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Air fryer cauliflower steaks are easy to make, with crispy edges and soft and tender centers. They can easily be a hearty meal or side dish, that everyone will love.
Each roasted cauliflower steak is so tender, but full of flavor. They are simple to make with almost no prep time and can be air fried in less than ten minutes.
Depending on the size of cauliflower, you can usually get about 4-5 cauliflower steaks from just one cauliflower head, so this can easily make enough for everyone!
Table of Contents
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
Roasted cauliflower is a perfect quick snack or side dish for dinner. It fast to make in the air fryer, and it doesn’t lose any flavor when cooked. I love slicing it up and making a serving for each person.
This recipe uses typical favorite spices, but you can easily change the flavors by switching up seasonings, adding cheese, or a quick squeeze of lemon juice. For crispy cauliflower steaks, sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on top, or use toppings like everything but the bagel seasoning.
If you love cauliflower, try air fryer broccoli and cauliflower, air fryer cauliflower, and air fryer buffalo cauliflower wings. You might also enjoy this article with 21 Low Carb Air Fryer recipes.
INGREDIENTS
- cauliflower
- olive oil-melted butter or avocado oil can also be used
- smoked paprika– this give them a yummy smoky flavor
- garlic powder
- salt
- ground black pepper
Optional:
For a little extra flavor, add a pinch of chili powder, onion powder, or red pepper flakes. Add a sprinkle of parsley before serving and add additional salt and pepper to taste.
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
In a small bowl, combine the garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper. Then set aside.
STEP 2
Remove any green leaves around the stem, trimming if necessary. Do not remove the stem.
STEP 3
Place the cauliflower on the top of a cutting board, so the stem is on the bottom.
STEP 4
Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the cauliflower into pieces about ½ an inch slices, until you have three or four steaks.
STEP 5
Remove any excess cauliflower pieces that have come apart during the cutting, and set aside.
STEP 6
Brush both sides of the cauliflower slices with olive oil, and then sprinkle the spice mixture on both sides.
STEP 7
Place steaks in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes until they are golden brown and tender.
I make this recipe in my Cosori air fryer. Depending on your air fryer, size and wattages, cooking time may need to be adjusted 1-2 minutes.
VARIATIONS
- For cheesy cauliflower steaks, sprinkle 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese, or your favorite cheese, on top of the steaks and air fry for an additional 1-3 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
- Brush your favorite sauce on top or dip in your favorite dipping sauces for variety, or drizzle with melted cheese sauce.
- Serve over a bowl of rice or mix with a salad for a complete meal.
EXPERT TIPS
- Save any leftover florets or small pieces that fall off during the cutting, and air fryer separately so they don’t go to waste.
- Try to cut evenly-sized cauliflower steaks. This ensures they will cook evenly during the air frying process. If you have thick slices, they may need to cook longer.
- Chop after air frying, or use leftovers, to make mashed cauliflower.
- For an additional cauliflower dish, pulse in a food processor to make cauliflower rice.
Looking for the BEST accessories to use with your air fryer? We’ve put together this list of our favorite Air Fryer Accessories.
STORAGE AND REHEATING
Store leftover cauliflower steaks in an air tight container and keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
To reheat steaks, return to the air fryer and air fry for 2-3 minutes.
FAQ’S
Cauliflower steaks are just thick slabs of cauliflower. They don’t taste anything like steak, and are just easier to eat as a meal when cut into a thick slice.
Cauliflower is not only healthy, gluten-free, and vegan, it is also a good source of vitamin C, and has a few grams of protein for every cup worth. Which is why it’s a great replacement for mashed potatoes, rice, and is used to make pizza crust when watching carbohydrates.
MORE AIR FRYER VEGETABLE RECIPES
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This cauliflower steak recipe is so easy to make, and makes delicious roast cauliflower steaks. It will be a favorite side dish for everyone!
Are you new to air fryers? If you are, we have a great article about What is an Air Fryer. It talks about what you can make, how to use it, and more.
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Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper. Then set aside.
- Remove any green leaves around the stem, trimming if necessary. Do not remove the stem.
- Place the cauliflower on the top of a cutting board, so the stem is on the bottom.
- Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the cauliflower into pieces about ½ an inch slices, until you have three or four steaks.
- Remove any excess cauliflower pieces that have come apart during the cutting, and set aside.
- Brush both sides of the cauliflower slices with olive oil, and then sprinkle the spice mixture on both sides.
- Place steaks in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes until they are golden brown and tender.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
