Learn how to make Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower in just 10 minutes! This simple vegetable recipe is a delicious, perfectly roasted, and healthy side dish for all your meals that is quick and easy to make!
Jump to:
- How Do You Make Cauliflower Not Mushy?
- Cauliflower and Cruciferous Vegetable Benefits
- What Do Broccoli and Broccolini Taste Like?
- What is Chinese Cauliflower?
- Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower Cooking Tips
- What You Will Need To Make Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Air Frying Cauliflower 101
- BEST AIR FRYER TIPS
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
- More Air Fryer Recipes:
How Do You Make Cauliflower Not Mushy?
Air Frying broccoli is fantastic! It is fun to switch up your cauliflower routine and guarantees 100% turnout. While the saute and steam method is excellent, sometimes we add just a little too much water, and the cauliflower becomes too mushy and soft.
I think cooking cauliflower in the oven is great, just not in the summer. I do not want to turn on my oven when it is 40 degrees outside! Sometimes, when you add a little too much oil, the oven roasted cauliflowers gets mushy!
Cooking cauliflower in the air fryer seriously yields the best cauliflower side dish! It is an excellent cooking method without using a lot of oil to get the job done right. Take this Garlicky Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts recipe a try!
You can use the same method with other Cruciferous vegetables like broccolli and broccolini. Cauliflower and broccoli belong to the same Brassicaceae mustard family of vegetables.
Cauliflower and Cruciferous Vegetable Benefits
The cruciferous vegetable is those with edible flower buds and stalks. The list includes arugula, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, horseradish, turnips, radish, watercress, collard greens, etc.
- Rich sources of fibre; vitamins C, E, and K, sulphur, carotenoids, folate, glucosinolates and minerals.
- Cruciferous vegetables may help prevent clogged arteries, reduce artery thickness and improve cardiovascular heart health.
What Do Broccoli and Broccolini Taste Like?
Cauliflower - Mild and nutty with sweet undertones.
Chinese (Taiwanese) Cauliflower - Greener, more vibrant and sweeter than the regular Western cauliflowers.
What is Chinese Cauliflower?
Karifurore Cauliflower resembles a bouquet of baby's breath, and their looseheads consist of branching or slender stocks that are smooth, crisp, firm and vibrantly green.
Taiwanese cauliflower is an excellent vitamin C antioxidant and rich in dietary fibre, vitamin K, and potassium.
Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower Cooking Tips
Air Fryer Cauliflower is one of the simplest ways to indulge in roasted vegetables at a fraction of the time! This nutrient-rich vegetable dish is mess-free and will not heat up the house!
What You Will Need To Make Air Fryer Cauliflower
Cauliflower - Use Cauliflower florets or tender young Karifurore cauliflower stalks with fluffy tiny florets at the top to absorb flavours and seasonings.
Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil - Use one or two tablespoon of olive oil is enough to toss and evenly coat your vegetables.
Seasoning - The essential salt and pepper is a delicious start. Adding some garlic powder or paprika is a nice boost of flavour.
Water: Add two tablespoons of water to the air fryer. The extra water will help the air fryer not smoke and steam the cauliflower tenderly.
Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower?
Absolutely! Do not hesitate to cook frozen cauliflower in air fryer. The excess water will work to help tenderize and steam the vegetable.
Air Frying Cauliflower 101
How to cook cauliflower in an air fryer? Here are some valuable tips for you to nail that perfect char.
- Remove the florets from your head of cauliflower. Approximately 2-inch florets.
- Evenly coat the cauliflower with olive oil. Cooking spray oil works too.
- Season the cauliflower with salt and pepper, garlic powder and chilli powder if you prefer. Gently coat all sides.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Next, arrange the cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd. You are better off repeating this process if you can't fit in all the cauliflower.
- How long to cook cauliflower in the air fryer? Air Fry for 10 minutes (I use the Ninja Foodi, and I love it!). Flipping halfway and checking at the 5-minute mark.
- Carefully remove from the air fryer, serve and enjoy.
Enjoy your perfectly charred, roasted, healthy cauliflower recipe with your favourite protein!
BEST AIR FRYER TIPS
If you've never cooked with an air fryer before, this small kitchen appliance can be a little intimidating. However, I swear by its convenience and versatility and its use of rapidly circulating hot air to cook crispy food without using too much oil!
Here are a few tips for anyone who has (or is planning on getting) an air fryer!
1. What is the best temperate to air fry cauliflower?
It is best to air fry cauliflower at 400F to mimic the high heat temperature of an oven. Don't worry! Your cauliflower will still be tender with just the right about of char.
2. How long should I air fry cauliflower for?
Depending on the size and how much cauliflower you put into the air fryer, 10 minutes should cook it thoroughly with a slight char. This also depends on the model of your air fryer, so you may want to reduce or increase the air frying time by one to two minutes.
3. Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
Based on experience, you should always preheat the air fryer before filling it with food. By doing this, the air fryer's temperature is more consistent, and your food will cook more evenly. Simply preheat your air fryer for two to three minutes before cooking.
4. How to choose the right air fryer?
Choosing the right air fryer for your kitchen depends on your lifestyle, available counter space, and if you intend to cook small or big batch meals. For us, we like the supersized XXL units that are big enough to cook a small chicken or 2 lbs chicken wings inside like THIS air fryer!
Did you make this Healthy Vegetable Snack and Low Calorie Side Dish? I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS
PrintAir Fryer Cauliflower
Learn how to make Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower in just 10 minutes! This simple vegetable recipe is a delicious, perfectly roasted, and healthy side dish for all your meals that is quick and easy to make!
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 persons 1x
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Air Fry
- Cuisine: Pacific North West, Canadian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 head of cauliflower florets (approximately 3 to 4 cups)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp water
- ½ garlic powder (optional)
- sprinkle of lemon sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- Remove the florets from your head of cauliflower. Approximately 2-inch florets.
- Evenly coat the cauliflower with olive oil. Cooking spray oil works too.
- Season the cauliflower with salt and pepper, garlic powder and chilli powder if you prefer. Gently coat all sides.
- Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd. You are better off repeating this process if you can't fit in all the cauliflower.
- Set the air fryer to 400F for 10 minutes (I use the Ninja Foodi, and I love it!), flipping halfway and checking in at the 5-minute mark.
- Carefully remove the cauliflower from the air fryer.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Finish and sprinkle with lemon sea salt, vegan parmesan cheese,or nutritional yeast if desired.
- This recipe was made in a Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer.
- For even cooking, don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer.
- Preheat the air fryer for a more even cooking heat distribution.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 115
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 354.3 mg
- Fat: 7.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 10.9 g
- Protein: 4.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
SAVE THE ABOVE IMAGE TO YOUR AIR FRYER RECIPE BOARD TO BOOKMARK THIS PAGE. WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SHARE MORE TASTY FOOD WITH YOU!
More Air Fryer Recipes:
- Air Fryer Soy Garlic Chicken Wings 蒜蓉醬油雞翅 氣炸鍋
- TikTok Air Fryer Pasta Chips
- 15 Minutes Air Fryer Corn
- 5 Minute Air Fryer Bean Curd Sheets with Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry 氣炸鍋腐皮蒜蓉炒白菜
This post contains affiliate links and/or products submitted to Nomss for editorial consideration. To find out more, please visit our About/Disclaimer page.
Remove Ad-Block to view shopping guide!
Choclette says
Ooh yummy. Cauliflower is such a useful vegetable. I haven't tried air-frying it your way before so can't wait to give it a go.
Emily says
This is brilliant! Such a delicious snack, everyone loved it!
Nancy says
i could eat the whole head of cauliflower myself in one sitting!
Donny says
I love the version with nutritional yeast! So easy, too.
Nancy says
it totally adds a nice earthy punch will all the healthy benefits
Stacey Crawford says
This is super simple and makes such a tasty crisp, seasoned cauliflower.
Nancy says
easy and fool proof. feel free to adjust the seasoning to your preference
Megan says
Wow, these are so addictively delicious; it could be easy to eat too much cauli! 🙂 Thanks for turning me on to lemon sea salt, too, what a fun spice to put this over the top.
Nancy says
lemon salt is so nice on everything!
Shelby says
This was the perfect side dish and I used the leftovers in pasta the next day- double win!
Nancy says
what a great idea with the leftovers!
Jerika says
I love cauliflower! I have not tried it crispy, so I'm so excited to try this. Thank you!:)
Nancy says
Crispy is the best!
Jeannie says
I didnt know I can also make them in the air fryer, cant wait to try this. Will let you know again after we made this
Nancy says
It's arguably the best way to cook this vegetable!
Melinda says
A new yummy way to prepare cauliflower, my favorite veggie!
Nancy says
It never fails in the air fryer!
Jacqui says
I love my air fryer and this recipe is absolutely perfect! So delicious and easy to make, thank you!
Nancy says
i agree Jacq! it never fails!
Michelle says
This went so well with my dinner tonight! So glad I had some cauliflower in the fridge!
Nancy says
it's such an easy healthy vegetable side!
Elizabeth says
Absolutely delicious! We loved it!
Nancy says
i live for healthy bites
Kristina says
Great recipe.
Nancy says
thanks Kristina!
Lucy says
This cauliflower turned out perfectly, with such a great crisp texture. It makes such a quick and easy side dish that goes well with so many different meals.
Nancy says
Totally!! Lucy, plus is frees up your kitchen stove for another dish 🙂
Natalie says
Looks perfect. I have to give this recipe a try.
Nancy says
I'm sure you will love it Nat!
Saif says
I never thought that air frying cauliflower will be that easy. This looks healthier and delicious
Nancy says
Once you go air fryer, you can never go back!
Ana says
Such a convenient way to make cauliflower in the air fryer. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy says
ready in a fraction of the time!
Alexandra says
So delicious and makes a perfect side dish.
Nancy says
and ready in just 10 mins! can't beat that!
Andrea says
love this cauliflower recipe so much! so crisp and delicious!
Nancy says
Thanks Andrea!! can't argue with being ready in 10 mins!
Rob says
Such an easy and delicious way to prepare cauliflower.
Nancy says
It's a no brainer!
Katie says
Love this recipe! Such a delicious way to enjoy cauliflower!
Nancy says
I can't go back to making oven cauliflowers anymore