Cauliflower Steak

These cauliflower steaks are thick, crispy, tender, and dressed with luscious, smoky butter. Enjoy them as a main course or a veggie-packed side dish. Oven, air fryer, and grill cooking options.

Table of Contents

1. Ingredients needed
2. How to make cauliflower steaks
3. Arman’s recipe tips
4. Storage instructions
5. What to serve with these
6. Cauliflower Steak Recipe (Recipe Card)

My roasted cauliflower steaks are my favorite way to transform cauliflower from a simple vegetable into a mouthwatering dinnertime star for my family. Like cabbage steaks, don’t look at them as competition for your classic steaks, though (I beg you). Instead, treat these as an elegant vegetable side dish or a meat-free dinner that cooks up in under 30 minutes.

They need just five simple ingredients and are super healthy and satisfying. The cauliflower turns out crispy on the edges, tender in the center, and slightly caramelized on all sides. I sometimes drizzle on some garlic yogurt sauce, but honestly, they are delicious as-is. I like to oven-roast the cauliflower, but I’ve also included grill and air fryer options.

If you love impressive vegetarian mains like us, try my sofritas, zucchini lasagna, Mediterranean bowls, or eggplant rollatini next.

Ingredients needed

• Cauliflower. Use a large or medium head of cauliflower and slice it into 1-inch steaks. Use white cauliflower or get creative with purple or orange cauliflower instead.
• Butter. Because I’m already adding salt, I like to stick to unsalted butter, but if yours is already salted, just omit the salt or add it once cooked (to taste).
• Kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning. To round out the flavors in the melted butter.

How to make cauliflower steaks

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Arman’s recipe tips

• For the best cauliflower steaks, choose a cauliflower head with tightly packed florets and no brown spots or blemishes.
• Keep the core intact. When preparing the cauliflower, only remove the outer leaves and leave the stem in place, as it keeps the cauliflower steaks from falling apart.
• For even cooking, you can roast the steaks on a wire rack on top of a baking dish. This way, the heat can circulate every inch of cauliflower.
• Mix up the seasonings! Brush the cauliflower steaks with garlic butter instead of paprika butter, or swap the butter for olive oil and sprinkle taco seasoning, curry powder, steak seasoning, cumin, or ranch seasoning over top.
• Make them cheesy by sprinkling some parmesan cheese or finely shredded mozzarella cheese 10 minutes before they are done.

Storage instructions

To store: Transfer the leftover cauliflower steaks to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

To reheat: You can reheat the cauliflower steaks in a 350ºF oven until they’re slightly crisp and warmed through again.

What to serve with these

You can serve cauliflower steaks both as a side dish and as a main. Here are some ideas to help get you started:

• Serve on the side of your favorite protein: Enjoy the cauliflower next to Greek chicken, New York strip steak, steak salad, or your favorite main dish.
• Serve on a bed of greens or grains: Top the steaks on a bed of cooked white or brown rice, couscous, farro, or wild rice. Or, instead of grains, use the cauliflower as a topping on a leafy green salad or lemon and oil-dressed greens.
• Top with a sauce: Cauliflower steaks only get better with a sauce on top. Add a drizzle of peanut sauce, hot honey sauce, gremolata, or romesco for an even bigger burst of flavor. 
• Add a garnish: Like crushed nuts, fresh parsley or basil, crispy roasted chickpeas, lemon zest, parmesan cheese, or crumbled feta.

If you tried this Cauliflower Steak Recipe or any other recipe on The Big Man’s World, please rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the comments below. It really helps others thinking of making the recipe. 

Originally published June 2023, updated and republished April 2025