These easy cauliflower recipes are great for weeknight dinners, and as wholesome side dishes. Pick your favorite salad, stew, pasta, soup, and roasted recipe that all give you bright, tasty, and tender meal ideas.

These recipes are vegetarian, veganfriendly, and great for family dinners too.

Quick and easy cauliflower recipes

Cauliflower side dishes

As the weather cools down a little and autumn falls upon us, we slowly start craving seasonal wintery side dishes. Cauliflower is definitely on top of our list, it has a comforting, buttery, and earthy flavor and pairs well with most mains.

Get wholesome and tasty side dish inspiration with these bright and easy-to-make recipes.

1. Cauliflower mashed potatoes

This cauliflower mashed potato is fluffier and lighter than regular mashed potatoes, which makes this recipe incredibly delicious. The best way to make it is to steam or boil the cauliflower, blend it, and mix it with boiled potatoes. This creamy cauliflower dish is a family favorite, especially paired with mushroom gravy and bean stew.

Cauliflower mashed with potato and chives

2. Air fryer cauliflower

An air fryer can cook cauliflower florets in 12 to 15 minutes, and the result is perfectly roasted air fryer cauliflower. You’ll get slightly charred cauliflower florets, they’re tendercrisp and retain most of their nutritional properties.

air fryer cauliflower

3. Roasted cauliflower

Tender, buttery, and aromatic, this roasted cauliflower recipe can be used in so many different ways. Add it to your favorite pasta (red pepper pasta or pasta aglio olio), to salads (try our cauliflower saladlentil cauliflower salad, or have it as a snack, appetizer, or side dish.

roasted cauliflower with lemon and parsley

4. Cauliflower rice

If you are searching for a low-calorie, low-carb, and high antioxidants alternative to regular rice or bread, you might want to give this cauliflower rice a try.

Its neutral flavor and appealing texture make it the perfect side dish for curries, soups, stewsstir-fries, or any meal with a sauce.

cauliflower rice with hands

5. Roasted broccoli and cauliflower

A handy vegetable side dish with plenty of fiber and flavorroasted broccoli and cauliflower pair well with almost any main dish.

Season the veggies with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oilgarlic powdersalt, and pepper. Roast and sprinkle them with red pepper flakes and a squeeze of lemon juice. Optionally, you can add grated parmesan cheese or its dairy-free alternative to make this side dish even tastier.

roasted broccoli and cauliflower with cheese on top

6. Whole roasted cauliflower

This vibrant and loaded roasted cauliflower is drizzled with harissa, chimichurri sauce, and fresh herbs. It’s a delicious centerpiece or side dish for a Middle-Eastern-inspired dinner.

cauliflower head with lemons and herbs

7. Rainbow roasted vegetables

Roasted vegetables are an easy side dish that will come in handy for everyday dinners and special meals such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

You’ll learn how to roast multiple veggies to perfection on the same baking tray and with a simple seasoning. The result is a colorful, nutritious, and tasty dish that everyone will love.

Roasted vegetables on a plate

Cauliflower main meals

Take your pick from easy and wholesome salads, pasta dishes, soups, and stews. These easy dinners and meal-prep-friendly meals are all made with simple ingredients and plant-based protein.

8. Roasted cauliflower salad

Creamy, smoky, earthy, tahini-packed, and tasty, this cauliflower salad is a Mediterranean-inspired recipe that will leave you nourished and satiated for hours.

Roast the cauliflower florets in the oven or air fryer until tender-crisp and slightly charred outside to get a pleasantly smoky flavor.

roasted cauliflower salad in a large bowl

9. Creamy cauliflower soup

When it comes to fall and winter veggies, cauliflower is hard to beat; a homemade roasted cauliflower soup is one of our favorite cozy meals.

It has a creamy, buttery texture and a mellow nutty, and cheesy taste, although there’s no cheese in it. Easy to make, healthy, and amazingly delicious, especially with homemade croutons on top!

Cauliflower soup with homemade croutons.

10. Cauliflower curry

Cauliflower curry is easy and endlessly creamy, you’ll want to make it every week. We couldn’t believe that a few simple ingredients and spices yield such a tasty dish when simmered together in a pot.

This recipe has a rich, well-developed flavor and a creamy texture thanks to our creaminess-boosting trick, yet, it requires minimal effort on your part.

cauliflower and lentil curry

11. Easy cauliflower alfredo

Love Alfredo sauce but are looking for something lighter and healthier to feed your family? You’ll love this easy and tasty cauliflower Alfredo sauce – ready in 30 minutes with simple ingredients.

What makes this recipe lightultra-creamy, and nutritious is cauliflower, steamed, or boiled. It’s a great recipe if you’re looking for a low-fat Alfredo sauce, or a quick pasta for a weeknight dinner!

Cauliflower Alfredo with fork

12. Cauliflower pasta

We roast the cauliflower to perfection, toss it in the garlicky sauce, and mix it with spaghetti. Add some parmesan or dairy-free cheese for extra umami and creaminess, parsley, lemon zest, and toasted pine nuts.

This cauliflower pasta dish is so simple and tasty you’ll be surprised. It requires minimal effort, and the sauce takes 2 minutes to make.

roasted cauliflower pasta

13. Red pepper pasta with roasted cauliflower

Creamy roasted red pepper pasta sauce is irresistible, and it’s ready in less than 30 minutes. It’s a great idea for a last-minute pasta dish during busy weeknights.

With its buttery and earthy taste, the sauce pairs perfectly with tender-crisp, smokey roasted cauliflower. It’s a restaurant-worthy meal when combined with creamy, nutty, and peppery sauce.

red pepper pasta with roasted cauliflower

14. Cauliflower lentil salad

Here’s a different yet easy and delicious cauliflower lentil salad recipe with healthy and nutritious ingredients.

Smokey oven-roasted cauliflower meets earthy lentils, fresh parsley, and an aromatic and creamy cumin dressing in one of our favorite Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

The recipe is easy, we use very simple ingredients, and you can make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for several days.

lentil and cauliflower salad

15. Tofu curry with cauliflower

You can make this easy tofu curry recipe from scratch in less than 30 minutes, in one pot, without pressing the tofu. Serve this vegan curry on basmati rice or homemade flatbread with some fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lemon. It’s an easy, nutritious, and fulfilling family-friendly dinner.

tofu curry

What does cauliflower pair well with?

Cauliflower is a neutralflavored vegetable that pairs well with stews, soups, pasta, and a variety of legumes:

FAQ about cauliflower

Should cauliflower be washed before cooking?

Yes, I would wash my cauliflower to remove dirt, dust, and debris from transportation and storage. However, make sure to dry the florets well before roasting them to prevent the cauliflower from getting mushy.

How to choose the right cauliflower

We make these recipes with a large head of white cauliflower, but you can also use orange cauliflower, green cauliflower, and purple cauliflower varieties.

Although these varieties are less popular, they are still delicious and richer in antioxidants.

Is cauliflower healthy?

Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable packed with vitamins C and K. It contains good amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It’s also rich in Glucosinolates, which have anti-inflammatory properties and protect our cells from damage.

How to store these cauliflower recipes

Store cauliflower recipe leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days. Reheat in the microwave. We don’t recommend freezing these meals.

For many more side dish ideas, check out our sides category page.

15 easy Cauliflower recipes

15 Easy cauliflower recipes

5 from 3 votes
These quick and easy cauliflower recipes are great as side dishes, mains, and appetizers. One of the easiest way to cook cauliflower is roasted the cauliflower florets.
It's delicious on its own, or you can use it to make other deliciousย cauliflower-based recipes, such as our scrumptiousย roasted cauliflower pastaย andย cauliflower salad.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Side dish
Cuisine: International

Ingredients 

  • 1 large cauliflower (about 2ยฝ pounds or 1.2 kg)
  • 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • ยผ teaspoon black pepper

FOR SERVING

  • 4 wedges lemon
  • 1 handful flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions 

  • Preheat theย oven to 400ยฐFย or 200ยฐC. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    Rinse the head of the cauliflower and pat it dry with a kitchen cloth. Discard the leaves and the stem, then separate the florets with a paring knife.
    florets
  • Season withย extra virgin olive oil,ย salt, andย black pepperย and toss with your hands; then arrange the florets on aย single layer without overlapping.
    cauliflower florets on a baking sheet
  • Bakeย at 400ยฐF or 200ยฐCย for 20 minutes, then turn the florets around with a spatula andย bake for another 10 minutes, or until browned outside and tender-crisp.
    baked cauliflower on a baking sheet
  • Transfer onto aย serving platterย and optionally serve the baked cauliflower with a squeeze ofย lemon juice, a sprinkle of finely choppedย flat-leaf parsley, and a pinch ofย red pepper flakes.
    roasted cauliflower on a serving platter

Video

Creamy Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Notes

Nutrition information is for one large portion of roasted cauliflower out of four portions.
Tip:ย cauliflower leaves and stems are edible, and you can use them to makeย cauliflower soupย orย cauliflower rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Potassium: 906mg, Dietary Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 93IU, Vitamin B6: 1mg, Vitamin C: 146mg, Vitamin E: 1mg, Vitamin K: 65ยตg, Calcium: 68mg, Folate: 173ยตg, Iron: 1mg, Manganese: 0.5mg, Magnesium: 46mg, Zinc: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or mention @nicoandlouise on Instagram. We are also on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok.

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Nico and Louise in front of the Consolazione church in Todi

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with vegetarian and vegan recipes.

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