Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower

Overhead shot of the golden brown air fryer cauliflower in a round serving bowl.

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Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower is a quick and easy side dish ready in under 20 minutes! Made with simple ingredients like cauliflower, olive oil, and seasonings, it comes out golden brown with perfectly crispy edges and a tender center. Perfect as a healthy side dish or snack that pairs with almost any meal and is way faster than oven-roasted cauliflower.

Prep Time5

Cook Time16

Total Time21

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: crispy air fryer recipe, easy side dish recipe, how to air fry cauliflower

Servings: servings

Calories: 65kcal

Author: Mindy Boyd

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower about 2 pounds
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Cut cauliflower into even-sized florets.
In a large bowl, toss cauliflower with oil and seasonings until evenly coated.
Spray the basket liberally with nonstick cooking spray then place the cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 400°F for 16–18 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.

Notes

Every air fryer is different, but I’ve found the sweet spot is 16–18 minutes. Adjust this based on your particular air fryer.

Try to arrange the cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket, but don’t stress over it too much.

Shaking the basket every 5 minutes (...or more, I don't have the patience for that) helps the hot air circulate evenly and creates more crispy edges.

I don’t recommend reducing the oil, since it helps the cauliflower crisp up properly.

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Nutritional information is approximate.

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Nutrition