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    Home / Recipes / Sides / Whole Roasted Cauliflower

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower

    April 19, 2023 by Keto Cooking Christian 14 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, see Disclosure.
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    Impress your guests with this show-stopping, deliciously seasoned Whole Roasted Cauliflower recipe. And the great thing is that it only takes 5 minutes of prep and a few basic ingredients!

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with edge being taken out
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    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You’ll Love this Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
    • 🛒 What You’ll Need to Make a Roasted Cauliflower
    • 🔪 How to Roast a Whole Cauliflower
    • How to Store Leftover Keto Roasted Cauliflower
    • How Do You Know When Cauliflower is Done Baking?
    • Is Cauliflower OK for Keto?
    • What are the Net Carbs in Cauliflower?
    • Do You Have to Wash Cauliflower Before Roasting?
    • How To Serve Whole Roasted Cauliflower
    • What Goes with Roasted Cauliflower?
    • Do You Have to Blanch a Head of Cauliflower Before Roasting it?
    • Why is My Roasted Cauliflower Mushy?
    • More Keto Cauliflower Recipes

    ❤️ Why You’ll Love this Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

    • Load with parmesan garlic flavor
    • Oven roasted until fork tender
    • Takes only 5 minutes to prep
    • Impressive presentation, perfect for special occasions
    wedge of Whole Roasted Cauliflower on white plate with grated parmesan

    Roasted cauliflower is becoming increasingly popular among Keto and low carb dieters due to its unique and versatile flavor. But this whole roasted cauliflower takes things to a whole new level with a very impressive presentation.

    This easy recipe involves seasoning a whole head of cauliflower, then roasting it in the covered Dutch oven or baking dish until it becomes tender and beautifully caramelized, resulting in a side dish that is both delicious and visually stunning.

    roasted cauliflower floret on end of fork

    A delicious and nutritious twist on the classic roasted cauliflower, this recipe is easy enough for casual dinners or is elegant enough to serve for holidays or special occasions.

    Once you taste this roasted cauliflower recipe, you may be craving other roasted vegetables. These Honey Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Cheesy Roasted Asparagus are both wonderful side dishes the whole family will love.

    🛒 What You’ll Need to Make a Roasted Cauliflower

    • Cauliflower
    • Parmesan cheese
    • Olive oil
    • Butter
    • Garlic
    • Smoked paprika
    • Dried thyme
    • Salt
    • Ground black pepper

    *Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

    🥣 Recommended Tools

    • Dutch oven, casserole dish or large pot
    • Mixing bowl
    • Brush
    • Whisk

    🔪 How to Roast a Whole Cauliflower

    Preheat oven to 375°F.

    Wash your cauliflower and trim the stem and leaves.

    Tip: Make sure you don't cut too much of the stem, otherwise you will lose some florets.

    head of cauliflower upside down on cutting board

    Place the head of cauliflower in a dutch oven, casserole dish or large pot, stem side up.

    roasted cauliflower oil mixture glass bowl

    In a small mixing bowl, add in all the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.

    roasted cauliflower oil being poured over cauliflower in pot

    Pour half the mixture on the underside and brush to get in between the florets.

    roasted cauliflower oil being brushed over head of cauliflower in pot

    Flip the cauliflower over, brush the remaining mixture all over the top and sides, making sure the entire cauliflower is coated.

    Tip: No need to add any liquid to the pot because covering it will help create just enough steam to cook the cauliflower without it burning.

    whole cauliflower with spiced oil all over inside pot

    Cover and bake for 30 minutes.  Then remove the cover, increase the temperature to 425°F and bake for another 15 minutes or until fork tender and golden.

    Tip: If your pot or casserole dish doesn't have a lid, you can cover with aluminum foil.

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower in pot

    Allow to cook slightly, then slice into wedges and serve.

    How to Store Leftover Keto Roasted Cauliflower

    Once the cauliflower cools, the texture will becoming a good bit softer. Even so, the flavors will still be immensely delicious. 

    • Fridge: Place leftovers in a covered container in the fridge up to 4 days.
    • Freezing: It is not recommended that you freeze roasted cauliflower. 
    • Reheat: Reheat on the stovetop, in a small saucepan or skillet, over medium-low heat, until warmed through. You can also reheat the leftover cauliflower in the microwave.
    Whole Roasted Cauliflower on white plate with parsley

    How Do You Know When Cauliflower is Done Baking?

    When baking a whole head of cauliflower, the best way to tell if it is nice and tender is to take a fork with long tongs, or a wooden skewer and stick it down into the thickest part of the cauliflower. You should feel just a very slight bit of resistance going in but none coming out.

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with edge being taken out

    Is Cauliflower OK for Keto?

    You bet it is! Cauliflower is the MVP of all low carb veggies. It’s one of the most versatile of all vegetables allowing you to prepare it countless ways. It’s also very nutritious. In fact, it has just about every vitamin and mineral that you need, especially vitamin C, vitamin K and B6.

    What are the Net Carbs in Cauliflower?

    In a one-cup serving of raw cauliflower, there are 5.3 total carbs with 2.5 grams of fiber leaving the net carbs around 3 grams! That makes it an excellent choice when deciding on low carb sides that can really deliver on flavor.

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with wedge missing on white plate

    Do You Have to Wash Cauliflower Before Roasting?

    Yes, it should be washed. But you should wait to wash cauliflower right before cooking it because with all the little crevices, water can get trapped and cause it to ruin quicker.

    wedge of Whole Roasted Cauliflower on white plate with parsley

    How To Serve Whole Roasted Cauliflower

    When removing the whole head from the hot pot, carefully lift it onto a cutting board. The best way to do that is with a large spatula under the bottom of the cauliflower and a long fork piercing the top to help guide it to the board.

    Next, you can decide to slice it into cauliflower steaks or cut it into pieces or wedges.

    What Goes with Roasted Cauliflower?

    In short...everything! 😉 But if you're needing a little inspiration, here are some popular Keto main courses that go well with the flavors in roasted cauliflower.

    • Steak- Cast Iron Steak with Mushrooms, Air Fryer Steak and Grilled Steak with Compound Butter. 
    • Chicken- French Onion Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Keto Lemon Chicken.
    • Pork- Pan Fried Pork Chops, Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin and Stuffed Pork Loin.
    • Seafood- Red Snapper with Compound Butter, Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers and Baked Salmon with Asparagus. 

    Here are some great sauces to serve with it too:

    • Creamy Dill Sauce
    • Easy Alfredo Sauce
    • Easy Cheese Sauce for Veggies
    • Bang Bang Sauce
    • Buffalo Cheese Sauce
    • Homemade Pesto
    • Buffalo Wing Sauce
    roasted cauliflower floret on end of fork

    Do You Have to Blanch a Head of Cauliflower Before Roasting it?

    The short answer is no. However, if you need to get a jump on the cooking time, you can blanch it for a just a few minutes the night before then season and roast it the next night. Keep in mind blanching and/or boiling cauliflower will prevent the outside from caramelizing like it should when you roast it.

    Why is My Roasted Cauliflower Mushy?

    After washing the cauliflower, make sure to dry it well before roasting using paper towels. You want to get as much moisture out of it that you can.

    Another reason cauliflower becomes mushy is over cooking it. You want it to cook just until it’s fork tender.

    If you end up with super mushy cauliflower that will not hold its shape, don’t throw it out! Just place it all in your food processor and blend until smooth. It makes a wonderful roasted cauliflower mash!

    More Keto Cauliflower Recipes

    • Jalapeño Popper Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese
    • Mexican Cauliflower Rice
    • Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Mashed Cauliflower
    • Cauliflower "Potato" Salad
    • Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
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    Whole Roasted Cauliflower with edge being taken out

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower

    Impress your guests with this show-stopping, deliciously seasoned Whole Roasted Cauliflower recipe. And the great thing is that it only takes 5 minutes of prep and a few basic ingredients!
    5 from 9 votes
    Author: Julianne
    Servings 4
    Print Pin
    Save RecipeSaved!
    PREP 5 minutes mins
    COOK 45 minutes mins
    TOTAL 50 minutes mins

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 medium head cauliflower
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese,
    • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
    • 3 garlic cloves, grated
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375°F.
    • Wash your cauliflower and trim the stem and leaves, making sure you don’t cut off any florets.
    • Place the head of cauliflower in a dutch oven, casserole dish or large pot, stem side up.
    • In a small mixing bowl, add in all the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.
    • Pour half the mixture on the underside and brush to get in between the florets.
    • Flip the cauliflower over, brush the remaining mixture all over the top and sides, making sure the entire cauliflower is coated.
    • Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the cover, increase the temperature to 425°F and bake for another 15 minutes or until fork tender and golden.
    • Allow to cook slightly, then slice into wedges and serve.

    *Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.

    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Calories 240kcal
    Nutrition Facts
    Whole Roasted Cauliflower
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    240
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    23
    g
    35
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    8
    g
    50
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    7
    g
    2
    %
    Fiber
     
    4
    g
    17
    %
    Sugar
     
    3
    g
    3
    %
    Protein
     
    4
    g
    8
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    *Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.

    © Copyright for Keto Cooking Christian LLC. Please use the share buttons to share on social media, but please do not copy/paste the recipe.

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    Filed Under: Cauliflower, Posts, Recipes, Sides

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 9 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sharon

      January 05, 2025 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      This was very tasty. I did it a bit wrong, pouring all the sauce on the stem end and then had to work to get some on the top. I had a smallish head of cauliflower and it cooked in about 20 minutes before removing the lid. This recipe is a keeper!

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        January 05, 2025 at 4:26 pm

        Yay! I am so glad you liked it.

        Reply
    2. Cyndie

      July 11, 2024 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      Loved it. My cauliflower was huge so I did double the recipe. Big hit with family.

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        July 11, 2024 at 8:28 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It's always a bonus when its family approved.

        Reply
    3. Jean

      May 12, 2024 at 10:25 am

      I made this and it was a hit. Making it again today. Question : the recipe says Parmesan, divided. How much and when to divide?

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        May 13, 2024 at 10:23 am

        My mistake, it's added all at once. Thank you.

        Reply
    4. Sonja Dickey

      April 27, 2024 at 7:45 pm

      Can u use something else other than Parmesan cheese ?

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        April 28, 2024 at 8:01 am

        Sure, you can use Romano or Asiago instead.

        Reply
    5. Janet Geriak

      March 31, 2024 at 2:01 pm

      Made this a while ago! Was a hit with the family. I am not a fan of tyme, so was a little strong for me. Im making it today, for Easter. I backed down the tyme. I’m looking forward to trying it again!

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        April 01, 2024 at 5:39 pm

        I hope you enjoy it.

        Reply
    6. Cathy

      December 27, 2023 at 9:25 pm

      5 stars
      Don’t see where to post a picture but my cauliflower, using this recipe, came
      out of the oven as beautiful as the picture in this recipe. And it was delicious. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        January 03, 2024 at 8:32 am

        That's awesome to hear! I am so glad it turned out great.

        Reply
    7. Kat

      May 01, 2023 at 2:19 pm

      This is wonderful. I’m doing Indian tonight and tweaking spices with garam masala, coriander turmeric, etc

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        May 03, 2023 at 1:28 pm

        Awesome, hope you enjoy it!

        Reply

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    Julianne Walser KCC

    I'm Julianne, welcome! I offer tasty and indulgent Keto and Low Carb recipes that will never leave you feeling deprived!

    More about me →

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