39 Best Cauliflower Recipes

From Cheesy Casseroles to Comforting Soups

Easy cauliflower with cheese sauce

The Spruce

In the past few years, cauliflower has gone from being a second-class vegetable to the star on restaurant menus. This once humble veggie has gained popularity among top chefs for its nutritional value and its incredible versatility. These creative recipes are perfect examples of that, featuring cauliflower as the basis for delicious mains, side dishes, and salads that are as healthy as they are tasty. You're sure to find more than one recipe here to add to your short list of favorites that you can pull out for weeknight dinners, potluck parties, Sunday brunches, and holiday meals.

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    Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

    Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

    Roasting cauliflower brings out the delicious nutty flavors of this healthy vegetable, making it a real treat to eat. This Parmesan roasted cauliflower dish is an excellent way to enjoy fresh cauliflower, even if you think you're not a fan. Cauliflower florets are combined with a savory mixture of garlic and Parmesan cheese, then roasted until tender, golden, and a little crispy on the outside. Serve during the week as a side dish to your favorite entree or as part of a holiday meal.

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    Chicken and Cauliflower Casserole

    Low-Carb Chicken and Cauliflower Casserole

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Here's a one-pot meal recipe that's perfect for a busy weeknight when you want to serve your family something tasty and satisfying but don't have the time or energy to fuss around in the kitchen. Cauliflower takes the place of rice in this classic chicken and cauliflower casserole recipe, combining cream, cheddar cheese, and herbs to create a hearty, low-carb dinner that fills you up with plenty of flavors.

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    Cauliflower and Chickpea Tikka Masala

    Cauliflower and Chickpea Tikka Masala
    Westend61 / Getty Images

    Cauliflower and chickpea tikka masala is a lovely vegetarian option when you are planning an Indian meal. Creamy, rich-tasting tikka masala sauce spiced with wonderful Indian flavors brings the vegetables to life in this family-friendly dish that will be welcome at any potluck party. You can prepare the easy tikka sauce beforehand and freeze to use when ready, making this a great vegetarian weeknight dinner when you're rushed for time.

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    Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Buffalo 'Wings'

    Vegan Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

    The Spruce

    Do you love the taste of Buffalo wings but crave a healthier, meatless option? These vegan oven-roasted cauliflower buffalo "wings" are smothered in your favorite hot sauce, making them a surprisingly satisfying way to get the taste of pub-style hot wings without the chicken. The florets are coated in a soy milk batter and then baked until tender and golden around the edges; then, they're covered with a hot sauce-margarine mixture and returned to the oven to allow the sauce to bake right in.

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  • 05 of 39

    Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

    Low-Calorie Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

     David Marsden / Getty Images

    Here's a great way to reduce the calories in your go-to mashed potatoes dish while delivering all the creamy flavor and great texture that we all know and love. This recipe sneaks mashed, steamed cauliflower into the mix with cooked and salted russet potatoes, while low-fat buttermilk adds extra flavor and creaminess without adding a lot of calories. Even the most die-hard mashed potato fans may not notice the difference.

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    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

    Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    When you'd love an ooey-gooey bowl of pasta with cheese but can't go there because of wheat allergies or carb restrictions, try this cauliflower mac and cheese recipe. It has all the necessary components to fool the most discriminating palate. Besides, this is a great way to introduce veggies into a child's diet.

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    Cauliflower Tortillas

    Cooked cauliflower tortillas in a tea towel on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney 

    Transform cauliflower into an entirely new item like cauliflower tortillas. Raw cauliflower florets are pulsed in a food processor until they resemble rice to take the place of flour in a tortilla recipe. What you have is a low-carb, keto-friendly, gluten-free vehicle for your favorite taco filling.

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    Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad With Bacon and Pecans

    Broccoli Bacon Salad

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    You'll be the hit of your next potluck party or picnic when you bring this delicious, creamy broccoli and cauliflower salad with bacon and pecans that combines crunchy, sweet, and salty flavors. Fresh cauliflower and broccoli florets are tossed with cranberries, bacon, and pecans in a creamy mayonnaise dressing, for a welcome addition to any meal. Makes a great holiday side dish, too.

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  • 09 of 39

    Cauliflower Cheese Bread

    Cauliflower Cheese Bread

     The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    If you love garlic bread but are avoiding carbs, this cauliflower cheese bread is the perfect solution. With the help of a food processor (or a box grater), turn the cauliflower into a dough and whip up a truly crave-worthy bread.

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    Creamy Cauliflower Cheese

    Creamy Cauliflower Cheese

    The Spruce 

    Creamy cauliflower cheese is an essential British side dish for Sunday lunch, is a delicious filling for a baked potato, and a fabulous filling for your brunch quiches. This seriously scrumptious cauliflower cheese recipe is so easy to make and a great way for kids to get their vegetables. For a slight variation, try cauliflower cheese with leeks.

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    Vegetable and Chickpea Tagine With Couscous

    Vegetable and Chickpea Tagine With Couscous

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    Turn a basic head of cauliflower and some pantry staples into a delicious, warming one-pot meal that's ideal for busy weeknights or for serving to guests as a vegetarian main. You could also add meat or chicken to this dish, but it's definitely hearty enough on its own for a comforting family meal. Cauliflower, tomatoes, chickpeas, and sweet potato are simmered in vegetable stock, lightly spiced with cumin, ginger, and cinnamon, and served mounded on couscous surrounded by the fragrant sauce. Finish it off by sprinkling with slivered almonds or whole cashews, fresh parsley, and golden raisins.

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    Cauliflower and Sausage Roast With Cheddar Cheese

    Cauliflower and Sausage Roast With Cheddar Cheese

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Sausage and onions are a fantastic flavor combination that rise to the next level when they're tossed with seasoned cauliflower and then all roasted to perfection. An ooey-gooey, melted topping of sharp cheddar cheese finishes the dish beautifully. Assemble this easy, satisfying cauliflower and sausage roast with cheddar cheese dish in about 10 minutes and pop it in the oven for a weeknight dinner that's a breeze to prepare.

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  • 13 of 39

    Cauliflower Parmesan

    Cauliflower Parmesan

    The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo 

    If you enjoy the chicken and eggplant versions, you're going to love this cauliflower Parmesan recipe. The tomato sauce, gooey cheeses, and Italian flavor remain, the base simply switches to roasted cauliflower. While the recipe recommends mozzarella and pecorino cheese, it also offers a few alternatives. Keep it vegetarian or add ground beef if you like. Either way, it's a delicious and healthy family meal.

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    Keto Cauliflower Lasagna

    keto lasagna
    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    It sounds complicated, but this keto cauliflower lasagna is a cinch to put together and doesn't require any special tools. The meaty sauce and cheesy layers may fool even the most committed pasta lover. But even if the low-carb "noodles" don't escape attention, the winning texture and flavor of this dish makes it a moot point.

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    Nigel Slater's Fried Cauliflower

    Fried Cauliflower Recipe

     The Spruce

    Britain's best-loved food writer, Nigel Slater, created this recipe to turn cauliflower into an extra-special side dish you'd be proud to serve at your most important dinners. Here, the cauliflower is fried, spiced up with paprika, and served with a tasty salsa verde. Nigel Slater's fried cauliflower makes a fabulous starter or side dish at a holiday meal or dinner with guests, or serve it as an elegant vegetarian main course.

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    Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

    cauliflower steak

    The Spruce / Pete Scherer

    When cut thick and roasted at high heat, cauliflower turns into a delicious "steak." It's an easy way to make a vegan main dish or hearty side dish. This roasted cauliflower steak recipe calls for a simple dusting of cumin seeds, but get creative with a spice rub or serve with a flavorful sauce, much like an actual steak.

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    Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole

    Cauliflower Casserole

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Creamy and rich-tasting with a crunchy topping, this broccoli and cauliflower casserole side dish makes a great addition to everyday family meals, and it's special enough for a holiday table or potluck. Broccoli and cauliflower are tossed in a white sauce, sprinkled with a Parmesan cheese and buttery breadcrumb topping and then baked until bubbling and golden brown.

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    Roasted Cauliflower and Turmeric Soup

    Cauliflower Soup

    The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

    Here's a "superfood" soup that's perfect for warming your tummy on a cold winter day. Healthy, nutritious roasted cauliflower has a beautifully nutty flavor that is boosted in this roasted cauliflower and turmeric soup recipe by fragrant turmeric powder, an Indian spice that's beloved by people all around the world and famous for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers. Vegan, dairy free, and gluten free, this trusty, flavorful vegetable soup recipe will suit many diets and is great for beating the winter blues.

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    Easy Cauliflower and Chicken Curry

    Cauliflower Curry
    Diana Miller / Getty Images

    This easy cauliflower and chicken curry is a comforting, warming dish to eat when it's cold outside, and you're craving something complex and flavorful. Chicken thighs and fresh cauliflower florets combine with canned tomatoes, brown sugar, coconut milk, and Indian spices to create an aromatic, delicious dish that's ideal for weeknight meals or Sunday dinners.

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    Loaded Cauliflower Bake

    Cauliflower Bake With Cheese and Bacon

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    This hearty casserole is the best of both worlds. It combines the flavor of mac and cheese, and instead of starchy pasta and russet potatoes, cauliflower takes center stage. Roasted cauliflower is baked in a delicious cheese sauce with bacon and green onions until bubbly and golden. The whole family will be asking for seconds.

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    Easy Cheddar Cauliflower Cakes

    Cauliflower Cakes

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Want to change up your usual side dish game? These great-tasting cheddar cauliflower cakes are a delicious alternative to potatoes as a side dish or even meat as the main course. You can also add these low-carb, gluten-free patties to salads for added texture, or place them between whole wheat buns for delicious vegetarian sandwiches.

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    Cauliflower Chowder

    Cauliflower Chowder

    The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

    A veggie-packed soup, cauliflower chowder can easily become a new favorite. The recipe cuts the potatoes, replacing them with cauliflower to significantly reduce the carbs. Carrot, celery, garlic, parsley, and onion ensure it has plenty of flavors. Top this thick chowder with grated cheddar or crispy onions, serve it along with bread and a salad, and a well-balanced meal is ready to enjoy.

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    Impossible Cauliflower Pie

    Cauliflower Pie

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Brunch just got more nutritious with this "impossible" cauliflower pie recipe ("impossible" pies are made with biscuit mix and eggs along with vegetables and sometimes meat). This dish is more like a crustless quiche than a pie with a crust. The combination of flavors makes for a delicious lunch or brunch dish that's vegetarian friendly. You can add some bacon, ham, or browned sausage, if you like, to make it a heartier dish.

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    Grilled Cauliflower Steaks With Fresh Herb Sauce

    Cauliflower Steak

    The Spruce / Laurel Randolph

    Whether you are trying to cut down on red meat or need a vegetarian option for the grill, these cauliflower steaks are sure to please, and may even pleasantly surprise. When you cut a whole head of cauliflower into thick slices, the slices are shaped like pieces of steak, making them the perfect substitute. These cauliflower steaks are first seasoned with cumin and turmeric before hitting the grill, helping to create a deep, smoky flavor. The finishing touch is a bright sauce of lemon, parsley, mint, and garlic.

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    Cauliflower Fried Rice

    Cauliflower Fried Rice

    The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

    We owe a big thank-you to whoever came up with the concept of grating cauliflower to replicate rice. When it is stir-fried along with a few vegetables and a bit of soy sauce, you may not even miss the grain. Keep this recipe as is and serve as a side dish, throw in a few more vegetables to become a meatless main dish, or add some chicken, shrimp, or pork for a filling entree.

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    Cauliflower Gnocchi

    Cauliflower gnocchi recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    If you've ever made potato gnocchi, then you will find this recipe for cauliflower gnocchi a cinch—and it's lower in carbs. Cauliflower is grated in the food processor, squeezed of its liquid and then combined with egg and cheese to create a dough. After the dough is chilled, it is rolled into thin logs, cut into pieces, and formed into that traditional gnocchi shape. Just boil for a minute or two and serve with your favorite sauce.

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    Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

    Cauliflower Casserole

    The Spruce

    Perfect as a holiday meal side dish or a simple comfort dish on a cold night, this cheesy cauliflower casserole is easy to put together and big on taste. Steamed cauliflower florets are combined with a homemade cheese sauce studded with red pepper and green onions. The mixture is spooned into a baking dish, covered with more cheese along with toasted breadcrumbs, and baked until golden. Even the nonveggie eater won't be able to resist.

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    Cauliflower Tots

    cauliflower tots with dipping sauces

    Pete Scherer 

    Turn what is usually considered an unhealthy treat into a nutritious snack. By using cauliflower in place of potatoes—and baking instead of frying—this school lunch staple becomes a nourishing side dish. An important step you can't skip is squeezing out the liquid from the cooked and mashed cauliflower; this way, the tots crisp up nicely in the oven. The combination of cauliflower, eggs, Parmesan cheese, and flour creates a dough that is then chilled, cut into pieces, rolled into tot shapes, and coated in breadcrumbs before baking.

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    Bang Bang Cauliflower

    Bang Bang Cauliflower

     The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Bang bang is a sauce that originated in Chinese Szechuan cuisine, but its popularity in America can be credited to chain restaurants such as Bonefish Grill and The Cheesecake Factory. The original recipe may have been altered (and Americanized), but it still maintains a nice level of spice. Here, cauliflower is coated in egg and panko and then baked until crispy; it's then drizzled with the bang bang sauce, which is a creamy mixture of sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, mayonnaise, and plain Greek yogurt.

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    Creamy Mashed Cauliflower and Leeks

    Mashed cauliflower and leeks in a bowl

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    You may be able to completely forgo the mashed potatoes at your next holiday meal since this creamy mashed cauliflower and leeks recipe is so rich and satisfying. Leeks are sautéed in butter before blending with the cooked cauliflower and cream, creating a nice, luscious texture and full-flavored dish.

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    Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Pomegranate

    Roasted Cauliflower Salad

    The Spruce / Laurel Randolph

    Salads don't always have to be a bowl of lettuce topped with chopped, cold vegetables. This warm roasted cauliflower salad with pomegranate seeds and red onion will be a wonderful change from the standard salad and is the perfect side dish during the cold winter months. The pomegranate seeds and toasted pistachios add a nice crunch while the turmeric, cumin, lemon juice, and honey create depth of flavor. Parsley leaves bring that freshness we all come to expect in our salads.

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    Easy Cauliflower With Cheese Sauce

    Easy Cauliflower With Cheese Sauce

    The Spruce

    Reminiscent of homemade mac and cheese, this recipe for cauliflower with cheese sauce is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. The rich cheese sauce begins with a roux—a cooked mixture of butter and flour—to which a blend of ground mustard, nutmeg, milk, and cheddar cheese is added. The gooey goodness is then spooned over steamed cauliflower florets.

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    Moroccan Fried Cauliflower

    Moroccan Batter-Dipped Fried Cauliflower

    Christine Benlafquih / Getty Images 

    A flavorful batter is what makes this Moroccan fried cauliflower so delicious. Partially cooked cauliflower florets are coated in an egg and flour mixture that is seasoned with garlic, parsley, cumin, paprika, cayenne, and turmeric; then you can either shallow- or deep-fry the cauliflower until nice and golden. Serve as an appetizer with lemon wedges or your favorite dipping sauce.

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    Cauliflower and Potato Soup With Cheddar Cheese

    Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheddar Soup

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Whether an impressive starter at your next dinner party or a comforting bowl on a cold winter night, this rich and creamy soup will fit the bill. The ingredient list may appear long, but in just a few steps, you will have a flavorful soup that is satisfying enough to serve as your whole meal. Cauliflower is cooked along with onions, celery, potatoes, garlic, and chicken broth, and then combined with cream, cheddar, Worcestershire sauce, nutmeg, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper. The mixture is then blended into a velvety and satisfying soup.

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    Roasted Cauliflower Soup

    Cream of cauliflower soup with parsley

    Yun Han Xu/Getty Images 

    The curry powder and cumin are the secret ingredients in this simple soup, which are used to season the cauliflower before roasting. The cooked cauliflower is added to the pot along with vegetable broth and cream for a quick simmer. Then, the mixture is blended into a smooth consistency. Lime juice adds a bright finish, and feel free to garnish with chopped green onion, cilantro, and parsley.

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    Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Soup

    Bowl of sweet potato coconut soup
    Westend61 / Getty Images

    Blended soups are a great way to pack a lot of nutrition into a bowl, and this cauliflower and sweet potato soup does just that, bringing carrots into the mix as well. All of the vegetables, along with garlic and onion, are sautéed and then simmered in vegetable stock; the soup is then blended until thick and creamy. A few reserved cauliflower florets add a nice texture and attractive presentation.

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    24-Hour Spiced Cauliflower Pickles

    Pickled Cauliflower, Carrots, and Jalapenos (Escabeche) recipe

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

    Surprise your guests at your next party or cookout by serving these tasty cauliflower pickles. Honey, dill, garlic, mustard, cumin, and red pepper flakes create the perfect balance of flavors, making a cauliflower pickle with just the right tang and level of spice. They are ready after 24 hours in the fridge but do taste better if you can wait a week.

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    Cauliflower and Cheese Casserole

    Cauliflower and Cheese Bake

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Fitting for both a weeknight and a holiday meal, this cheesy cauliflower casserole with a crunchy breadcrumb topping will become a family favorite. The cooked cauliflower is mixed into a sauce made of a roux, milk, mustard, and cheddar cheese; it is then spooned into a baking dish and topped with buttered and seasoned breadcrumbs. So similar to baked macaroni and cheese, you may be able to sneak in the swap every once in a while.

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    Cauliflower Latkes (Pancakes)

    Cauliflower latkes, topped with chutney and scallions

    The Spruce / Miri Rotkovitz

    Latkes, a traditional food during the Hanukkah eight-day celebration, are usually made with potatoes. This recipe, however, subs in cauliflower, making them a healthier option. The texture may be slightly different, but you might be surprised at how similar they taste to the original version. In order to get a nice, crispy pancake, you do need to drain all of the liquid from the cooked cauliflower before adding the eggs and flour and seasoning with salt and pepper. Then simply drop by tablespoons into the hot oil and fry up until golden and crisp.