Air Fryer Fried Cauliflower is the crispy, crave-worthy snack or side you didn’t know you needed. This recipe delivers all the crunch of deep-fried cauliflower without the oil or hassle—just simple ingredients and your trusty air fryer. It’s quick, flavorful, and guaranteed to turn even veggie skeptics into fans.
I love flavoring cauliflower to make it irresistable to my family. Two of their favorites are my baked parmesan cauliflower and my cauliflower with cheese bake.
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Why this Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipe is a Keeper
Fried cauliflower recipes are crispy, easy, and seriously satisfying. I promise, you’ll want to make this one again and again.
- Crispy Texture without Deep Frying: This is the main reason. You achieve a wonderfully crispy exterior, similar to traditionally fried cauliflower, but with significantly less oil, making it a healthier alternative.
- Healthier Option: By using an air fryer, you drastically reduce the amount of oil needed, cutting down on calories and unhealthy fats compared to deep-frying.
- Quick and Easy: Air frying is generally a very fast cooking method, and cauliflower florets cook relatively quickly, making this a great weeknight side dish or snack.
- Versatile Flavor Profile: Cauliflower itself is a blank canvas, readily absorbing the flavors of seasonings, batters, and sauces.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Even those who aren’t huge fans of vegetables often enjoy crispy, flavorful air-fried cauliflower. It’s great as an appetizer, side, or even a vegetarian main with the right sauce.
How Do I Get my Air Fried Cauliflower Really Crispy?
The key to a crispy coating is to dry the florets, do a light oil coating and use a little cornstarch. You should also avoid overcrowding the basket. You may need to do two batches if your air fryer isn’t big enough.
What Reader’s Are Saying…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely the best crispy bites! My kids devoured these—easy, fast, and so flavorful.”
~ Lisa
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Ingredient Notes for this Air Fryer Recipe
This air fried cauliflower bites recipe uses easy-to-find ingredients and a few smart shortcuts to create serious crunch:
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Cauliflower Florets: Fresh is best for crispiness. I like to chop up a head of cauliflower into florets myself.
- Olive Oil: A light mist or drizzle helps the coating stick and crisps everything up.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds flavor and texture. Use grated for best coating.
- Seasoning Blend: Garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper give this its signature flavor.
Variations and Substitutions for Cauliflower in the Air Fryer
This crispy air fryer cauliflower recipe is easy to make your own.
- Breading/Coating: Add a breading! Try panko breadcrumbs, gluten-free crumbs, almond flour, finely ground pork rinds, seasoned cornstarch or flour, or a tempura-style batter or beer batter.
- Seasonings: Add all kinds of seasoning to the breadcrumbs or sprinkled on after cooking this air fried cauliflower recipe.
- Spicy: Cayenne pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder.
- Herby: Dried oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley.
- Cheesy: Add grated Parmesan or nutritional yeast to the breading.
- Curry: Add curry powder to the coating for an Indian-inspired twist.
- Ranch: Mix in a dry ranch seasoning packet.
- Sauces & Dips (served with): I like to toss or dip my roasted cauliflower in BBQ, ketchup, sweet chili, ranch dressing, garlic parmesan, lemon-garlic aioli or yogurt dips. I personally like buffalo cauliflower tossed in buffalo sauce.
- Add-Ins (to the coating or served alongside): Try adding nutritional yeast for a cheesy umami flavor, or sesame seeds for a nutty flavor.
- Go Vegan: Skip the parmesan and add nutritional yeast for a cheesy vibe.
- Use a Different Veggie: This method works great with broccoli, zucchini, or Brussels sprouts too.
Special Equipment Needed for Crispy Cauliflower
No fancy gear needed—just your air fryer and a mixing bowl:
- Air Fryer: This is the non-negotiable item! Any model will work, though basket-style air fryers are most common for this type of dish.
- Oil Mister or Sprayer: Helps apply a light, even coat of oil for optimal crispiness.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower
This recipe comes together in 3 quick and easy steps. This easy side dish is so good, it quickly became one of my favorite snack or appetizers.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Prepare Cauliflower: Wash fresh cauliflower, and cut into florets if using a head.
- Toss in Garlic Parm: Stir olive oil, parmesan and garlic together in a large bowl. Add the cauliflower and toss to coat florets with olive oil mixture.
- Air Fry Cauliflower: In a single layer, add seasoned cauliflower to the air fryer basket being sure to leave space between each floret. Air fry for about 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.
Prep Ahead Suggestions to Cut Cauliflower Florets
Get ahead on prep to make this recipe even faster.
- Cut Cauliflower: Cut your cauliflower into florets and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure they are very dry before coating.
- Prepare Breading Station: You can pre-mix your seasoned flour and breadcrumbs in separate shallow dishes or zip-top bags. Store at room temperature or in the fridge if they contain cheese.
- Make Sauces/Dips: Prepare any dipping sauces or glazes ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator.
- Pre-Coat & Refrigerate: Coat cauliflower up to 1 hour ahead and store on a parchment-lined tray in the fridge.
Alternate Cooking Methods
This recipe is designed for the air fryer, but here are a few other methods:
- Oven Roasting: Toss florets with a good amount of oil and seasonings. Roast on a baking sheet at 400-425°F (200-220°C) for 25-35 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender and browned. This won’t be as “fried” crispy as air frying, but still delicious.
- Deep Frying: For a truly traditional fried cauliflower, you can deep-fry breaded florets in oil at 350-375°F (175-190°C) until golden brown and crispy. This uses significantly more oil.
- Pan Frying: For smaller batches, you can pan-fry breaded florets in a shallow amount of oil in a skillet until golden and cooked through.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftovers
These bites are best fresh but can be enjoyed later with these tips.
- Storage: Store leftover air fryer fried cauliflower in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The crispiness will diminish significantly upon cooling.
- Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer. Place the cauliflower back in the air fryer basket in a single layer at 350-375°F for 5-8 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally, until heated through and crispy again.
- Oven: Reheat on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 375-400°F (190-200°C) for 8-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy.
- Microwave (Least Recommended): While it will heat the cauliflower, it will become soft and lose all crispiness. Only use if absolutely necessary and crispiness isn’t a concern.
- Using Leftovers: I like to enjoy leftovers again in cauliflower tacos or wraps, in stir fries, grain bowls, salad toppings or in curry or stew.
Common Questions About This Breaded Cauliflower Recipe
Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower?
Yea, thawed frozen florets work. Just make sure they’re dry!
How Do I Prevent the Coating from Falling Off?
The best way to make sure the cauliflower is coated, is to pat them dry with a paper towel before you toss the cauliflower.
Recipe Tips for Making Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
- Dry Florets are Key: Pat the cauliflower florets very dry with paper towels before coating. Excess moisture creates steam, leading to soggy results instead of crispy ones.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: This is perhaps the most important tip for air frying success. Cook in batches if necessary, leaving space between the florets for hot air to circulate. Overcrowding leads to steaming.
- Shake or Flip Halfway: Ensure even browning and crispiness by shaking the air fryer basket vigorously or flipping the florets with tongs about halfway through the cooking time.
- Light Oil Spray: A light spritz of oil over the coated cauliflower helps achieve a golden, crispy exterior. A reusable oil mister is a great investment.
- Season Generously: Cauliflower is mild, so don’t be shy with your seasonings in the flour or breading mixture.
- Consider a Breading Station: For perfectly coated cauliflower, set up three shallow dishes: one with seasoned flour, one with beaten egg (or a plant-based egg substitute), and one with seasoned breadcrumbs/coating. Dredge, dip, then coat, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Adjust Cook Time for Size: Smaller florets will cook faster than larger ones. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Experiment with Dipping Sauces: The right dipping sauce or a glaze tossed on at the end can elevate air fryer fried cauliflower from a simple side to an exciting dish.
- Serve this With: Serve with Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings, Grilled Shrimp Skewers or Peach Coffee Cake.
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Crispy Air Fryer Fried Cauliflower
This air fryer fried cauliflower is the crispy, crunchy veggie snack you’ve been missing. With just a few pantry ingredients and 15 minutes in the air fryer, it’s easy, flavorful, and perfect for weeknights, game day, or even picky eaters.
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Ingredients
- 4 cups Fresh cauliflower florets
- 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon Grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
Instructions
- Wash the cauliflower, and break into bite sized florets if using a full head of cauliflower, rather than a precut bag of florets.
- Add the olive oil, parmesan, and garlic to a large bowl and stir well to mix together.
- Add the cauliflower florets, and mix around to coat the cauliflower with the mixture.
- Add a single layer to the air fryer basket, and air fry for 14 minutes, at 400℉, shaking the basket once about halfway through cooking.
- Remove from the air fryer, and serve hot!
Christina’s Notes
- Crisp Is in the Drying: Always start with dry cauliflower for golden results.
- Don’t Skip the Shake: Toss halfway through cooking for even crispiness.
- Batch If Needed: If your air fryer is small, cook in two batches so nothing steams.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.
Nutrition
Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 48mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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