Air Fryer Cauliflower

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

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients Needed
3. How to air fry cauliflower
4. Arman’s recipe tips
5. Storage instructions
6. More delicious ways to cook cauliflower
7. Air Fryer Cauliflower (Recipe Card)

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.

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.

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

Originally published May 2023, updated and republished May 2024