Air Fryer Cauliflower

Air Fryer Cauliflower is so easy and crispy. It is fun to dress it up with spices and sauces for a snack or side dish at dinner.

Cauliflower in the Air Fryer

Cauliflower has to be about the easiest vegetable to air fry. Its firm texture can take the heat and get crispy but you really have to over cook it to turn it to mush.

First, cut the cauliflower into even sized pieces This will allow them to cook at the same rate and fry evenly. I like to use pieces that are 1-2 bites when you eat them.

You don’t need to cut the stem parts off. It all fries up nice and crispy, no need for it to go to waste.

Second, drizzle or spray your vegetables with oil before putting them in the air fryer. Toss them with your salt and pepper or other desired seasoning. Be sure to have a single layer and allow for good air circulation on all sides.

Third, the best-tasting air fried cauliflower will be evenly browned with a crunchy exterior.

How to Air fry Cauliflower

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the cauliflower in a bowl and toss with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, toss again to coat.
2. Place the cauliflower in a single layer in the basket or directly on the rack. Fry the cauliflower for 8-10 minutes. If you are using a basket-style air fryer toss the basket at about 5 minutes for even cooking. The pieces should be slightly crisp on the outsides when done.

How Long to Cook Cauliflower in Air Fryer

Cooking time in an air fryer always depends on the size, quantity, and spacing of your items.

Bite-sized cauliflower works best, spread into just one layer and allow for enough airflow around the pieces. Doing this will give you a cook time of about 8-10 minutes.

I use the COSORI Air Fryer for all of my air fryer recipes. I’m partial to a square basket air fryer as I find it easier to fit more food into the basket. This is a 5.8QT air fryer, one of the largest machines I’ve found that works effectively.

My first machine (photographed in several recipes here) was a bit retro with simple knob controls and I liked it a lot. However, that machine was recalled recently and the company sent out a replacement. I like the new machine every bit as much and have linked it above.

This air fryer is surprisingly easy to clean and the two-part basket locks together (it’s literally impossible for it to detach the way some do) until you open the latch and then push the button to release it. I simply wipe down the baskets with a sudsy dish scrub brush or sponge, rinse and let them air dry on the counter.

Recipes with Cauliflower

There are so many great ways to cook cauliflower! Once you’ve mastered air frying, you may want to try grilling, roasting or sauteeing your cauliflower.

The air fryer is a quick and easy way to make almost any vegetable. Here are some vegetables to try: onions, cabbage, asparagus, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and even carrots.