Air Fryer

Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower

By Samira Kazan

updated December 18, 2024

A close up of hand holding a roasted cauliflower floret - 1

Crispy air fryer cauliflower dipped in white sauce - 3

Air fryer roasted cauliflower topped with pomegranate seeds and flaked almonds - 4

A plate with roasted cauliflower and a small bowl of white sauce - 5

Air fryer roasted cauliflower florets in a plate - 6

Enjoy this crispy, flavorful air fryer cauliflower (roasted cauliflower) in just 25 minutes. Perfect as a snack or side dish. Plus, this recipe is super versatile and is gluten-free and vegan!

A serving of air fryer cauliflower topped with pomegranate seeds and parsley and a small bowl with tahini sauce - 7

I love roasted cauliflower (and any veg); it’s just a cut above the usual steamed/boiled options – crispy, crunchy, with a little ‘bite’ and packed with flavor from seasonings (which are super easily adjustable!). This air fryer cauliflower is no different – it’s crispy, ready in just 20 minutes in the Air Fryer (total of 25 minutes with the prep).

I’ve already shared Easy Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Wings ; now it’s the turn for this lighter air-fried cauliflower. It works great as a healthy snack instead of junk food options or a side dish.

A serving of kale salad and baked cauliflower topped with pomegranate seeds and tahini sauce - 8

I’m not even exaggerating when I tell you that this air-fried cauliflower will have you eating half a head of cauliflower in a single sitting (and with the number of calories for that amount, you don’ even have to try to stop yourself!)

Crispy, hearty, and full of flavor. I sometimes even like to use it in place of fries for loaded fries to feel less guilty about loading up on melty cheese and other goodies!

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The ingredients
How to make air fryer cauliflower
How to serve
How to store
Top tips & notes
Related recipes
Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe

The ingredients

Cauliflower: I use a medium head of cauliflower and break it into medium-sized florets. Don’t leave them too large as they won’t cook through – even-sized pieces are best for even cooking.
Oil: I use extra virgin olive oil. You could use any neutral-flavored cooking oil, though (like avocado oil ). This is key to super crispy and browned roasted cauliflower. You can toss the florets in the oil or use a ‘spray’ to coat them.
Spices: I used a simple combination of garlic powder , salt & pepper. These are very versatile, though, so feel free to experiment. Some of my favorite options include smoked paprika, chili powder or cayenne powder, onion powder, curry powder, cumin, turmeric powder , etc.

How to make air fryer cauliflower

First, prepare the cauliflower by chopping it into florets. Try to get them an even size, if possible, so they’ll cook evenly.

Then, prepare the seasoning by combining all of the spices with the olive oil and mixing.

Toss the cauliflower florets with the oil seasoning mixture in a large bowl to try and coat the cauliflower well.

You could alternatively use a spray bottle with cooking spray/olive oil and then toss with the dry seasonings.

Cauliflower florets coated with oil and spices in a glass bowl - 12

Arrange the cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between them (do this in batches if needed). If they’re too close, they’ll just steam rather than becoming crispy.

Cook the cauliflower in the air fryer for about 20 minutes at 400¬∫F/200¬∫C, giving the basket a shake halfway through cooking in order to flip the florets.

Baked cauliflower in an air fryer tray - 13

Depending on your preferred texture, you may want to adjust the cooking time slightly. A couple of minutes less will result in cauliflower that has more ‘bite,’ increase it by just 1-2 minutes, and it will become super crunchy.

The first time you try this cauliflower air-fryer recipe, it’s worth keeping a close eye on the cauliflower as it can burn quite easily (based on freshness, size of florets, etc.).

How to serve

You can enjoy this air fryer cauliflower hot or cold – as a snack or part of a larger meal. Here are several ways you could enjoy the air fried cauliflower.

air fried cauliflower floret dipped in tahini sauce and topped with parsley and pomegranate seed - 14

As a snack with a dip of your choice: like this 5-Ingredient Delicious Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce , tartare sauce , Lebanese Garlic Sauce (Toum) , Vegan Basil Pesto, or even a spiced mayo . I’ve also served this air fryer cauliflower with creamy hummus or Muhammara Dip (Roasted Red Pepper Dip) .
Served as a side: garnished with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, a sprinkle of parmesan or feta, or other garnishes. You can then serve it alongside roasts, burgers, and tons of other dishes!
With salads & Buddha bowls : like in a Lebanese Pita Salad (Fattoush) or these Healthy Veggie Burrito Bowl (Mexican Rice Bowl) .¬†
To top soups: in place of croutons, like in this¬† Easy Vegan Potato Leek Soup .

How to store

Leftovers: you can store any leftover air-fried cauliflower florets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat pop them back in the air-fryer or oven until just warmed through – this will help them crisp back up slightly too.

Freezing: you could also try freezing the cauliflower. Lay the florets on a tray and freeze until almost solid then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating in the oven or air-fryer.

Top tips & notes

To adjust this to oven-roasted cauliflower: Bake them in the oven at 400¬∫F/200¬∫C for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
How to use the cauliflower leaves and stems? I like to save them in a bag in the freezer to use for vegetable stock . You can also shred them into stir-fries and add them to smoothies (as cauliflower is safe to eat raw).
Can you use frozen cauliflower? Yes, but it’s best to allow it to thaw first; otherwise, the texture can become quite mushy.
For super-crispy results, you can use panko bread crumbs to coat the cauliflower. However, you’ll then need an egg white (or chia egg) to acts as a binder. If doing so, first coat the florets in the egg, then the spices, and finally the panko.
You could omit the oil entirely: Roasted cauliflower in air-fryer doesn’t actually require it. However, it won’t be as good; it will be drier and not as crisp.

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Equipment

Air fryer

IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric1x2x3x

▢ 1 cauliflower head
▢ 1 Tbsp olive oil
▢ 1/2 tsp salt
▢ 1/4 tsp black pepper
▢ 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

Prepare the cauliflower by chopping it into florets. Try to get them an even size, if possible, so they’ll cook evenly.
Prepare the seasoning by combining all of the spices with the olive oil and mixing.
Toss the cauliflower florets with the oil seasoning mixture in a large bowl to try and coat the cauliflower well. You could alternatively use a spray bottle with cooking spray/olive oil and then toss with the dry seasonings.
Arrange the cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between them (do this in batches if needed). If they’re too close, they’ll just steam rather than becoming crispy.
Cook the cauliflower in the air fryer for about 20 minutes at 400¬∫F/200¬∫C, giving the basket a shake halfway through cooking in order to flip the florets.
Depending on your preferred texture, you may want to adjust the cooking time slightly. A couple of minutes less will result in cauliflower that has more ‘bite,’ increase it by just 1-2 minutes, and it will become super crunchy. The first time you try this cauliflower air-fryer recipe, it’s worth keeping a close eye on the cauliflower as it can burn quite easily (based on freshness, size of florets, etc.).

How To Store

To make ahead: you can toss the uncooked florets with the oils and seasonings then store them covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, ready to air-fry when needed. Leftovers: you can store any leftover air-fried cauliflower florets in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat pop them back in the air-fryer or oven until just warmed through – this will help them crisp back up slightly too. Freezing: you could also try freezing the cauliflower. Lay the florets on a tray and freeze until almost solid then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating in the oven or air-fryer.

Video

Notes

To adjust this to oven-roasted cauliflower: Bake them in the oven at 400¬∫F/200¬∫C for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.¬†
How to use the cauliflower leaves and stems? I like to save them in a bag in the freezer to use for vegetable stock . You can also shred them into stir-fries and add them to smoothies (as cauliflower is safe to eat raw).
Can you use frozen cauliflower? Yes, but it’s best to allow it to thaw first; otherwise, the texture can become quite mushy.
For super-crispy results, you can use panko bread crumbs to coat the cauliflower. However, you’ll then need an egg white (or chia egg) to acts as a binder. If doing so, first coat the florets in the egg, then the spices, and finally the panko.
You could omit the oil entirely: Roasted cauliflower in air-fryer doesn’t actually require it. However,¬†it won’t be as good; it will be drier and not as crisp.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.