Master the Basics and Make it YOUR Own
Watch our base recipe video to learn the basic skills, and discover how you can customize roasted cauliflower to your taste!
If you think you don’t like cauliflower, you have to try it roasted. If you already like cauliflower, get ready to like it even more! Our Parmesan roasted cauliflower recipe is a deliciously savory side dish that combines the natural sweetness of cauliflower with the nutty flavor of Parmesan. Roasted to crispy perfection, each bite is more irresistible than the last!
Must-Know Cooking Skills to Level Up your Kitchen Game
To make this recipe even easier, check out these videos to master the basics:
Plus, we’ve got an awesome Knife Skills 101 course to help you slice and dice like a pro!
Culinary Tips for the Best Seasoned Roasted Cauliflower
Whisking the oil and spices together first ensures every bite has the same amount of flavor. No bland bits allowed!
If using a whole cauliflower head, be sure to cut it into uniform, bite-sized pieces. If using bagged florets, break large pieces into smaller ones. That way, everything cooks evenly, and you won’t end up with sad, undercooked bites.
We experimented with tossing the cauliflower with Parmesan before roasting, but we found that the small bits (which happen to be our favorite) stuck to the pan and burned. Those are normally the best bites, so we decided that sprinkling the Parmesan after roasting was the way to go.
If you use shredded vs. grated parmesan, it might not melt as well. If it doesn’t immediately melt, pop the pan back in the oven for a minute.
Should you steam cauliflower before roasting? Nope! The oven will cook it perfectly, giving you that ideal balance of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. No extra steps needed!
Be sure not to overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding causes steaming, which will lead to mushy cauliflower. We’re here for the crispy crunch, not soggy florets!
For more roasting tips, check out our How to Roast Vegetables article!
Ingredient Swaps & Substitutions
- Canola Oil: Substitute with a non-expensive extra virgin olive oil. We’ve found that the cheaper bottles from your local grocery store can withstand high heat.
- Cauliflower: Feeling adventurous? Try colored cauliflower! Yellow and purple varieties add a fun pop.
- Granulated Garlic: Substitute ¼ teaspoon garlic powder or 2 minced garlic cloves.
- Paprika: Use regular paprika, or for an extra flavor kick, substitute with smoked paprika.
- Parmesan: Substitute with grana padano or pecorino.
- Parsley: Use fresh oregano or basil for a different flavor.
- Lemon: Fresh lemon juice is always best, but bottled works in a pinch.
We like to buy our spices from the Spice House. They have great quality, variety, and flavor!
Recipe Variations: Make it Your Own!
Add more spices or take some away – make this recipe to YOUR taste! We love experimenting with different flavors and ingredients to keep things exciting.
Want some roasted cauliflower inspiration?
Use our roasted cauliflower base recipe as a guide, and create your own signature variation!
Equipment Recommendations: The Essentials
You just need a few basic tools for this recipe. Here’s your shopping list:
- Nested mixing bowls – great for mixing, great for storing!
- Measuring spoons – precision makes a difference
- Spatula – for scraping up every last drop of flavor
- 13 x 18 Baking Sheet – no overcrowding, please!
- Citrus juicer – for game changing real lemon juice
- Cutting board & Chef’s knife – to cook like a chef, of course!
Want to level up your kitchen game? Check out our Essential Equipment Guide for all the must-have tools!
Health Benefits of Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Not only is Parmesan roasted cauliflower delicious, but it’s also packed with nutrients. Bonus points for cheese lovers (that’s us!); even Parmesan has health benefits!
Cauliflower
Eating a variety of non-starchy vegetables is important for your health. Eating a variety of colors, including white, is key! Cauliflower contains many vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. These nutrients improve health by decreasing inflammation in your body.
Spices
Granulated garlic and paprika add flavor and nutrition to this recipe. Using spices helps reduce the amount of salt needed for flavor, which may help reduce hypertension risk and promote heart health. Additionally, spices contain powerful antioxidants which may help reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation leads to chronic disease like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Parmesan
Parmesan is rich in calcium, protein, and contains a decent amount of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Also, due to its aging process, it contains beneficial probiotics that can improve your gut and overall health. We do need to be mindful of the saturated fat cheese also contains, so limiting the amount is important.
Dive into our ingredient guide to discover the freshest, tastiest picks for all your recipes—because great ingredients make all the difference! 🌟🍎
Serving Suggestions for Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Serve Parmesan roasted cauliflower as a tasty side dish to any balanced meal. Want to keep the Parmesan theme going? Pair it with our pesto-crusted salmon or turkey pesto meatballs.
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
Storage & Reheat Tips
Got leftovers? No worries! Parmesan roasted cauliflower will last up to a week in the fridge, but we’ll be honest – it’s not quite as crispy the next day. To bring back that crunch, reheat it in the oven!
Want More Parmesan Veggie Sides? We Got You Covered!
Check out these favorites, and as always, adjust to YOUR taste:
Lemon Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan
Parmesan Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Share the Love – Leave us a Review!
Unlike many other recipe blogs, we actually encourage you to tweak our recipes. Not because they’re in need of change, haha, but because we believe one of the secrets to success in the kitchen is cooking to YOUR taste. Make the recipe, leave us a review, and tell us if you made any changes! We love hearing how you’ve made it your own.
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tablespoons canola or avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 12 ounces cauliflower florets ~1 large head
- 2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese fresh is best
- 1 Tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
- Sprinkle lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oil, spices, salt, and pepper.
- Break larger cauliflower florets into smaller pieces and add to the bowl. Using a spatula, toss to evenly coat with oil mixture.
- Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan. Roast for 16-18 minutes or until edges are brown and florets are easily pierced with a fork. Remove pan from oven, push cauliflower together in the center, and immediately sprinkle on parmesan cheese while still hot.
- Garnish with parsley and sprinkle with lemon juice. Enjoy!
