Air Fryer Cauliflower is a simple low carb side dish that works great for family meals.
With the air fryer, you free up your stove and oven to make the rest of your meal. Plus you get a vegetable side dish that is easy to make and is packed with flavor.
If you haven’t tried making Air Fryer Cauliflower, scroll down for the recipe card or read on for tips and tricks!
AIR FRYER CAULIFLOWER
Air Fryer Cauliflower is perfectly seasoned and turns out slightly crispy and oh so delicious. It is also a great low-carb and low-calorie substitute for french fries.
The cauliflower is cut into small pieces and the florets are not separated. The smaller the pieces, the better they crisp up. This easy side dish is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. If you are in a hurry to get dinner on the table the air fryer comes in handy to help you make the meal in a short amount of time.
This air fryer recipe works great as a holiday side dish as well!
HOW TO CHOOSE FRESH CAULIFLOWER
When choosing cauliflower, look for tight white florets with no brown spots. You want it to have nice green leaves and no dark blemishes.
Fresh cauliflower will not be wet. If the cauliflower is wet, it means that it was harvested too early. Make sure that your cauliflower has no visible mold or mushy spots to ensure that you have the freshest tasting vegetable.
HOW TO PREP A CAULIFLOWER
Wash and rinse the cauliflower then pat it dry.
To cut the cauliflower to prepare it to cook, start by removing the leaves and any extra stem. You can do this by putting your knife in the stem and cutting around.
Then cut or pull off chunks of florets. You want them to be about bite-sized or no bigger than about two bites.
CAN I CHANGE THE SEASONINGS IN THIS RECIPE?
Yes! You can easily change up the seasonings in this recipe to your taste.
Add a bit of cayenne pepper or any favorite spice blend. Feel free to try any of the favorites from your pantry!
CAN I MAKE FROZEN CAULIFLOWER IN THE AIR FRYER
Yes, you can make frozen cauliflower in the air fryer.
However, it is best not to cook frozen items at excessively high temperatures because it can cause uneven cooking. And, I’ve found that using frozen cauliflower in the air fryer returns a mushy vegetable instead of slightly crispy on the outside.
If you really want to use frozen cauliflower thaw the cauliflower first and then drain and dry it for best results.
IS FRIED CAULIFLOWER HEALTHY?
The air fryer is an excellent cooking method for making cauliflower.
It cooks the vegetable quickly and evenly resulting in a nice crunch on the outside of the vegetable while maintaining its firmness and texture on the inside.
The best part about using the air fryer to cook cauliflower is that you can use less oil than other methods without sacrificing taste. This means that yes, cauliflower in the air fryer is a very healthy side dish option!
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CAULIFLOWER?
Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C, K, and folate.
It also contains high amounts of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and many phytochemicals that are beneficial for good health.
IS CAULIFLOWER KETO-FRIENDLY?
Yes, cauliflower in the air fryer is very low in carbs.
It is a perfect substitute for french fries, which are usually made with potatoes.
HOW TO AIR FRY CAULIFLOWER
This recipe makes about 4 servings. It takes about 5 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook.
To make this easy recipe, you’ll need a few simple ingredients:
- head cauliflower, cut into florets
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
You can tweak the seasonings to your liking or change the basic recipe up. Full ingredient measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Prepare the cauliflower by removing the leaves and extra stem. Then cut or break it into smaller florets that are the size of a bite or two.
Toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Spread the cauliflower in an even layer in the basket of the air fryer.
Cook at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes, tossing the basket every 3 minutes to prevent burning.
MORE AIR FRYER VEGETABLES
If you’re looking for more easy air fryer side dishes, try one of these:
HOW LONG TO COOK CAULIFLOWER IN THE AIR FRYER
The air fryer should only take about 8 to 10 minutes. The time will vary depending on how large your cauliflower is and how well cooked you like it.
Cauliflower should be a little crispy and slightly browned (the smaller and flatter pieces tend to cook faster than the larger rounder shapes).
HOW DO I STORE LEFTOVER AIR FRIED CAULIFLOWER?
Leftover cauliflower should be stored in the refrigerator and used within 3-4 days. It can also be frozen for 6 months.
Place the leftover cauliflower in a zip lock freezer bag to help with portion control when it is time to reheat.
HOW DO I REHEAT LEFTOVER CAULIFLOWER IN THE AIR FRYER?
To reheat leftover cauliflower in the air fryer, simply spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.
Place the leftover cauliflower in a single layer on top of the baking pan and then cook it at 375°F for 6-8 minutes until warm.
Air Fryer Cauliflower
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower (cut into florets)
- ½ Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cut the cauliflower into bite sized florets.
- Toss the cauliflower florets with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Spread the cauliflower in an even layer in the basket of the air fryer.
- Cook at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes, tossing the basket every 3 minutes to prevent burning.
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