Cauliflower is a pretty boring vegetable. I think that it’s versatility is actually a testament to it’s boring-ness. Throughout all the craziness of the coronavirus, one meme that I keep seeing over and over is one that asks if there is a way to turn cauliflower into toilet paper. And while I, personally, can’t think of any ways to transform cauliflower into that particular household staple, I can make cauliflower so delicious that even kids and cauliflower-haters would gobble it down. This Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower recipe is simple and so incredibly good.
The best part about this Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower is the topping. Did you think that I was going to say cauliflower? Nope. In this recipe, the topping is crispy, cheesy, slightly salty. It’s divine. Instead of breading the cauliflower in the coating, this recipe bakes the cauliflower over top of the topping. That way the topping is crisp (and not slightly soggy like when you bread cauliflower). I’ve actually been doing this with potatoes for years and can’t believe that I am only now expanding it to vegetables.
Let me show you how I made this Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower 👇🏻
Oven and Baking Sheet Preparation.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray the parchment with olive oil spray. If you don’t have olive oil spray, you could substitute with a non-stick spray or lightly spread olive oil over the parchment.
Making the Parmesan Coating.
In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese (MUST be grated), 1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, and 1 tsp dried parsley. Stir really well so that the spices are well mixed.
Sprinkle the breadcrumb-cheese coating across the prepared baking sheet. Resist the urge to touch it.
Prepping the Cauliflower.
Wipe out that medium bowl that you used for the coating. Throw in 1 head’s worth of cauliflower florets. Pour in 2 tbsp of melted butter. Season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Toss the cauliflower to coat.
Press Lightly, DON’T Twist.
Place the cauliflower florets onto the baking sheet (one floret at a time). Lightly press them into the breadcrumbs (don’t twist, just gently press into the coating). Spread them out as much as you can so they roast evenly.
Into the Oven.
Bake for 20-25 minutes. The coating will be toasted and the cauliflower should be tender-crisp.
Flip.
Then carefully flip and cook for another 5-10 minutes. The cauliflower should have a crispy coating on it. (Don’t leave behind those cheesy crumbs that are on the baking sheet! That’s the best part!)
Enjoy!!
These are the recommended products that I used to make this delicious recipe! These are not only products that I use, but products that I love.
Roasted Parmesan Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 Head of Cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted
- 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Paprika
- 1/2 Tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Tsp Dried Parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a parchment paper and spray with olive oil spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine the parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and parsley. Stir well so that the spices are well mixed.
- Spread the crumb mixture out evenly across the baking sheet. Don’t touch it after spreading.
- Wipe out your bowl and then add the cauliflower. Pour the meted butter over the cauliflower, add the salt and pepper, and toss.
- Lay the cauliflower out onto the crumbs (one floret at a time), lightly pressing it down into the crumbs.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes. Then carefully flip to the other side and bake for another 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!
Welcome to Cupcakes and Sarcasm! My name is Maggie and I am the creator of C & S. I am a wife and mom of two beautiful kiddos. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and now live in Northeast Ohio with my family. I have been cooking and baking since I was a kid. I decided in 2017 that I wanted to share my passion (and recipes) with all of you! On this site, you’ll find easy and delicious recipes- both savory and sweet. I’ll also sprinkle in some stories of parenting and our adventures along the way.