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My Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe Is Even Better Than Roasted
This air fryer cauliflower is one of my favorite ways to use this little appliance — which is saying a lot, as I use it almost daily! I’ve been roasting cauliflower in the oven for over a decade, but when I tried cooking cauliflower in the air fryer a few years ago, I was delighted to find that it cooked in just minutes. Here’s why I love it:
- Perfect flavor and texture – This is such a quick and easy, healthy side dish, and it’s got all of the flavor of roasted cauliflower — but with better browning and in a fraction of the time. It’s just the right level of tender, with crispy, slightly caramelized edges. I need those crispy edges!
- Super fast – Air fried cauliflower takes just around 15 minutes, including the prep time. That’s one of the reasons I make it so often.
- Simple ingredients – In fact, you need just 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper), which you probably have in your pantry already.
If you’re looking for an easier, crispier way to enjoy this vegetable, this is it. It’s now one of my favorite cauliflower recipes. Make it with me!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer cauliflower recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Cauliflower – I prefer to use a whole head of cauliflower so that it’s more fresh, but you can also buy a bag of florets for convenience. You can air fry the stems, too. Just make sure to remove the leaves.
- Olive Oil – Helps the cauliflower crisp up. Avocado oil works as well.
- Lemon Juice – I recommend fresh lemon for best flavor, but bottled is okay for convenience. Feel free to skip this if you like; I just think it adds a nice, bright flavor.
- Spices – My go-to blend is smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. See my variations below for other combinations!
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How To Cook Cauliflower In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Preheat. Heat your air fryer (this one is my favorite) first to ensure even cooking.
- Season. Place cauliflower in a large bowl, and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat the florets in the seasoning mixture.
- Air fry. Place the cauliflower in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook, shaking the basket half way through, until tender and browned on the edges. I like to garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
My Recipe Tips
- Cut all the florets the same size. This ensures that they will cook at the same rate. If I ever get bagged florets, I always check if some of them need to be cut in half.
- Smaller florets will get you more crispy edges. Cut them small if that’s your jam (like me!), or larger if you like the tender inside more.
- The size of your florets will impact cook time. Smaller florets = faster air fryer cauliflower!
- Don’t crowd the basket. To get nice browning and caramelization, your cauliflower needs breathing room. Make sure the florets are in a single layer, preferably with a little space between them, but it’s okay if they are touching. Cook in batches if necessary.
Air Fryer Cauliflower (Crispy, Easy Recipe)
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My easy air fryer cauliflower recipe tastes roasted, but is ready in just minutes. It's perfectly tender inside, with perfect crispy edges!
Instructions
[ See step photos See my tips ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F (193 degrees C).
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Place the cauliflower florets in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat.
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Add cauliflower to the air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed – don’t crowd the basket). Cook cauliflower in the air fryer for 7-10 minutes (depending on the size of your florets), shaking the basket halfway through, until browned on the edges.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get evenly cooked cauliflower with crispy edges.
- Variations: See my flavor variations for other seasoning combinations.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. While you can certainly reheat later, I like to repurpose them for other dishes. Throw extras into my roasted cauliflower salad, mix with stir fry vegetables, whip up my cauliflower soup, or swap the broccoli in my chicken bacon ranch casserole.
- Reheat: I recommend reheating cauliflower in the air fryer again, this time for 2 minutes at 320-350 degrees F. The microwave is okay, but the texture will be more mushy.
- Freeze: You can keep air fried cauliflower in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to spread it on a parchment paper lined sheet pan first and freeze until solid before transfering to a zip lock bag, so that it doesn’t stick together. You can reheat right from frozen, too!
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Air Fryer Cauliflower
Flavor Variations
My classic version on the recipe card is the simplest, but you can totally change it up! Here are some other ways I’ve tried making air fryer cauliflower, and they were all delicious:
- Garlic Parmesan – Halfway through cooking, add 1-2 cloves minced garlic (or just add extra garlic powder in the beginning), and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Shake the basket and finish cooking.
- Curry Spiced – Add 1 teaspoon of curry powder with the other seasonings.
- Chili Lime – Swap out lemon juice for lime juice and add 1/4 teaspoon chili powder to the spices.
- Sauces – Cook the cauliflower in the air fryer, then coat in your favorite sauce! Try tossing buffalo sauce (like my air fryer buffalo cauliflower) and serve with ranch dressing, or make it cheesy by using the cheese sauce from my cauliflower mac and cheese recipe.
Serving Ideas
I like to serve air fried cauliflower with garlic aioli as a dipping sauce (pictured above), especially when I enjoy it as a snack. Here are some main courses to pair with it for dinner:
- Chicken – When I want to just re-use the same basket, my go-to options are air fryer chicken breast or air fryer chicken legs. If you prefer to make your main dish and side dish in parallel, make my lemon garlic chicken, crispy chicken legs, Mediterranean chicken, or whole chicken wings while you have the cauliflower in the air fryer.
- Beef – My most popular recipe is sirloin steak, but air fryer steak or burgers are great, too.
- Seafood – You can’t go wrong with my 10-minute air fryer salmon. I’ve also served air fryer cauliflower with other fish, like pan fried tilapia and baked haddock. For date night, try my butter poached lobster tails.
- Pork – My juicy air fryer pork chops are super quick, or if you plan ahead, Crock Pot pork tenderloin is amazing.
More Air Fryer Veggie Recipes
I’m kind of obsessed with air fryer recipes for different vegetables! You might also like some of my others:
81 Comments
Karen
0This recipe was so good and quick to make
Natasha
0This air fryer cauliflower is easy to make, it was ready in just 15 minutes! It turned out super delicious, I’ll definitely make this recipe again!
Matt
0This air fryer cauliflower recipe is awesome and super easy to make. My favorite way to prepare and eat cauliflower.
Sha
0The easiest! I’m addicted to this cauliflower recipe! So delicious and flavorful!
Dianne
0I tried the chili lime variation you suggested and it was so good! The hint of spice was perfect, I really loved it! I paired it with grilled chicken and had an amazing dinner!
Padma
0These look gorgeous! Love their texture and the smoked paprika took it to another level!
Eureka
0The cauliflower turns out so crispy on the outside and so tender inside. Served with a butter poached lobster tails and it’s perfect on a date night with my hubby. Such a healthy side dish option!
Lauren
0Been looking for recipes to make in my airfryer and this is just perfect! I made it a bit spicy for my taste and it’s so delicious. I’ll be making the garlic parmesan cauliflower next time for my kids to try.
Winona
0Easy and delicious cauliflower recipe, this one is definitely a keeper. I used avocado oil since I ran out of olive oil and it just turned out perfectly fine. I know I’m going to make this over and over again!
JessieJ
0Tasted fresh, bright, savory. Perfect snack or side dish, I think I could get addicted to this recipe
Arla K
0Loved everything about this!!!! I love cauliflower any which way and this air fryer recipe hit the spot quickly!! Thanks for sharing!!
Betty
0Amazing
Julie
0The best airfryer cauliflower recipe I have come across! It is delicious and even has my husband requesting this side dish frequently.
JennW
0Delicious recipe and super easy. I made a rookie mistake though and my florets too small and ended up over cooking them.
Lisa
0Great recipe! I like lemon so added extra. This is my favorite recipe for cauliflower so far. Thank you!
Rhonda
0This recipe is soooo goood? this is a keeper??
Webbie
0Followed the recipe, wonderful flavor, easy to follow and make. Family favorite!!
Sibel
0Tried this recipe. The cauliflowers were still hard even after 15 min 195°C cook. Did not like it.
Dorothy
0Can you use this recipe on whole cauliflower?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Dorothy, If your air fryer is large enough to fit a whole head of cauliflower it should work.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Sibel, If your florets were large, it may take more time to cook.
Webbie
0Followed the recipe, wonderful flavor, easy to follow and make. Family favorite!!
Robert
0Thank you! Any way to do this from frozen cauliflower?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Robert, This recipe is best when made with fresh cauliflower.
Laurence
0What if I want to make this in the oven? I don’t have an air fryer, I’m afraid…
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Laurence, You can roast the cauliflower in the oven at 400 degrees F instead. I have a recipe for the oven coming soon!
Jill
0I only have frozen steamable cauliflower. Can I use that?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jill, This recipe is best when made with fresh cauliflower.