Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Tested by
Diana Andrews Reviewed on 12/24/20 by
Awareness of the world around you leads to inspiration, interpretation, and some really good cooking!
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Diana Andrews
Updated 06/17/21
Roasted cauliflower with parmesan cheese
Diana Rattray
Prep: 12 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 42 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
118 Calories
8g Fat
8g Carbs
6g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 118
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 562mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 64mg 321%
Calcium 134mg 10%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 236mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Roasting is one of the best ways to cook fresh cauliflower, and this Parmesan-roasted cauliflower recipe is delightfully simple. It's an easy and healthy side dish. Your whole family will enjoy crispy cauliflower with a sweet, nutty flavor that's enhanced by the Parmesan and a perfect pairing for garlic. Best of all, it cooks in just 30 minutes with very little prep required.

Compared to other cheesy cauliflower recipes, this one whips up quickly. The dry heat tenderizes the veggie, so there's no need to precook the florets by boiling or steaming. That also prevents it from getting mushy. Instead, the cauliflower is tossed with a savory mixture of garlic and Parmesan cheese, then tossed in the oven and roasted to perfection.

Serve this easy cauliflower as a side dish with an everyday meal or a holiday dinner.

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Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons crushed garlic

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Line a large rimmed baking pan with foil and position oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 F.

  3. Toss the cauliflower florets with the olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. Alternatively, toss all the ingredients directly on the baking pan.

  4. Spread the cauliflower out in an even layer on the pan.

  5. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and lightly browned.

  6. Transfer the cauliflower to a serving bowl with all the brown bits in the pan.

Tip

  • Choose a large baking sheet that allows the cauliflower to be spread out in a single layer. Overcrowding can lead to mushy cauliflower.

Is This a Healthy Cheese Cauliflower Dish?

Cauliflower is touted as one of the healthiest vegetables because it's a good source of many vitamins and minerals. Pair that with its versatility, and it's no wonder cauliflower is being used as a stand-in for everything from mashed potatoes to chicken. Cheese is one of the best pairings for cauliflower, and the duo is used often in recipes. Many cheesy cauliflower recipes use cheddar and nutritionally it is comparable to Parmesan. However, it's the quantity that counts. Where cheddar recipes tend to get really cheesy with 1 1/2 cups or more, Parmesan is often just 1/2 cup. Additionally, this roasted recipe skips the milk and butter commonly found in baked cauliflower recipes, so it is a healthier option.

Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. FoodData Central. Cauliflower, Fresh, Cooked With Oil; 1103486. US Department of Agriculture. October 2020.