Garlic Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan

This Garlic Roasted Cauliflower is an easy and healthy side dish! It's made with cauliflower florets that are topped with Parmesan cheese.

When it comes to roasted vegetable side dishes, it doesn't get any easier than this Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower. The amount of flavor that comes out of it versus how much work goes into it seems almost wrong.

I make roasted cauliflower all the time. This is one of those no fuss, no frills recipes that's perfect served alongside your favorite dishes on busy weeknights.

It only takes a little more than 20 minutes to prepare this dish and it requires a few simple ingredients to make. This recipe is made with fresh cauliflower florets, olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt and pepper, and Parmesan cheese.

All of the ingredients are tossed together on a baking sheet and oven roasted until the cauliflower is tender and golden brown. The Parmesan cheese gives it a rich and slightly nutty flavor that keeps you going back for more.

I love to garnish roasted vegetables with some minced chives or any fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro for extra color and flavor. This is a versatile side dish that goes with just about anything.

Jump to:

• Does Cauliflower Need To Be Washed Before Roasting?
• Ingredients For Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
• How To Keep Roasted Cauliflower From Getting Soggy
• How To Make Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
• Grate The Parmesan Cheese
• How Long To Roast Cauliflower?
• What To Serve With Garlic Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
• How Long Does Roasted Cauliflower Last In The Fridge?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Garlic Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan

Does Cauliflower Need To Be Washed Before Roasting?

Roasting vegetables is one of the best ways to prepare them. The roasting process helps to caramelize the vegetables, which brings out their natural sugars and creates that irresistible golden brown caramelization that we all know and love.

There was a four year period in my early adulthood when I had cable TV and I watched The Food Network regularly (OK, more like obsessively) and I noticed that Ina Garten - The Barefoot Contessa, was always roasting her vegetables.

If Ina Garten was doing it all the time, there had to be something to it. After trying it out, I understood the allure of roasted vegetables.

You can roast pretty much any vegetable, but cauliflower lends itself particularly well to the roasting process. Roasting the cauliflower brings out its natural sweetness and you can vary it with the addition of spices, herbs, and sauces.

I recommend washing cauliflower and any other vegetable before roasting it to help get rid of any dirt, bacteria, or pesticides that may be present.

Before cutting the head of cauliflower into florets, make sure to wash and dry it thoroughly.

Ingredients For Garlic Roasted Cauliflower

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 1 head Cauliflower (yields 6-8 cups florets)
• 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 2 tsp. Garlic Powder
• ½ tsp. each Kosher Salt and Pepper
• ⅔ cup Parmesan Cheese (shredded) (can sub Asiago or Romano cheese)
• Minced chives or herbs of choice for garnish (optional)

How To Keep Roasted Cauliflower From Getting Soggy

There are a few tips and tricks to employ to help ensure that the cauliflower is crispy and not soggy and mushy after roasted.

• Make sure to dry the cauliflower as much as possible after washing it. It's important that the cauliflower is dry so that it roasts properly. If the cauliflower is too wet, it will steam instead of roast.
• If you don't want to wash a head of cauliflower, you can use bagged, pre-washed cauliflower florets.
• Make sure that there is enough space between the cauliflower florets to ensure that the cauliflower roasts and does not steam. I recommend splitting the cauliflower florets between two baking sheets so that there is enough space between the cauliflower.
• Placing the cauliflower flat-side down will ensure that more of the florets are touching the surface of the baking sheet. This results in more golden brown surface area.
• Make sure that all the florets are relatively the same size so that they roast evenly.

How To Make Garlic Roasted Cauliflower

The process of roasting cauliflower (or any other vegetable for that matter) is quite easy.

The first step is to remove the outer leaves from one head of cauliflower and discard them into a compost bin.

The head of cauliflower is then cut into florets and placed onto baking sheets along with some olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt and pepper.

Shredded Parmesan cheese is added at the end of the roasting process.

Check out this post if you'd like more information on How To Cut Cauliflower Into Florets.

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Thoroughly wash and dry 1 head of cauliflower.
3. Remove any outer leaves from the cauliflower and discard.
4. Cut the head of cauliflower into florets, making sure that the florets are relatively the same size so that they roast evenly (yields 6-8 cups).
5. Place half of the cauliflower florets onto each baking sheet. Arrange the florets flat-side down, as this will create more golden brown surface area (optional).
6. Drizzle 1 ½ Tbsp. of olive oil onto each baking sheet. Toss the cauliflower until completely coated in the olive oil.
7. Sprinkle 1 tsp. of garlic powder and ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper onto the first baking sheet and toss until coated. Repeat with the second baking sheet.
8. Place the baking sheets in the oven and roast the cauliflower for 18 minutes.

Grate The Parmesan Cheese

This step isn't entirely necessary, but it does add a rich, nutty flavor to the roasted cauliflower.

Grated Parmesan cheese is added to the cauliflower near the end of the roasting process. You can also sub Asiago or Romano cheese if you prefer.

The cheese can be grated while the cauliflower is roasting in the oven. Alternately, you can use Parmesan that is pre-grated, but I find that grating it yourself yields better results.

Simply grate ⅔ cup of Parmesan (or cheese of choice) while the cauliflower is roasting in the oven.

How Long To Roast Cauliflower?

Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the size of the cauliflower florets and how golden brown you like your cauliflower.

The cauliflower is roasted at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 minutes and another 4 minutes after adding the Parmesan cheese.

Feel free to roast for an additional couple of minutes if needed.

1. After 18 minutes, remove the baking sheets from the oven and add ⅓ cup of grated Parmesan cheese (or cheese of choice) to each one. Make sure to sprinkle the cheese evenly over the cauliflower florets.
2. Return the baking sheets to the oven and roast for an additional 4 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and golden brown on the bottom.
3. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and toss the cauliflower in the melted cheese.

What To Serve With Garlic Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

I love this dish because it's flavorful and super versatile. You can pair it with any number of main dishes and enjoy it for lunch or dinner. It feels indulgent but it's healthy.

The natural sweetness of the cauliflower pairs nicely with the sharpness and saltiness of the Parmesan cheese.

For some extra color and fresh flavor, feel free to garnish this roasted cauliflower with some minced chives, parsley, or any herbs of choice.

It's perfect for lunch served with a dish like wild rice chicken salad, lemon basil BLT, mustard egg salad, or Gouda chicken grilled cheese.

Roasted vegetables are great for dinners like sloppy joes, pot roast, ground turkey spinach pasta, or air fryer turkey burgers.

This Parmesan roasted cauliflower makes an easy side dish for sandwiches like this corned beef Reuben, turkey Rachel, or Italian mozzarella grilled cheese.

Looking for more side dishes? Don't miss these recipes!

• Air Fryer Parsnips
• Gluten Free Au Gratin Potatoes
• Maple Dijon Brussels Sprouts
• Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Kohlrabi

How Long Does Roasted Cauliflower Last In The Fridge?

This roasted cauliflower should last 2-3 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

The cauliflower may lose some of its crispiness the longer it sits in the fridge.

Can It Be Frozen?

For the best taste and texture, I do not recommend freezing this dish. It's best enjoyed right away or within a few days.

This is a great recipe when you've got a head of cauliflower in the fridge and really aren't sure what to do with it.

It really is that easy! I hear a lot of people mention that they want to eat more vegetables, but don't know how to prepare them. To that I say, 'Roasted Cauliflower'. Problem solved.

Love roasted vegetables? Check out these recipes!

• Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower
• Herb Roasted Potatoes
• Maple Sesame Brussels Sprouts
• Ranch Roasted Potatoes
• Garlic Roasted Green Beans
• Sweet and Spicy Brussels Sprouts

Looking for more roasted vegetables? Don't miss these recipes!

Roasted Zucchini Salad

Roasted Carrots with Kale

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Vegetables with Dukkah