You'll never think of cauliflower the same way again after one bite of this Oven Roasted Cauliflower recipe with roasted garlic and fresh thyme.
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Cauliflower always gets a bad rap and oven gets treated like the ugly step sister of the vegetable world. But, this Oven Roasted Cauliflower recipe hits it out of the park.
One bite of this tasty side dish and your friends and family will be begging for you to make it. You heard that right, this easy cauliflower recipe will make a regular appearance on your dinner table!
Why this recipe works
- Roasting the cauliflower mellows the taste and brings out its natural sweetness. Add some roasted garlic and fresh thyme, and you have a dynamic combination - one that even cauliflowers haters will embrace.
- You can eat this for lunch, with pasta, add it to a salad, or keep it as a traditional side.
Ingredients
No need to make an extra trip to the store with this recipe, this list is short and sweet.
Ingredient Notes:
- Use a whole head of cauliflower for this recipe instead of the precut florets. This will allow you to cut even sizes for optimal roasting and get flat sides for good browning.
- Fresh garlic cloves are a must for this recipe. They truly make a difference.
Instructions
1. Clean cauliflower and cut into sections, making sure to have some sides flat so they can get crispy on the pan.
2. In a large bowl, toss cauliflower and garlic with olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Spread cauliflower mixture on a roasting pan making sure it has enough space to cook. Flip it over half way through baking to get the other side brown.
FAQs
First remove large leaves from the base of the cauliflower head so the stem is exposed. Then cut around the stem and cut the cauliflower into even sized florets with at least one flat side.
No. Some nutrients may be lost when boiling cauliflower but roasting vegetables does not kill nutrients.
Your pan may be too small for the amount of vegetables that you are trying to cook. Make sure your tray is large enough for the vegetables to sit in a single layer. Overcrowding on the baking tray will steam the veggies instead of roasting them.
More roasted vegetables
- This Roasted Carrots recipe are sweet AND spicy with perfectly caramelized edges. There is no better way to eat carrots!
- This Roasted Delicata Squash recipe has only 5 ingredients and comes together in minutes. Bonus: NO peeling required!
- Want to spice up your brussels sprouts recipe? These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a balsamic reduction are a decadent side to any dish.
- This Oven Roasted Tomato recipe is extremely versatile and can be used in appetizers, pasta or as a simple snack.
- Green beans don't need to be boring! These Oven Roasted Green Beans are nice and crispy.
- Check out all of our easy roasted vegetable recipes and side dish recipes!
Recipe
Oven Roasted Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower chopped into florets
- 4-6 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
- 3-4 T Olive Oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh thyme for garnish
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425.
- Clean cauliflower and cut in florets.
- In a large bowl, toss cauliflower, olive oil, garlic until well coated.
- Season with salt and pepper and gently toss again.
- Spread cauliflower mixture on a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes turning over half way through to brown the other side.
- Toss with fresh thyme and serve.
Notes
VIDEO
Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
Eat this Oven Roasted Cauliflower recipe for lunch, with pasta, add it to a salad, or keep it as a traditional side. Make cauliflower the star instead of the side show.
alicia says
i tried this a few days ago and it was so delicious! i couldn't stop eating it! 🙂 loved it! i usually make mashed cauliflower and this was nice for a change. i really enjoyed this recipe.
Lisa says
Thanks, Alicia! I start picking at it as soon as it comes out of the oven-so good. Thanks for your note! Have a great weekend. 🙂
jackie @ marin mama cooks says
Ok, I just have to say that you two are adorable! I love your about me page and I can totally relate to everything you wrote. I love wearing my lulu lemon pants everywhere besides the gym as well. I also love the Wednesday night wine drinking excuse. I started my blog about a little over a year ago for the same reasons you both did, to share recipes that my family and I loved with friends! My hubby was born and raised in Wayzata which is just outside of MPLS. I also lived in Mpls for 3 years before I got married. I love that place and I miss Lake of the Isles and Lake Harriet. I use to rollerblade around those lakes all the time.
We have many friends and family in the Twin Cities, so I will pass on your blog to them, who knows, you might even know some of them.
I love your recipes as they are totally what we eat as well. I can't wait to check out more on your site.
BTW, your blog is beautiful and so easy to follow. I have been wanting to upgrade my recipe page with photos, do you mind telling me who designed your recipe page? My email is jackie@marinmamacooks.com.
I'm rambling here, but I feel like you two are my Minnesota blogging sisters. Have a great night!
xoxo, Jackie
Lisa says
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for your nice note! Love the Minnesota connections! The Lakes are great aren't they? SO fun to sepnd time around them during the summer! Wayzata is about 25 min from us, we are on the other side of the metro but know it well! I found your blog today through foodgawker and can't wait to spend more time on it! So glad we connected!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
I love roasted veggies! Cauliflower is one of my favorites, this looks wonderful!
Lisa says
Thanks, Erin!
Therese (getpartychic.com) says
I'm sold! I feel bad now for always passing right by the cauliflower. I've really gotten into roasting vegetables this winter and have expanded what we've been eating (parsnips, sweet potatoes, etc.)--time to stop ignoring the poor cauliflower! Thanks for the inspiration!
Lisa says
I know, I used to do the same thing. But no more, this is in my regular rotation! Yum!
Cubicle says
I saw this in bon appetit and wanted to try it! I love cauliflower and this sounds like a great way to feature it!
Lisa says
Hi Liz, That is where I saw it too. Definitely worth trying out-my new favorite way to eat cauliflower!