Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for crispy air fryer cauliflower, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Cauliflower – I prefer to use a whole head of cauliflower so that it’s more fresh, but you can also buy a bag of florets for convenience. You can air fry the stems too, if you want to. Just make sure to remove the leaves. Olive Oil – Helps the cauliflower crisp up. Avocado oil works, too. Lemon Juice – Use fresh lemon for best flavor, or bottled for convenience. Feel free to skip this if you like, but I think it adds such a nice, bright flavor. Spices – Smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Aside from the salt and pepper, you can totally use any seasonings you want — see variations below!
How To Cook Cauliflower In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Flavor Variations
The classic version on the recipe card is the simplest, but you can totally change it up! Here are some other ways I’ve tried making air fryer cauliflower, and they were all delicious:
Garlic Parmesan – Halfway through cooking, add 1-2 cloves minced garlic (or just add extra garlic powder in the beginning), and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Shake the basket and finish cooking. Curry Spiced – Add 1 teaspoon of curry powder with the other seasonings. Chili Lime – Swap out lemon juice for lime juice and add 1/4 teaspoon chili powder to the spices. Sauces – Cook the cauliflower in the air fryer, then coat in your favorite sauce! Try tossing buffalo sauce (like my air fryer buffalo cauliflower) and serve with ranch dressing, or make it cheesy by using the cheese sauce from my cauliflower mac and cheese recipe.
Storage Instructions
Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat: The best way to reheat is to use the air fryer again for 2-3 minutes at 320-350 degrees F. The microwave is okay, but the texture will be more mushy. Freeze: You can keep air fried cauliflower in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to spread it on a parchment paper lined sheet pan first and freeze until solid before transfering to a zip lock bag, so that it doesn’t stick together. You can reheat right from frozen, too!
What To Serve With Air Fryer Cauliflower
I like to serve air fried cauliflower with garlic aioli as a dipping sauce (pictured above), but plain is great, too. Here are some main courses to pair with it as well: While you can certainly reheat cauliflower in the air fryer again later, I like to repurpose it for other dishes so that I’m not eating the same thing over and over. Throw extras in a roasted cauliflower salad, mix it with stir fry vegetables, use it to make cauliflower soup, or swap the broccoli in a chicken bacon ranch casserole.
Chicken – To use your air fryer for your entire meal, make air fryer chicken breast or air fryer chicken legs. If you prefer to make your main dish and side dish in parallel, make lemon garlic chicken, crispy chicken legs, vibrant Mediterranean chicken, or baked whole chicken wings while you have the cauliflower in the air fryer. Beef – Serve your air fryer cauliflower with a juicy sirloin steak (or an air fryer steak), or make the best burgers! Seafood – You can’t go wrong with 10-minute air fryer salmon, but I’ve also served it with other fish, like pan fried tilapia and baked haddock. For a fancier seafood option on date night, make some butter poached lobster tails. Pork – Try some juicy air fryer pork chops, or start cooking a Crock Pot pork tenderloin ahead of time.
More Air Fryer Veggie Recipes
I’m kind of obsessed with air fryer recipes for different vegetables! You might also like these: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email.
