All Recipes | Breakfast | Dinner (Mains) | Dessert | Side Dishes | Soups | Appetizers | Salads | Snacks | Beverages | Breads
Over the years, cauliflower has had a bad rap. It can have a strong taste, and it has a tendency to become mushy when it is overcooked. A lot of people aren’t interested in this vegetable, but the truth is that they haven’t given it much of a chance. In fact, these cauliflower recipes will change your mind about the vegetable. When you give it a chance, it’s pretty good!
1. Yes, Cauliflower Steaks Are a Thing
If you are like most people, you have had cauliflower in small pieces, like broccoli. This doesn’t have to be the way you enjoy cauliflower. In fact, you can prepare cauliflower like a big steak, made fresh with lemon, herbs, and almonds. You’ll love the seasoning blend and the chimichurri sauce, which add so much more flavor.
This recipe will change the way you see cauliflower, and you’ll never see it as a bland vegetable ever again. If you are vegan or vegetarian, this method of preparing cauliflower will be right up your alley.
2. Keep it Low Carb With Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
Ree Drummond’s “Mac” and Cheese recipe is so simple and tasty that it would be a travesty to leave it off this list. If you are still new to exploring cauliflower, you do not want to miss out on this super simple but tasty meal. In sum, this recipe is like macaroni and cheese without the carbs associated with noodles.
You’ll still get plenty of cheesy goodness. You can play with the types of cheese in this recipe. I love how well it works with the recommended goat cheese, parmesan, and pepper jack. I top mine with plenty of hot sauce.
3. You Can Always Bake Your Cauliflower, Keeping It Simple
This cauliflower is battered and crispy, exactly how you would prepare chicken wings. This recipe relies on gochujang sauce, a staple in Korean recipes. If you really want to, you can skip the battering process altogether and simply roast the veggies.
You’ll still get the rich, syrupy glaze on top. If you’ve never tried crispy cauliflower, you’ve got to give this recipe a try. It will blow your mind how well the cauliflower takes to the sticky sauce. Serve the cauliflower with rice to create a full meal, and add more veggies to create a complex flavor.
4. Soon, You’ll Replace Your White Rice With Cauliflower Too
Now that you’ve grown a taste for cauliflower, you are going to love using it to make rice. This rice is low in carbs, which makes it the perfect healthy substitute for white rice. Once you make it, you can toss it into a stirfry, in a burrito, or on the side of your favorite chicken dish.
If you have a food processor, you can easily make this riced cauliflower in no time at all. In fact, it may take less time to make than your typical rice recipe. You might never want to go back to white rice.
5. First Cauliflower Rice, Now Cauliflower Tater Tots? Is This Real Life?
Yes, cauliflower tots are real, and they are as tasty as your favorite tater tots. They lack the calories and carbs, of course. You’ll achieve a crunchy texture with panko breadcrumbs. You’ll get a lovely flavor with chives, salt, pepper, and cheddar.
This recipe also helps you make a tasty spicy ketchup. The hardest part? Steaming your cauliflower ahead of time. As a bonus, you can also cook this recipe in your air fryer. Many people prefer this method of cooking because it creates a crispier texture.
6. This Cauliflower Bolognese Is the Perfect Vegetarian Pasta
Even if you aren’t a vegetarian, this cauliflower bolognese is going to hit the spot. Besides cauliflower, this dish also uses lentils. You’ll get plenty of protein, and you won’t even miss the ground beef. You can even prep and freeze the cauliflower ahead of time so that you can toss together a quick dinner in a pinch.
If you want to up the ante on the nutrients in this pasta, you can use zoodles or spaghetti squash. That will make this dish low in carbs and even higher in protein. You’ll forget that you ever had a bad thought about cauliflower after this!
7. Now That You Love Cauliflower, Let’s Try Something New
If you’ve never explored Indian cuisine, you might not be familiar with gobi pakora. These cauliflower fritters are savory and deep-fried, two of my favorite qualities. If you maintain a strict vegan lifestyle, this treat will feel decadent in all the best ways.
Now, let’s say that you are trying to avoid fried foods. You can still enjoy this treat by baking the cauliflower. Keep in mind that you will not get the same crispy texture if you do this. The secret to great flavor with this dish is to marinate your cauliflower in the spices.
8. When You’re in a Rush, Just Roast Your Veggies With Cheese
Roasting cauliflower is still a great way to enjoy this veggie. But, you need to make sure that you season it first. This recipe calls for black pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, and lemon peel. Of course, you can play with seasoning to create your own flavor based on your family’s favorites.
This dish is so easy that it makes a great side dish alongside something more complicated. Parmesan cheese is the perfect topping for this cauliflower. If that’s not crunchy enough, add toasted nuts on top.
9. Yep, You Can Pickle Cauliflower Too
Let’s say that you love pickles but you’re still on the fence about cauliflower. Why not combine the two and see if you change your mind? These pickled cauliflower florets are a bit spicy and super easy to make with a few ingredients.
While the recipe calls for habanero peppers, you can stick with a less spicy pepper if you want. The longer you let the cauliflower sit in the brine, the more intense the flavor will become. These pickled cauliflowers will keep in the fridge for several weeks. This makes them the perfect snack.
10. Or You Could Roast an Entire Head of Cauliflower Like a Boss
If you’ve never roasted an entire head of cauliflower, now is the time. Not only will you get a tasty cauliflower out of this recipe, but you’ll also make an unbeatable butter sauce. This could be your next main course or a side dish.
No matter what you’re serving, this vegetable is the perfect addition to the meal. You can bake the entire head for less than an hour and get tender (but not mushy) cauliflower. It’s worthy of presentation on its own plate, and you’ll be proud to show off your work.
11. Make Your Own Buffalo Cauliflower “Wings” From Scratch
I bet you never thought you could get addicted to cauliflower. That’s exactly what will happen when you bake these “wings.” Even if you are an omnivore, you will love these crispy cauliflower bites. They are deceptively healthy, and you can make them as spicy as you’d like them to be.
This dish is seriously a win for everybody, including your gluten-free friends. Plus, you’ll get a much larger serving size based on calorie intake. Meatless and low in carbs? Say no more! I’m sold.
12. This Veggie Casserole Blows Others Out of the Water
If you are looking for your next Thanksgiving side dish or you want to impress your family, this dish is perfect. This casserole is low in carbs because it does not have rice or potatoes. It relies on broccoli and cauliflower to bulk it up. Quickly steaming these veggies will give you great results.
You’ll love the texture. The addition of cheese and seasoned bread crumbs will give you the perfect crunch on top of your dish. This detailed recipe helps you do each step with accuracy. Even reluctant eaters will be swept off their feet.
13. So You Love Cauliflower, But Have You Tried it on Pizza?
This pizza recipe is ready for summer. You can start with your own flatbread recipe or use naan from the store. You’ll top it with buffalo sauce, mozzarella, cauliflower, and kale. The buffalo flavoring on the veggies will be perfect, and the crispy texture hits the spot. This dish is savory and full of vegetables.
You can also make this recipe vegan with a few substitutions. Oh yeah, did I mention that this recipe can be gluten-free? This dish is perfect for every member of the family. In fact, you can even make a variety of small pizzas for each person to customize.
14. This Creamy Soup Is Calling Your Name
If you have never made a cream of cauliflower soup, you’ll find that this recipe is healthy in a surprising way. It’s not packed with cheese and cream like other recipes, which is what sets it apart. Instead, you’ll get loads of vegetables, including celery and leeks.
It’s packed with nutrients as well as flavor. The ginger and curry powder create a tasty soup you’ll love. You’ll also use a non-dairy substitute for the cream, which means this soup is vegan. You can also customize your dish with toppings that you love, like onions and salt. It’s going to be your go-to this autumn.
15. Spice Up Your Life With Jamaican Jerk Cauliflower
If you are used to eating Jamaican jerk chicken, this recipe shouldn’t be any surprise to you. This tasty bowl is packed with nutrients. You’ll add not only cauliflower but also rice, peas, plantains, cabbage slaw, and tomatoes. You can make this dish in steps, preparing the rice and cabbage slaw ahead of time.
You can also make your own jerk sauce or buy a pre-made sauce from your favorite store. Either way, you will not even realize that you are tasting cauliflower. The recipe tastes exactly like jerk chicken, but it’s perfect for a vegetarian dinner.
16. This Cauliflower Gnocchi Is About to Rock Your World
Forget what you thought you knew about Italian cuisine. This gnocchi will change your view of gnocchi too. You can easily make this dish with cauliflower instead of potatoes. In fact, this substitution will make it so much healthier.
Even if you’ve never made homemade pasta, this recipe is simple enough. It’s packed with nutrients, including fiber. Not to mention, you can top your gnocchi with pesto, bolognese, Alfredo, or marinara sauce. The choice is yours, and your taste buds will encourage you to explore your many sauce and cheese options.
17. As It Turns Out, Cauliflower & Italian Food Is a Great Pair
Not to mention that cauliflower also goes with keto-friendly dishes. This recipe promises to fool pasta lovers, who will not even realize it’s made of cauliflower. These faux noodles are super easy to make, and they taste so good with creamy ricotta cheese.
You will not need to have any special skills to throw this together. It’s super satisfying and tasty, even if you usually cook with traditional noodles. This healthy substitution will change the way you see Italian cuisine. Now that you know how to cook cauliflower, the world of healthy foods is starting to open up.
18. Don’t Worry, You Can Satisfy Your Chinese Food Kick Too
Chinese takeout is a staple in my home. When I’m looking for something healthier, I turn to General Tso’s chicken. When I want to feed vegetarian friends, I turn to General Tso’s cauliflower. You can even mix the two if you’re an omnivore and want to improve your vegetable intake.
The sauce will not taste any different, but you can at least get an extra serving of vegetables into your diet. This takeout dupe will leave you so surprised that you aren’t eating chicken.
19. Step Up Your Mashed Potato Game (Minus the Potato)
Let’s face it: we all love mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, it’s not the healthiest side dish. For this reason, you might want to find an alternative. Pumpkin and cauliflower mash is perfect. Once you try cauliflower mash, you will not want to go back.
You simply need a Dutch oven and a food processor to bring your mash to life. The addition of canned pumpkin helps you achieve a creamy texture. If you are ready to elevate your favorite side dish, you will find that this is actually a serious upgrade.
20. Toss that Cauliflower Onto a Pizza
Are you looking for a 30-minute meal? This pizza is perfect. It’s sweet and savory thanks to cauliflower, pineapple, and sauce. You can use store-bough pizza crust or make your own. You can even cook a gluten-free meal with some simple substitutions.
You might be surprised to see that this recipe contains cannellini beans. It’s actually a great addition as far as texture goes. Plus, it adds protein to your pizza. Feel free to play with the cayenne pepper on this dish to make sure that you get a little extra flavor. It definitely won’t overpower the sweetness.
21. Everybody Loves Orange Chicken, So This Is an Easy Go-To
Now, this one is a crowd-pleaser. Most people love orange chicken. There is a reason it’s one of the most popular takeout dishes out there. Here’s the thing: I promise that they’ll also love orange cauliflower. It’s a fantastic choice for any occasion: picnics, casual dates, or family dinners.
The good news is that you can still get that crispy texture we’ve all come to expect from orange chicken. Cauliflower is actually easier to crisp than many other vegetables. I like to add a bit more sriracha to mine to make it spicier!
Tips for Cooking Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be tricky to cook without a recipe if you are a newcomer to the vegetable. One of the reasons many do not like cauliflower is that it has a tendency to become mushy if it is overcooked or boiled. This is why steaming is often the preferential way to cook this vegetable.
Here’s another tip: always make sure that your cauliflower florets are about the same size when you cook them. This ensures that the pieces are all done at the same consistency and around the same time.