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Crispy, golden, and tender, this air fryer cauliflower recipe will have you reaching for seconds. I love how it cooks in just 12 minutes.
Love air fryer recipes? Try air fryer chicken drumsticks, air fryer steak, air fryer shrimp, and air fryer orange chicken.
Air frying vegetables is, hands down, the best way to cook them.
You get the oven-roasted or fried texture without needing excess oil and skip the lengthy baking time. This crispy air-fried cauliflower recipe is one of my absolute favorites and is a staple in my home. It seriously tastes like roasted cauliflower!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- It’s versatile. The cauliflower is simply seasoned, so pairs well with almost anything. I actually love it as a veggie snack.
- Quick and speedy. Because it cooks in just 12 minutes, it’s perfect when I need a veggie to round out a meal.
- Healthy. I use only a touch of oil for maximum crispiness. Cauliflower is packed with fiber, vitamins, and protein and has very little fat.
- Perfect texture and flavor. Air-frying foods are the perfect cheat for deep-frying. This dish delivers the crispy, caramelized texture and the comforting taste of fried cauliflower.
Ingredients Needed
- Cauliflower. Pick a clean, firm cauliflower head and cut it into bite-size florets. The easiest way is to make quarters and separate florets from the stem. You can also use two smaller heads of cauliflower.
- Salt and pepper. To taste.
- Olive oil. To air-fry the cauliflower. Other cooking oils like avocado oil or vegetable oil will also work.
- Cumin. One of my absolute favorite spices to work with and one that lends itself SO well to cauliflower. Choose ground cumin over the seeds.
- Smoked paprika. For a subtle hint of spice. Other spices work, too, including basil, Italian seasoning, and chili powder.
How to air fry cauliflower
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep the cauliflower: Wash, clean, and pat dry the cauliflower florets. Toss them in a large bowl with the seasonings and oil.
Step 2- Air fry the cauliflower: Lay the seasoned florets in a single layer in the cooking basket and air-fry them for 12-15 minutes until crispy and golden.
Step 3- Garnish and serve: Remove the air-fried cauliflower from the basket once you get the crispy brown edges.
What to serve with this
Cauliflower, in any shape or form, goes well with pretty much anything! In our household, it’s a popular side dish to simple protein! This includes crispy baked chicken thighs or pan-seared salmon.
My Ninja DZ201 Dual Air Fryer has two air fryer baskets, so I like to cook air fryer proteins in it as the cauliflower cooks for a quick and easy dinner. Some popular options include air fryer chicken breast, air fryer chicken thighs, air fryer salmon, and air fryer tilapia.
Other air fryer veggies you can cook at the same time include air fryer broccoli, air fryer buffalo cauliflower, air fryer zucchini, and air fryer brussels sprouts.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Ensure that you have a single layer of florets in your air-fryer basket. And if you have lots of florets, it is best to cook them in batches for even cooking.
- Pat dry the cauliflower florets well before tossing them in seasoning for easy air-frying and better crisping.
- Shake the air fryer several times throughout, for even cooking on all sides.
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon. Nothing brightens the dish better than a drizzle of fresh lemon juice.
Variations
- Make a panko-parmesan coating. For a cauliflower popcorn variation, coat the florets with an egg wash, then roll them in the seasoned panko breadcrumbs and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Follow the steps in the recipe for air-frying and enjoy this filling appetizer.
- Glaze with a sauce. Once you have air fried the cauliflower, finish it with a glaze or a flavorful sauce (Family favorites include katsu sauce, bulgogi sauce, or hot honey sauce!).
- Change up the seasonings. Toss through some Italian seasoning, add curry powder, onion powder, garlic powder, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
Storage instructions
To store. Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
To freeze. Freeze the air-fried cauliflower florets in a freezer-safe container/bag for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat. The best way to reheat the cauliflower would be to use an air-fryer to retain the texture.
More delicious ways to cook cauliflower
- Cauliflower casserole
- Curried cauliflower
- Cauliflower mashed potatoes
- Cauliflower steak
- Buffalo cauliflower bites
Air Fryer Cauliflower
Video
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F. Grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Wash and clean the cauliflower and pat dry. Add it to a mixing bowl, then toss through the olive oil and seasonings and mix well.
- Add a single layer of cauliflower and air fry for 12 minutes, shaking the basket several times throughout.
- Remove the cauliflower once golden and crispy.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published May 2023, updated and republished May 2024
I always thought csulflower is too fragile for air fryer. Apparently not! So really need to give it a shot!
Excited to try this 🙂 I notice cumin was left off the recipe part of the ingredients but mentioned in the narrative. Thanks for all your wonderful recipes.
Ohhh I’ll fix it 🙂
Wow so healthy and interesting dish!
Hi just about to try this is the cauliflower soft inside and not hard from this short cooking time?
Nope 🙂 If you are worried you can chop them into smaller florets 🙂
So good and easy!
Thanks, Jamie!
Sounds delicious and trying it asap!
Please do Karen!
Best air fryer cauliflower recipe EVER!