This crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower is ready in 12 minutes. Serve it as a side dish or tasty snack with a delicious dipping sauce.
I've kept this recipe plain and simple by adding olive oil and salt, but you could add some spices such as cumin, paprika or turmeric.
Cooking cauliflower in the air fryer saves much time than roasting it in the oven. There's no waiting for the oven to heat up, and it's cooked and ready to eat in half the time.
The only downside is if you have a large cauliflower, you may need to air fry it in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Also, as cauliflower can burn quickly in the air fryer, it's worth checking it every couple of minutes towards the last half of cooking. Timing will depend on the size of the cauliflower florets and the make and model of the air fryer.
If you’re looking for more easy Air Fryer recipes, you might like my Air Fryer Baked Potatoes or Air Fryer Tofu - both are simple, tasty sides that pair well with cauliflower.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Super quick compared to oven baking.
- Makes a tasty side dish.
Recipe Ingredients
Note: The full quantities are shown in the recipe card below.
- Cauliflower - remove the cauliflower leaves, cut the whole cauliflower into quarters, remove the inner stalks, and cut the cauliflower into florets.
- Olive oil - or sunflower or canola oil.
- Salt - we love to use as Maldon sea salt flakes or Himalayan pink salt.
How to Cook Cauliflower in the Air Fryer
Note: This is a summary of the instructions. The full ingredients and instructions are shown in the recipe card below.
Step 1
Toss the cauliflower florets in olive oil and salt.
Step 2
Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. They shrink a lot while cooking, so don't be afraid to cram them in.
Step 3
Shake the basket every few minutes. Towards the end of cooking, check every minute as the cauliflower ends can burn quickly.
Top Tip
As all air fryers are different and the florets may be various sizes, you must check the cauliflower regularly to ensure it doesn't burn.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the cauliflower as a side dish - perfect alongside a roast dinner, as part of a salad bowl, or as a tasty snack paired with your favourite dip.
Cauliflower Seasoning Ideas
Cauliflower pairs beautifully with a variety of spices. Here are some great options to try:
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Turmeric
- Garlic powder
- Oregano, thyme or rosemary
Storage
Leftover cauliflower can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Common Questions
Yes - there is no need to thaw the cauliflower beforehand. Frozen cauliflower cooks exceptionally well in the air fryer.
Opinions may vary but given how quickly cauliflower cooks in the air fryer, it is unnecessary to parboil it first.
Absolutely! Cauliflower leaves are incredibly flavorful and only take a few minutes to cook in the air fryer.
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Cauliflower
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower, leaves and stalks removed, then cut into florets, note 1
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt, such as sea salt flakes or Himalayan pink salt
Instructions
- If your air fryer needs to be preheated, preheat it to 190℃ (375℉). (Not all air fryers require preheating).
- Place the cauliflower florets in a mixing bowl. Cut any big florets in half so the cauliflower cooks evenly. Add the olive oil and salt and toss to combine.
- Arrange the cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Since the cauliflower shrinks as it cooks, it's okay if the basket is crowded.
- Cook at 190℃ (375℉) for 12 minutes, shaking the basket every 3 minutes. As the cooking time nears the end, check the cauliflower every minute to prevent the edges from burning.
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