How long to roast cauliflower at 400

Whole Roasted Cauliflower is an impressive looking yet secretly easy recipe to make! Save time by baking an entire cauliflower head in the oven that’s seasoned with a garlic and herb butter sauce and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. You’ll WOW your dinner party or holiday guests with this low-carb, keto, and vegan dish.

Some nights you just feel a bit lazy.

You don’t really want to grab the cutting board and delicately cut an entire head of cauliflower into florets.

Not to mention heating up the oven and then roasting them!

Instead, why not skip an entire step and make a whole roasted cauliflower head.

The outside gets perfectly crisp and crunchy while the inside cooks until soft and tender.

It also looks incredibly fancy when you serve it to your dinner guests!

However, if you are a fan of every part of your cauliflower being crispy, this recipe may not be for you.

(Check out this Parmesan Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower or this Oven-Roasted Cauliflower instead!)

Looking for a quick, easy, and healthy way to cook cauliflower in the oven? You’re going to LOVE this recipe!

Ingredients

The ingredients needed to make a whole roasted cauliflower head include:

• Cauliflower. The size of the head of cauliflower is a critical step in determining how quickly it cooks in the oven.  Larger heads of cauliflower will get super crispy on the outside while the inside is still undercooked. Find a medium-sized head that is roughly 6-7 inches in diameter for the best results.
• Oil and Butter. Both oil and butter are used in this recipe, but you can use all of one if you prefer.  Olive oil or avocado oil can both be used interchangeably with minimal impact on flavor.
• Herbs. An Italian Seasoning mix made from dried herbs was used when testing this recipe.  This particular kind was made at home, but feel free to buy a store bought kind.  Also, check out the other seasoning options you can try when roasting cauliflower that are mentioned below.
• Garlic. Fresh cloves of garlic are mixed together with the butter sauce.  However, feel free to substitute with a bit of garlic powder instead.
• Parmesan. While this is optional, a bit of sharp, hard cheese compliments the flavors of the roasted cauliflower beautifully.  Grated Parmesan works better than shredded since it will spread evenly over the entire head.

How to Roast a Head of Cauliflower

Here are the basic steps for making this whole roasted cauliflower recipe:

1. Prepare the cauliflower head.

   Cut or snap off the green leaves, paying careful attention not to cut all of the way into the florets attached. Remove the thick white stalk by making an incision at the base of it.You want only the head of cauliflower with the florets to remain intact.
   

   

2. Combine the seasonings.

   Whisk together the butter, oil, salt, pepper, seasonings, and crushed garlic in a small bowl.
   

   

3. Place cauliflower head in a dutch oven or in a baking dish and cover with the marinade.

   Using a basting brush, coat it with ¾ of the butter and herb sauce. Reserve the rest.
   

   

4. Cover with aluminum foil and cook in a preheated oven at 400° for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and cook for an additional 10-20 minutes.

   Timing will largely depend on the size of your head of cauliflower. Smaller ones will cook up faster while larger ones may take closer to an hour.
   

   
   
   

5. Brush remaining sauce over the baked cauliflower head, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and return to the oven.

   Turn the oven to a high broil and broil for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese begins to turn a golden brown.
   

   

Seasonings for Cauliflower

Cauliflower is an incredible canvas for a variety of flavors. It’s a pretty neutral tasting vegetable so you can add just about any seasoning to it with great results.

A few of the best seasonings to add:

• Italian Seasoning – the mix that was originally used when testing this recipe.
• Greek Seasoning – this is very similar to the Italian seasoning blend used.
• Blackened Seasoning – to make it spicy and full of Cajun flavor.
• Taco Seasoning – will give it a Mexican flair with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
• Dried herbs such as thyme, rosemary, basil, and parsley

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Serve: You can either cut off the individual florets to serve, or you can cut into the core and serve as steaks.
• To Prep-Ahead: Wash and cut the cauliflower and refrigerate for up to 3 days in advance.
• To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
• To Freeze: Seal in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
• To Reheat: Return to a preheated oven or air-fryer at 350° until heated through.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already gluten-free, vegetarian, low-carb, and keto as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:

• Vegan and dairy-free – Use a plant-based Parmesan cheese and either oil or a vegan butter substitute in place of the butter.

FAQs

How long to roast a head of cauliflower?

Roast a cauliflower head in a 400°F oven for 40-50 minutes, or until cooked through and tender in the middle. If you prefer ultra crispy edges, broil it for an additional 3-5 minutes.

Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy?

When cauliflower is overcooked it can become mushy. Make sure to keep an eye out and once it’s tender remove from the oven.

Is roasted cauliflower healthy?

Yes it is! Cauliflower is full of vitamins and minerals, making it a healthy part of your diet.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Medium-sized is best. Too large of a head will take a long time to cook.
• Switch up the seasonings. Try a variety of flavors each time you make it.
• Plan ahead. This is easy to prep but does take time to cook. Be sure to give yourself at least an hour to ensure it’s cooked all of the way through.
• Don’t forget the foil. Covering with foil traps in the heat and allows the cauliflower to cook without the edges burning too quickly.
• Check with a knife. Insert a knife into the middle to see if it is tender and done cooking.

Make it a Meal

A few of the best main dishes to serve baked cauliflower with include:

• Filet Mignon Recipe
• Honey Balsamic Chicken
• Blackened Salmon Recipe
• Honey Mustard Chicken

More Cauliflower Recipes

Can’t seem to get enough cauliflower? Try these out these dishes:

Mashed Cauliflower

Cauliflower au Gratin

Oven-Roasted Cauliflower

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Air Fryer Cauliflower

Whole Roasted Cauliflower is an impressive looking yet easy to make recipe! Wow your dinner party or holiday guests with this low-carb, keto, and vegan dish.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 6 servings

Calories 126 kcal

• 1 head of cauliflower leaves removed
• 2 Tbsp. butter melted, or dairy-free butter alternative*
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• ½ tsp. salt to taste
• ¼ tsp. pepper to taste
• 1 tsp. Italian seasonings
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• 2-3 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese dairy-free if needed**
• Parsley fresh, finely chopped

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Cut and remove the leaves from the head of cauliflower. Cut and remove the thick white stalk at the base of the head of cauliflower.

3. In a small bowl whisk together the butter, oil, salt, pepper, seasonings, and crushed garlic.

4. Place cauliflower head in a dutch oven or in a baking dish. Using a basting brush, coat it with ¾ of the butter and herb sauce. Reserve the remaining sauce.

5. Cover cauliflower head with aluminum foil and cook in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook for an additional 10-20 minutes.

6. Brush remaining sauce over the cauliflower and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Turn the oven to a high broil and broil for 3-5 minutes or until cheese begins to turn a golden brown.

7. Serve with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

**If vegan and dairy-free, use a dairy-free butter alternative and vegan Parmesan cheese.

• To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
• To Freeze: Seal in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 126 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 14mg5%

Sodium 303mg13%

Potassium 297mg8%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 176IU4%

Vitamin C 47mg57%

Calcium 94mg9%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.