Extra crispy, full of flavor, and SO easy to make – this Air Fryer Cauliflower recipe is sure to become your new go-to side dish for weeknight dinners! Florets are lightly coated in oil, seasoned with garlic powder and paprika, and then air fried until golden, crispy, and crunchy. And the best part? You can have this low-carb, keto, and vegan dish ready and on your table in less than 15 minutes!
Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe
While some either LOVE or HATE cauliflower, I can promise you this – they won’t be able to resist these flavor-packed florets when they’re made in the air fryer.
What’s so special about cooking cauliflower in the air fryer?
Well, we can start with the fact that they get the CRISPIEST edges.
Yes, this air fryer recipe comes out even crispier than if you’d roasted cauliflower in the oven.
And time-wise? We’re talking HALF the amount of time it takes to plop them on a baking sheet and bake them in the oven.
Not to mention it’s seasoned with simple spices that still give it a TON of flavor, is vegetarian, vegan, Paleo, low-carb AND keto.
Yup… I’d say it’s a winner for dinner!
Ingredients
The main ingredients you need for this recipe are:
- Cauliflower -one large head of cauliflower weighs roughly 1 pound and will give you about 4-5 cups of chopped florets.
- Oil – either avocado or olive oil.
- Paprika – regular paprika or smoke may be used.*
- Garlic powder – fresh garlic cloves can be substituted.*
- Salt and pepper – season to taste.
*Feel free to change up the spices to use whatever you have on hand!
Cutting Cauliflower into Florets
You’ll want to cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
Try to make the florets as close to the same size as possible so they will cook up evenly in your air fryer.
Also, larger florets will take slightly more time to cook than smaller florets.
You can also leave as little or as much of the stems on as you’d like.
How to Make
Once you have the cauliflower cut into florets you’ll want to mix it together with the oil and seasoning ingredients:
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Whisk together oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
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Add cauliflower florets and stir until they are well coated in the sauce.
Air Frying
The air fryer is sort of like the oven in that it needs a little bit of time to heat up. At a minimum, you always want to heat your air fryer for at least 3 minutes before adding in your food for the best results.
- Heat air fryer to 370°F for at least 3 minutes. Place cauliflower into the air fryer basket once it’s heated up and cook for 10-12 minutes.
- Toss the basket halfway through cooking to ensure it all cooks up evenly.
- Serve cauliflower with a sprinkle of paprika and finely chopped parsley.
FAQs
What size Air Fryer is best for this recipe?
This recipe was created using a 6-quart Air Fryer. However, a smaller or larger air fryer may also be used.
If using a 4-5 quart model, you may need to increase your cook time by a few minutes. If using a larger air fryer, you’ll want to decrease your cook time by 1-2 minutes.
Do I need to use that much oil?
Two tablespoons is just the right amount to evenly coat about 5 cups of cauliflower florets. You can reduce this amount to 1 tablespoon or even spritz it with some non-stick cooking spray. It is not recommended to cook cauliflower completely oil-free, though.
What type of oil is best for air frying?
A higher smoke point oil is best for air frying, such as avocado or safflower oil. Olive oil may also be used but you’ll want to make sure to keep your cooking temperature below 375 degrees.
Can I cook broccoli this same way?
Yes! The steps for making air fryer broccoli are very similar to this cauliflower recipe. You’ll simply want to reduce the cook time to 4-5 minutes.
Other Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
If you want a few other simple vegetable side dish ideas to make in the air fryer, you may also enjoy:
Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe
Extra crispy, full of flavor, and SO easy to make - this Air Fryer Cauliflower recipe is sure to become your new go-to side dish for weeknight dinners! Florets are lightly coated in oil, seasoned with garlic powder and paprika, and then air fried until golden, crispy, and crunchy. And the best part? You can have this low-carb, keto, and vegan dish ready and on your table in less than 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower cut into bite-sized florets
- 2 Tbsp. oil olive or avocado
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- ¼ tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- Parsley optional
Instructions
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Heat air fryer to 370°F for at least 3 minutes.
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Whisk together oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
-
Add cauliflower florets and stir until they are well coated in the sauce.
-
Place cauliflower into the air fryer basket and cook for 10-12 minutes, tossing the basket halfway through.
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Serve cauliflower with a sprinkle of paprika and finely chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Recipe Video
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