• Side Dishes
  • Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

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    This healthy roasted garlic cauliflower recipe is a super simple and fast side dish to accompany any meal. Even the pickiest of eaters will be begging for seconds and thirds! Quick and easy to prep and wonderfully seasoned.

    roasted cauliflower with parmesan  on a plate

    I love cauliflower. I love it raw as a snack or in a creamy cauliflower soup, as creamy mashed cauliflower, or roasted with crispy browned edges. This roasted garlic cauliflower is very easy to prepare. I toss the cauliflower florets with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper, and some Parmesan, and lemon juice when it comes out of the oven. 

    Roasting cauliflower gives it a nice buttery and nutty flavor. And combining it with a little bit of garlic, fresh lemon juice, and Parmesan, takes it over the top. An irresistible side dish, even to people who don’t like cauliflower! I love this crispy baked cauliflower recipe because it’s a hands-off and tasty side dish that is also healthy, low carb, and a family favorite!

    Be sure to check out my Cauliflower Rice Recipe and Loaded Cauliflower Bake.

    oven baked cauliflower with crispy edges on a blue plate

    Roasted Cauliflower Ingredients

    What you need to make this oven-roasted cauliflower recipe:

    • Cauliflower: Cauliflower can be fairly bland it taste, but when it’s roasted it brings out the wonderfully nutty flavors.
    • Garlic: Use freshly chopped garlic cloves for the best flavor.
    • Oil: I like to use olive oil, but another high-temperature oil like canola or avocado would also work.
    • Salt and Pepper: For seasoning.
    • Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice adds a wonderful flavor and the acid helps to cut through the creamy cauliflower.
    • Parmigiano Reggiano: Use freshly grated parmesan rather than pre-grated for the best flavor.
    ingredients for roasted cauliflower on a cutting board

    How To Roast Cauliflower in the Oven

    • Preheat oven to 450 F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Combine cauliflower, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper well so all the florets are coated and seasoned.
    • Place in two large shallow parchment-lined roasting pans and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, turning florets halfway so they are evenly cooked.
    • Remove from oven and top with grated cheese and additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm.
    how to make roasted cauliflower

    What to serve with roasted cauliflower?

    I could easily eat a whole bowl of it for dinner but I like to serve it best as a side dish with baked chicken, honey sriracha salmon, grilled shrimp, or steaks.

    Can you make it ahead of time?

    Parmesan roasted cauliflower is best served as soon as it’s cooked so that it doesn’t get too soft. You can get ahead of things by cutting and tossing the cauliflower in the seasoning and then placing it on a large baking sheet. You then just need to pop it in the oven when you are ready to cook it.

    How to store it?

    Roasted cauliflower can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days. You can reheat it in a skillet on the cooktop or in the oven at 350 F until warm.

    close up shot of roasted garlic cauliflower in a plate

    Is it vegetarian?

    You can easily make this cauliflower side dish vegetarian by using rennet-free parmesan cheese. If you want to make this a vegan side dish, simply omit the cheese, it will still be delicious!

    Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy?

    Once roasted, the oven-baked cauliflower should be nice and firm, tender but not too soft. If it is too soft it’s probably because you added too much oil. The florets absorb all of the oil that they are tossed in, so add too much and they will end up mushy after roasting. You only need a couple of tablespoons, don’t be tempted to add more.

    roasted garlic cauliflower with grated Parmesan and crispy edges in a plate

    TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN

    Recipe Notes and Tips

    • Cut the cauliflower florets into similar sized pieces so they roast evenly.
    • Don’t overcrowd the roasting sheet. The garlic cauliflower should be placed in a single layer so that the roasted cauliflower florets get those nice crispy and caramelized edges.
    • Use fresh lemon juice and freshly grated parmesan for the best flavors.
    close up of cauliflower on a fork

    More Easy Side Dish Recipes

    roasted cauliflower with parmesan on a plate
    5 from 6 votes
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    Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

    Roasted Garlic Cauliflower – A super simple and fast side dish to accompany any meal. Even the pickiest of eaters will be begging for seconds and thirds!
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 77kcal

    INGREDIENTS

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Preheat oven to 450 F.
    • Combine cauliflower, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper well so all the florets are coated and seasoned.
    • Place in two large shallow parchment-lined roasting pans and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, turning florets halfway so they are evenly cooked.
    • Remove from oven and top with grated cheese and additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm.

    TIPS & NOTES

    • Cut the cauliflower florets into similar sized pieces so they roast evenly.
    • Don’t overcrowd the roasting sheet. The garlic cauliflower should be placed in a single layer so that the roasted cauliflower florets get those nice crispy and caramelized edges.
    • Use fresh lemon juice and freshly grated parmesan for the best flavors.

    NUTRITION

    Serving: 118g | Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5.3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 237mg | Fiber: 2.8g | Sugar: 2.6g
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Keyword how to roast cauliflower, roasted cauliflower with garlic
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    Comments

    Lana Rosepetal

    Hi Neli,

    Thanks for all these great recipes & for the great job you are doing!

    This one looks delicious & sure will be healthy with the powerful garlic specially during cold weather.

    Aimee Mars

    5 stars
    Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables and I’d happily just eat it plain, so I love simple healthy recipes like this one that enhance the flavor.

    Dannii

    5 stars
    Roasting cauliflower is the best way of eating it in my opinion.

    Toni

    5 stars
    OMG this is SO good! The texture is perfect and I can’t stop eating it. I love the simple ingredients.

    Nart

    5 stars
    This looks great. Think it would make a perfect side dish with something like chicken!

    Luci

    5 stars
    Roasted garlic cauliflower is one of my go-to side dishes! It’s always delicious and I even love to enjoy it as a main dish too!

    Jennifer

    Om my gosh that looks so good! Thanks for a new cauliflower recipe, this looks easy too.

    Elizabeth Johnson

    Making this tonight! Sounds so good 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

      Delicious Meets Healthy

      Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

    Hafsa

    5 stars
    wonderful recipe! Thanks for sharing!

      Delicious Meets Healthy

      Thanks, Hafsa!

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