Spicy parmesan roasted cauliflower is an easy side dish, snack, or appetizer. Those crispy red pepper flakes and toasted parmesan cheese give cauliflower southern flair as you can see!
How you may ask? Cauliflower florets are tossed in olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes then roasted in the oven. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and roast a little longer. Delicious with just a little kick!!
Why You'll Love It
Delicious, healthy cauliflower is kicked up a notch with this spicy seasoning blend. You can easily adjust the amount of heat to your own preference. Add parmesan cheese at the end and you've got a winning flavor combination!
Not-so-boring side dish. Do you often get tired of the same old side dishes? There are a ton of ways to prepare cauliflower and you might get burned out on some. If so, this recipe is a little different and a perfect way to get cauliflower back into your meal planning rotation!
Roasting vegetables is a very popular way to cook vegetables. When you roast them, it adds richness and delicious flavor. Vegetables will be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Topping them with parmesan cheese adds another layer of richness, flavor, and a little crispiness.
Check out my Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon! These will become your new favorite way to eat these little veggie cuties.
Ingredients
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower calls for simple and flavorful seasonings!
Head of Cauliflower - use fresh cauliflower for this recipe. Buy the pre-cut cauliflower florets to save yourself some prep time.
Parmesan Cheese- towards the end of roasting, add shredded parmesan cheese for an extra flavor booster and added crispness!
Minced Garlic - I think I add garlic to just about every entree or side dish because of the wonderful flavor it provides. Keep a jar of minced garlic in your fridge for easy access with no chopping needed.
Crushed Red Pepper - adds a little (or a lot) of pizzazz to this side dish. This recipe is anything but lame lol.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - olive oil is a great, high-quality oil to use for high-heat cooking such as roasting.
Salt & Pepper - Use fresh ground for best results, or go for a more intense kick and add Cajun seasoning instead.
How to Make It
- Cut fresh cauliflower into bite-sized pieces.
- Place into a bowl or plastic sealable bag. Add olive oil and toss to coat. Place cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Mix chopped garlic, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle seasoning mixture over all the cauliflower florets and toss to coat.
- Roast in a 450F oven for about 20 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Turn on the broiler. Sprinkle cauliflower with parmesan cheese and return to the oven. Broil for about 2 minutes or until cauliflower is browned and cheese is nice and melty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost any vegetable can be roasted in the oven, such as:
-- Root vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, radishes, turnips, rutabagas, etc.
-- Broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, zucchini, yellow squash, spaghetti squash, etc.
-- Bell peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, corn, etc.
You could use Asiago or Romano and shred as needed.
Not exactly! Roasting is usually at a higher temperature (400F and higher). Baking is usually around 350F. Roasting usually involves a solid, firm texture such as meat or vegetables, while baking includes cakes, cookies, and bread (going from a soft texture to a firmer texture).
Expert Tips
Try this roasted vegetable seasoning blend for other vegetables, too. Broccoli, mushrooms, and zucchini are all great choices - don't forget to add the parmesan cheese at the end!
Freshly shredded parmesan cheese is best! Option 2 is the already shredded cheese in the refrigerated section of your store. However, I do not recommend the shelf-stable, canned (or plastic container) grated version (you won't get the same taste or results).
Line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy clean up.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover parmesan roasted cauliflower in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I love these Bayco Glass Storage Containers because the lids lock in place.
More Tasty Side Dishes
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Recipe
Spicy Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Equipment
- rimmed sheet pan
- measuring cup(s)
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 Head cauliflower, rinsed, dried, and cut into florets
- 3 Tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon Minced garlic
- 1-2 teaspoon Crush red pepper flakes
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut fresh cauliflower into bite-sized pieces. Place into a bowl or plastic sealable bag. Add olive oil and toss to coat. Place cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Mix chopped garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Sprinkle seasoning mixture over all the cauliflower florets and toss to coat.
- Roast in a 450 oven for about 20 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Turn on broiler. Sprinkle cauliflower with parmesan cheese and return to oven. Broil for about 2 minutes or until cauliflower is browned and cheese is nice and melty.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2019 and was updated in 2022.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
LD Brown
I’m going to make it for Christmas and turkey