Air Fryer Cauliflower

Crispy and golden on the outside and tender and sweet on the inside, this perfectly seasoned 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 that is a staple in my home.

Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients Needed
3. How to cook cauliflower in the air fryer
4. Recipe tips and variations
5. Storage instructions
6. More air fryer vegetables to try
7. Air Fryer Cauliflower (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

• It’s versatile. This cauliflower is highly customizable and pairs well with almost any main dish.
• Quick and speedy. Because it cooks up in just 12 minutes, it’s perfect when I need a veggie to round out a meal.
• Healthy. It uses only a fraction of the oil that goes into frying, making it a low-carb, high-fiber, and healthy side dish. Also, it is gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, and vegan. 
• Perfect texture and flavor. Air-frying foods are the perfect cheat for deep-fried stuff. 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 cook cauliflower in the air fryer

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 air-fryer: Start by pre-heating the air-fryer to 200°C/400°F. Remember to prep the air fryer basket by greasing it with oil. Either spread the oil with a brush or use cooking spray.

Step 2- Prep the cauliflower: While the air-fryer preheats, wash, clean, and pat dry the cauliflower florets. Toss them in a large bowl with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, and oil. Mix gently but thoroughly to avoid losing tiny bits of florets in the process.

Step 3- 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. While they cook, shake the basket several times for uniform cooking.

Step 4- Garnish and serve: Remove the air-fried cauliflower from the basket once you get the crispy brown edges.

Recipe tips and variations

• Avoid overcrowding the basket. 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.   
• Start with dry cauliflower. For easy air-frying and better crisping, pat dry the cauliflower florets well before tossing them in seasoning.  
• Finish with a squeeze of lemon. Nothing brightens the dish better than a drizzle of fresh lemon juice.
• Make a panko parmesan coating. For a cauliflower popcorn variation, coat the florets with an egg wash, then roll it 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 leftover or meal-prepped cauliflower 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 air fryer vegetables to try

• Air fryer brussels sprouts
• Air fryer zucchini
• Air fryer baked potato
• Air fryer baked sweet potato
• Air fryer eggplant

Originally published May 2023, updated March 2024