Air Fryer Parmesan Cauliflower

Crispy, cheesy and oh-so-delicious! This Air Fryer Parmesan cauliflower is going to become your new favorite way to enjoy cauliflower. 

This quick 15 minute recipe is perfect for those busy days when you want to put a healthy-ish side on the table with minimal effort and ingredients. The best part? It’s so versatile, it pairs wonderfully with pretty much everything!

Air frying is such an easy way to cook veggies. It turns them nice and crispy, and is actually pretty easy and effortless too. 

I’ve made vegan zucchini fries in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer broccoli with ranch seasoning and even experimented with an Air Fryer weight watchers asparagus recipe. 

And on days when I want to make a cauliflower side dish, I turn to my Air Fryer bang bang cauliflower or this cheesy cauliflower recipe, and it’s always a big hit!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Perfect for busy days: This easy Air Fryer cauliflower recipe will become your savior on busy weekdays. It’s perfect for times when you don’t want to spend too long in the kitchen. 
• Cheesy and delish: It’s crispy, cheesy and lightly seasoned. What could be better? 
• Healthy side or snack: Whether you’re enjoying it as a veggie-based snack or serving it as a side dish with a hearty main, it’s perfect either way!

Ingredients For the Air Fryer Parmesan Cauliflower Recipe

• Cauliflower: You’ll need a medium head of a cauliflower, or a few cups of cauliflower florets. If you have a large cauliflower, you can use the leftovers to make roasted cauliflower mash. 
• Oil: To toss the cauliflower florets in, and to help the seasonings stick to the surface. I would recommend using an oil that has a high smoke point like avocado oil, grapeseed oil or refined olive oil. 
• Parmesan cheese: I would recommend using freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the perfect cheesy crust. 
• Breadcrumbs: I’m partial to panko breadcrumbs, but you could also use gluten-free breadcrumbs or pork rind if you want to. 
• Seasonings: Just a bit of garlic powder, crushed black pepper and some kosher salt to season the florets. 

Variations & Substitutions

• Swap the Parmesan cheese for nutritional yeast or your favorite vegan cheese to make vegan Air Fryer Parmesan cauliflower.
• Lend the dish a bit of extra flavor by seasoning the cauliflower florets with some onion powder or Italian seasoning mix. 
• Turn this into a spicy and cheesy side by adding a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika along with the seasonings. 
• Use other veggies like broccoli, carrots, zucchini or eggplant and follow the exact recipe to make different versions of this recipe. 

How to Make Air Fryer Parmesan Cauliflower

Start by preheating your Air Fryer at 380 degrees, and washing and pat drying your cauliflower. 

Chop cauliflower: Chop the cauliflower head into small, even sized florets using a sharp knife. 

Season time: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, oil, salt, garlic powder and pepper and add in the cauliflower florets. Toss until all the florets are well coated.

Air fry: Transfer the florets to the Air Fryer basket and arrange in a single layer. Air fry for 10-12 minutes or until they turn golden brown. 

Serve: Top the florets with some chopped parsley and serve immediately. 

Tips & Tricks to Make the Parmesan Cauliflower in Air Fryer

• Less is more: This recipe uses less oil; however, to get the crispy exterior, you will need to make sure that you coat your cauliflower with a thin coat of oil so that the cauliflower crisps up.
• Make cleanup a breeze: For a quick cleanup, you can line your air fryer basket with parchment paper.
• Leave room: Just like with all Air Fryer recipes, avoid overcrowding the Air Fryer with too many cauliflower florets. Leave some room for the hot air to flow throughout the basket, helping the florets get nice and crispy. 
• Buffalo sauce fun: Drizzle some buffalo sauce over the florets right before you serve to turn them into Air Fryer buffalo cauliflower.
• Ranch style: Love the creamy and tangy flavor of ranch? Top the air fried cauliflower florets with some copycat Wingstop ranch to take them to the next level. 
• Shake shake: Remember to shake the Air Fryer basket a couple of times to ensure the florets are nice and crispy on all sides. 

Storage Instructions

Refrigeration: You can store your leftover Parmesan cauliflower in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. 

Reheating: To reheat the cauliflower, pop in the oven for a few minutes, or in the Air Fryer if you want it to be extra crispy. 

Serving Ideas & Suggestions

These crunchy cauliflower florets are best served as a side dish with any grilled or roasted protein of your choice. 

I personally love teaming them up with my air fried stuffed flank steak, Ninja Speedi steak and on occasions, with my Ninja Foodi lamb chops too. 

If you’re like me and can’t do without a dipping sauce to go with it all, try making my copycat Mc Donald’s BBQ sauce or avocado lime ranch dressing. 

FAQs

Can I use frozen cauliflower to make Air Fryer Parmesan cauliflower? Yes, you can use frozen cauliflower to make this recipe too. Just make sure you allow it to thaw completely and remove all moisture from it before you season it to get it nice and crispy. Check out my detailed post about how to air fry frozen cauliflower too! 

I don’t have Parmesan cheese. What else can I use? Pecorino Romano cheese and cheddar cheese are both great options if you’re looking for a substitute for Parmesan cheese. 

How can I make the cauliflower extra crispy?  To get an extra crispy texture, make sure all the florets are well coated with the breadcrumbs. Also, try to cook them in small batches. 

Can I microwave leftover Parmesan cauliflower to reheat it? You could, but I wouldn’t recommend it as it can cause the florets to lose their crispiness. They may warm up, but they’ll most likely be soft and soggy. 

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
• Easy Air fryer Cauliflower Gnocchi
• Air Fryer Broccoli
• Air Fryer Trader Joe’s Chocolate Croissants
• Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

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