Two Ingredient Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower

Name: Two Ingredient Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 17 min
Ingredients: 1/2 head cauliflower; 1/3 cup Olive Garden Italian Dressing (Light version if store bought); 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese

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Cauliflower is an amazing vegetable, rich in nutrients and very versatile. We’ll show you how to cook the perfect Air Fryer Cauliflower.

After having roasted cauliflower at a salad bar, I came home and figured it out how to make it in my air fryer! While I was looking at different seasonings – I realized I already had one ingredient in my fridge that had everything I needed. So now I created this delicious roasted cauliflower recipe with just two ingredients!!! Wahoo!

I had air fried brussels sprouts before – so I knew air fryer cauliflower had to be similar. Cauliflower is a little more hearty – so it doesn’t get as crispy but it’s also very absorbent so it took on the flavors like a champ! Plus, air fryer cauliflower is much quicker than a traditional “oven roasted” cauliflower recipe!

Air Fryer Cauliflower Ingredients

There’s only two ingredients to this dish – but one of them is chock full of other ingredients – but it’s still simple!

* Cauliflower – you’ll need 1/2 head of cauliflower for this recipe which is enough for two people. I’ve got tips on how to trim your cauliflower below.

* Olive Garden Italian Dressing – you can either buy this in the store – or use my recipe (which is spot-on!). This is chock full of garlic powder, black pepper, kosher salt and all your favorites!

* OPTIONAL: I also like to add just a touch of freshly grated Parmesan cheese at the end

That’s it! Plus – there’s no additional oil – other than what’s in the dressing.

How to trim cauliflower florets

I’m a rare breed that’s been eating cauliflower since I was a kid. My dad never let me say no to a vegetable. So I’ve also been trimming it since I was a kid as well!

Start by removing any outer leaves
Using a sharp knife – I like a boning knife because it has a long blade and is fairly pointy – Cut the head of cauliflower in half from the top of the tree to the base
Then cut the cauliflower half into half again
You can easily see and cut out the core and stems so you’re just left with big florets
From there, cut the large florets into more bite-size pieces – or you could even pull them apart!

How to season cauliflower

For this air fryer cauliflower recipe – I went with an Italian seasoning – but there are many ways to season your cauliflower! Here are a few alternate options:

Buffalo – these Cauliflower Buffalo wings are always popular – you can mimic this by tossing your cauliflower in buffalo sauce – or you can use a buffalo seasoning with a tablespoon of olive oil so the seasoning sticks
Indian – you can make an Indian-inspired seasoning mix with yellow curry powder, cinnamon, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt & pepper
Spicy & Smokey – mix together smoked paprika and chili powder

How to make fresh Cauliflower in an air fryer

In a large bowl, toss cauliflower florets in Italian dressing
Add to air fryer basket – 400 for 10 min
- I would recommend keeping the cauliflower in a single layer – or maybe slightly piled. You want the air to circulate around the florets. Depending on how much cauliflower you’re making and the size of your air fryer, you might need to make your cauliflower in batches.
Open air fryer and shake cauliflower pieces
Grate a little fresh Parmesan over the cauliflower
400 for 7 min more
Remove from the air fryer and add a little kosher salt

This roasted cauliflower is great on top of a salad – like the Olive Garden Salad I just made. The first time I had roasted cauliflower – was on a salad bar – so it’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy it.

Tips, Tricks & FAQs

Is there a dipping sauce I can serve with these?

If you’ve got some picky eaters, you could serve with cheese sauce or even some ranch dressing. I really think it’s delicious on it’s own though!

Can you air fry cauliflower?

Of course! You can air fry pretty much anything!

How many carbs are in cauliflower?

There are 29 grams of carbohydrates in half a head of cauliflower. If you’re eating keto – you should try and stay under 50 grams a day – but you also probably won’t eat a half head in one sitting – so you should be good with this low-carb option.

Is cauliflower good for weight loss?

Well – it sure can’t hurt! It’s very low in calories, high in fiber and many other vitamins, a great source of antioxidants and has a high water content. All these add up to cauliflower being a great tool in a weight loss journey!

Can I air fry without oil?

Yes, of course – but it really depends on the food you’re air frying. With cauliflower – you need some sort of liquid to help the seasoning stick and prevent the vegetable from just drying out. If you don’t want to use tablespoons of olive oil – I recommend getting an olive oil sprayer and spritz the foods. It uses a lot less oil – but still helps. It’s especially helpful when you want items to brown in the air fryer.

Can you use frozen cauliflower?

You can air fry frozen cauliflower – but it’s going to be much softer using fresh. Frozen cauliflower florets retain the water more and when you air fry them – they just don’t get crispy or get more firm. That said – it’s still tasty!

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