place them in a single layer on the pan or baking sheet with the flat side down. Leave enough space between the pieces so that they can crisp up nicely.

Bake in a hot oven preheated to 425℉ (220°C) for about 25-30 minutes. Turn them over after 15 minutes.

Taste for doneness. 

How to air-fry cauliflower

Place directly on the air fryer basket and air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10-15 minutes.

Note: I placed a pan on my oven’s lower level to “catch” any drops of olive oil. 

Taste for doneness.

The final touch

When almost done, spread ½ cup of pecorino romano cheese or Parmesan cheese directly on the florets. 

Bake or air-fry for a few more minutes.

Remove and drizzle the tops with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Garnish with minced parsley and freshly grated cheese, and serve immediately.

And there you have it! The final result is a great cauliflower recipe that makes the perfect side! 

Tips

• Always preheat your oven or air fryer. High temperatures are essential in achieving that crispy texture.
• Dry properly. Use clean tea towels to remove that extra moisture to obtain those crunchy cauliflower bites.
• Uniform size ensures even roasting. Cut the florets the same size.
• Properly coat each floret. Combining and mixing the ingredients in a bowl ensures the entire florets are properly coated. 
• Place the flat side down. This simple step maximizes the surface area for crispy florets.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan.
• Baking temperatures for the air fryer are just a guideline; make sure to consult your manual.

FAQ

More roasted vegetable side dishes

• How to Roast Bell Peppers
• Roasted Root Vegetables
• Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
• Roasted Fennel
• Garlic Roasted Garlic Sprouts
• Oven Roasted Cabbage

Recipe inspiration

My kids would refer to this delicious recipe as crispy cauliflower. That was over 20 years ago.

I have always been a big fan of roasting vegetables in the oven.

I recently started using an air fryer for baking/roasting my vegetables. It takes half the time compared to roasting them in the oven, and the results are truly amazing. 

If you want more side dish recipes baked in an air fryer, look at these creamer potatoes, wavy french fries, air-fried eggplant, or zucchini sticks recipes.

As you may have guessed, both methods of roasting vegetables create a great side dish with a wonderful nutty taste. 

However, if your family is like mine, they will love the air-fried cauliflower! 

Enjoy!

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If you are interested, the air fryer I am using is the Breville Smart Toaster Oven. Head on over to my amazon store for all the details.

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

If you haven’t already joined, here is the link where you can sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter. This way, you won’t miss any of my new recipes and it’s absolutely free! 

Ciao for now,

Maria

★★★★★ If you have tried this baked or air-fried cauliflower recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Best Vegetables to Roast

Recipe