Air Fryer Crispy Cauliflower

This crispy air fryer cauliflower is about to become your new best friend in the kitchen. It’s quick, easy, and seriously addictive—plus, you don’t have to feel bad about going back for seconds (or thirds). Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t start air-frying cauliflower sooner!

Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower 

Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables, roasted, tossed in a salad, or even in a curry. It is so versatile that it can easily adapt the flavor around it or you can easily tweak the seasoning as per your taste preference, either way, it will taste good.

This air-fried cauliflower is very easy to make and a simple appetizer that is very healthy and flavourful with very little oil.  Air frying is the best way to cook extra crunchy and crispy vegetables, but you can also bake them.

In whatever way, it works best as an appetizer, or as a vegan meal, you can serve them with endless toppings options. I would go for freshly chopped parsley or cilantro with a little drizzle of lemon juice. You can also add sauce, parmesan, or roasted pumpkin nuts.

How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower 

This air-fried cauliflower recipe lets you quickly cook a healthy side dish and it only requires 5 ingredients to prepare this crunchy and flavourful appetizer.

PLUS everything here will take you under 20 minutes, so if you realize you did not prepare enough, you can easily whip up another batch of this fried cauliflower.

Ingredients for Roasted Cauliflower

  • Cauliflower: Cut or break the cauliflowers into medium to small florets. make sure to cut the cauliflower into the same pieces or the outer will get overcooked before the middle cooked through. 
    If you like to use frozen cauliflower, you do not need to thaw, simply toss them in olive oil and seasoning.
  • Olive oil: Adding a little bit of extra virgin olive oil will help to crisp up the outer surface as well as add more richness. 
  • Spices: onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper

Instruction

Cooking roasted cauliflower in an air fryer is very simple and quick. Though roasting in an air fryer and an oven is quite similar, only the air fryer is quicker than the oven and yes it uses a lot less oil as compared to the oven recipes. 

Wash and dry the cauliflower, then cut it into evenly sized florets. In a large bowl, toss the florets with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper until well coated.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes. Place the seasoned cauliflower in the air fryer basket in a single layer, cooking in batches if necessary. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until the cauliflower is golden and crispy.

Once done, transfer to a serving dish, garnish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired, and enjoy hot!

How to make Oil-free air fryer cauliflower:

You may get a bit different texture, but it will still turn out delicious and healthy(oil helps the cauliflower florets to get a crispy outer texture). You can use air fryer parchment papers to prevent the florets from sticking to the air fryer base. Air-fryer parchment papers are easy to use and cheap.

Tips To Make The Best Air Fryer Cauliflower 

  • Do not forget to preheat your air fryer or oven: the vegetable will get soggy if you forget to preheat the oven or air fryer, as the high temperature is very essential for the crispy texture. 
  • Dry the vegetable before roasting: To obtain the crisper texture on the surface, ensure the vegetable is dry enough or pat it dry with a kitsch towel and get that extra moisture out of it. 
  • Uniform size = Even roasting: always cut the vegetables in the same size. 
  • Combine the seasoning properly: combine and mix the seasoning and oil in a large bowl and make sure all the florets are coated properly. 
  • Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket

Storage and Reheating

If you have any leftovers (though that’s a big if with this tasty dish), storing and reheating your air-fried cauliflower is super simple.

Storage:
Let the cauliflower cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating:
To reheat, pop the cauliflower back in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for about 3-5 minutes, or until it’s heated through and crispy again.
You can also reheat it in the oven at a similar temperature, but the air fryer is your best bet for keeping that crispiness.
If you’re in a hurry, a microwave works too, but the cauliflower will be softer rather than crispy.

More Air Fryer Recipes 

If you like this recipe, I’d love it if you can give me a rating and comment! Share it with your family and friends! :-D 

Air Fryer Crispy Cauliflower

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Serves: 4 Prep Time: Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 5.0/5
( 7 voted )

Ingredients

  • 1 head Cauliflower (cut into bite-size florets)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Salt

Instructions

  • Start by washing and drying your cauliflower. Cut it into evenly sized florets, making sure they’re not too small—this helps them cook evenly and prevents them from becoming too soft.
  • In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Make sure each piece is evenly coated with the seasoning.
  • Preheat the Air Fryer, set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C), and let it preheat for about 3 minutes.
  • Place the seasoned cauliflower in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the cauliflower is golden and crispy.
  • Once done, remove the cauliflower from the air fryer and transfer it to a serving dish. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • If you want evenly roasted cauliflower, then make sure to cook in small batches and in a single layer. 
  • You can reheat the leftover roasted cauliflower by placing them in the air fryer for 2 to 4 minutes or until heated through. 
  • If your cauliflower florets are wet (after washing), it will get steamed inside the air fryer instead of roasting.
  • The exact time may vary based on what air fryer you are using.  
Did You Make This Recipe?
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