Air Fryer Cauliflower {Whole30, Paleo, Vegan, Keto}
Light, delicious, and crispy, Air Fryer Cauliflower is the perfect side or snack for fast healthy eating. Top with your favorite spices or sauce for an easy Whole30, paleo, vegan/vegetarian, or keto recipe.
I was a very picky and stubborn child. Cauliflower on my plate and I have to eat it before I leave the table? Well, I hope you’re prepared to hunker down for the night Mom and Dad, cause we’re going to be here for a while.
Now, however, I’m a sucker for a roasted veggie, especially ones I turned my nose up at as a kid. I overcame my childhood veggie fears and when I started roasting allllllll the things! I mean, if you told seven-year-old me that I would be whipping up batch after batch of Paleo Cauliflower Patties, I would have written “you trippin” in my Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper.
I love roasted veggies (and affordability) so much that I even wrote The Ultimate Guide to Roasting Frozen Vegetables.
My parents “no thank you bites” tactics never worked because they just needed to roast that ish! Let’s make future generations veggie lovers, shall we? Join me.
Is Roasted Cauliflower Healthy?
Heck yes, it is! And I am also drawing a line in the sand and saying roasted cauliflower is tastier than raw, steamed, or any other preparation. Come at me.
When you place veggies with a touch of oil in a hot oven, magical things happen. The sugars in the vegetables caramelize and the dish will become sweeter and more satisfying. And biting into a perfectly roasted veggie is so much better than trying to eat one that is limp, tasteless and overcooked.
Why You Should Use an Air Fryer
Air Fryers are essentially wonderful little countertop convection ovens that can mimic the taste and texture of fried foods with little to no oil. I have this Power XL fryer and have been very happy with it.
Air Fryers are a bit different than a convection toaster oven in that they circulate the air through the little “fry” basket. The result is crispy “fried” food that isn’t greasy or heavy.
One of the biggest selling points for the air fryer, in my opinion, is that you get baked/fried foods without needing to use your oven. In the summer it’s lovely to not heat up your whole house because you have a hankering for some baked cauliflower.
For this recipe, the air fryer will produce wonderfully roasted cauliflower in under 20 minutes. It will take at least 30 minutes in the oven to get the same level of crispy baked cauliflower.
Air Fryer Cauliflower Ingredients
- Cauliflower
- Olive oil
- Kosher Salt
- Potato Starch (optional)
I like to dust the cauliflower in the potato starch before air frying it because I think it gives the veg a lovely crunch. I use potato starch in my Spicy Sweet Potato Fries recipe so I already have it on hand. Don’t have any or need this to be keto-friendly? Just leave it out.
How to Make Air Fryer Cauliflower
*Detailed and printable recipe card is available at the bottom of the post
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees F and preheat for 3 minutes.
Cut your cauliflower into uniform pieces. If using potato starch, toss with the florets in a deep mixing bowl (this one is my kitchen workhorse). Drizzle in the olive oil and stir to coat.
Lightly spray the inside of the fry basket with olive oil cooking spray (I use my Misto) and add the cauliflower. Cook for 8 minutes, shake the basket and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes depending on your desired level of “crisp”.
Sprinkle roasted cauliflower with fresh parsley, kosher salt, and your seasonings or sauce of choice. If you love flavor, you might like (just kidding, you’ll LOVE) the garlic sauce from Sesame Sheet Pan Pork Fajitas or the Tahini Sauce from Pesto Chicken and Cauliflower Bowls.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Do not add salt to the cauliflower until it is done cooking in the air fryer. Pre-salting the veg will cause it to release excess moisture, resulting in mushy veggies.
- No air fryer? Bake on a sheet pan in an oven preheated to 425 degrees. Roast for 18 minutes, stir and roast until it has reached your desired level of crisp (usually 5-15 minutes longer).
More Recipes Like This
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic {Whole30, Paleo, Vegetarian, Keto}
- Whole30 + Paleo Green Beans
- Oven Roasted Butternut Squash {Whole30, Paleo, Vegan, Gluten-Free}
- Pressure Cooker Beets
Making this recipe or others?
Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #sustainablecooks. I can't wait to see your take on it!
Light, delicious, and crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower is the perfect side for fast healthy eating. Top with your favorite spices or sauce for an easy recipe.
- 16 oz cauliflower cut into florets
- 1 tbsp potato starch
- 1 tsp olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees F and preheat for 3 minutes.
Cut your cauliflower into uniform pieces. If using potato starch, toss with the florets in a deep mixing bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and stir to coat.
Lightly spray the inside of the fry basket with olive oil cooking spray and add the cauliflower.
Cook for 8 minutes, shake the basket and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes depending on your desired level of "crisp".
Sprinkle roasted cauliflower with fresh parsley, kosher salt, and your seasonings or sauce of choice.
RE: potato starch. Don't have any or need this to be keto-friendly? Just leave it out.
Do not add salt to the cauliflower until it is done cooking in the air fryer. Pre-salting the veg will cause it to release excess moisture, resulting in mushy veggies.
No air fryer? Bake on a sheet pan in an oven preheated to 425 degrees. Roast for 18 minutes, stir and roast until it has reached your desired level of crisp (usually 5-15 minutes longer).
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