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Caramelized Air Fryer Cauliflower
This Caramelized Air Fryer Cauliflower is crispy on the edges, tender inside, and full of smoky flavor. Ready in under 30 minutes with just a handful of ingredients, it’s the easiest, most delicious way to enjoy cauliflower!
Servings: 4 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper plus more to taste (omit for a milder flavor)
- 1 medium head of cauliflower about 1 1/2lbs. cored and chopped (include the small leaves and as much of the stalk as you’d like)
- 1-2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. If you plan to line the air fryer with parchment paper, place it down when you add the veggies, not during the preheat.
- In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with the oil. Then toss with the spices and salt until every piece is evenly coated.
- Add the cauliflower to the basket in a single layer (a little overlap is fine—it will shrink as it cooks). Depending on your air fryer size, you may need to cook in batches.
- Air fry for about 20 minutes, flipping the cauliflower every 5 minutes, until the cauliflower is golden brown, fork-tender, and caramelized on the edges.
Notes
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Cut the cauliflower evenly. Do your best to cut the cauliflower into even-sized pieces so the florets cook uniformly. This ensures extra crispy edges.
- Don’t skip drying the cauliflower. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness! Pat the florets dry before seasoning to ensure golden, roasted edges.
- Toss well. Ensure the spice mixture covers the cauliflower evenly to get the best flavor in every bite.
- Shake the basket halfway through. This helps the cauliflower cook evenly and caramelize on all sides.
- Cook in batches, if necessary. If your air fryer basket is small or you’re doubling the recipe, air fry in several rounds. Overcrowding the basket prevents the cauliflower from caramelizing.
- Softer cauliflower. The air fryer creates cauliflower that has a juicy crunch, but it isn't soft like oven-roasted veggies may be. For melt-in-your-mouth texture, parboil the cauliflower for one minute before cooking. Allow it to cool until safe to handle before gently patting away excess moisture, and seasoning the cauliflower. Then follow the instructions below. You may find that 10-15 minutes in the air fryer is all it needs.
- Refrigeration: Store cooled cauliflower air fryer recipes in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Reheat cooked cauliflower in the air fryer at 350ºF for 4-5 minutes or until re-crisped and hot.
- Freezing: Not recommended for air fryer cauliflower recipes, as the cauliflower loses its texture when frozen after being air-fried.
Nutrition
Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 583mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 357IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg