35 Cauliflower Recipes You Can Count On

We’ve got you covered, from basic side dishes to creative vegetarian mains — and everything in between.

March 09, 2022

By: Food Network Kitchen

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Cauliflower Power

Once just a humble veggie, perfect for roasting in the oven, cauliflower has become the ingredient of choice for a number of healthy takes and creative dishes. It can stand in for meat, replace rice and is the superstar of low-carb replacements. Cauliflower crust pizza, anyone? Whether you’ve been growing cauliflower in your garden or have a habit of picking some up whenever you’re at the grocery store, you can’t go wrong when you cook with this cruciferous gem. We love it so much, in fact, that you won’t hear us complain when it’s paired with a creamy cheese sauce for this veggie-forward take on macaroni and cheese — that completely skips the pasta!

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese

Crispy Cauliflower Tacos

The secret to these crispy cauliflower tacos is the rice flour. It creates the crispiest crust on the cauliflower, making it the perfect vessel for the tangy cabbage slaw and spicy chipotle avocado sauce. These vegetarian tacos will be sure to inspire your weeknight meals.

Get the Recipe: Crispy Cauliflower Tacos

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Katie steams the cauliflower first, then drains out the moisture to create a crisp, golden-brown pizza crust. Top with your favorite sauce and cheese for a healthier twist on everyone’s favorite meal.

Get the Recipe: Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

Cauliflower Parmesan

This delicious, hearty cauliflower parm doesn't skimp on the flavor and will satisfy everyone, from vegetarians to the most die-hard carnivore.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Parmesan

Cauliflower Rice

With heart-healthy olive oil, sweet caramelized onions, and a heaping of fresh parsley, Food Network Kitchen’s cauliflower rice works great as a low-carb rice replacement.

Get the Recipe: Healthy Cauliflower Rice

Whole Roasted Stuffed Cauliflower

Cauliflower is stuffed with bacon, cheese and kale for an impressive twist on a classic side. Want to skip the bacon? It can easily be replaced with sliced button mushrooms.

Get the Recipe: Whole Roasted Stuffed Cauliflower

Kung Pao Cauliflower

Forget chicken: This sweet and spicy vegetarian dish proves once more that cauliflower is king. Originally from Sichuan province but popular in other parts of China, as well as in Chinese-American restaurants, kung pao chicken is traditionally a stir-fry. Here, the cauliflower is deep-fried for a light and crispy texture that pairs perfectly with the dish’s signature chiles and peanuts.

Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Cauliflower

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

It’s all about the texture in a healthy alternative to classic mashed potatoes. The secret? Greek yogurt and Parmesan help achieve the rich, creamy texture you're after.

Get the Recipe: Art Smith's Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

Vegetarians, this one’s for you. Valerie tops her cauliflower steaks with pine nuts and raisins for a sweet, crunchy meal that’s filling and flavorful.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Steaks

Cauliflower Tortillas

Rejoice, lovers of tacos and quesadillas who are also aiming to cut carbs! Make a nice big stash of these cauliflower tortillas, and keep them in your fridge or freezer for any time the craving strikes.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Tortillas

Cauliflower Soup

It doesn’t get more comforting than Ree's hearty cauliflower soup. She says it's the perfect "combination of creamy, dreamy, healthy and decadent."

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Soup

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

Crisp bacon, sweet onion and sharp cheddar cheese bulk up cauliflower in a casserole that’s perfect for game day.

Get the Recipe: Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

Cauliflower Gnocchi

We subbed in cauliflower for all-purpose flour to make a soft and fluffy gnocchi. Toss it in nutty brown butter-caper sauce for an indulgent gluten-free dinner.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Gnocchi

Mustard-Parmesan Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Serve a whole head of roasted cauliflower as a (delicious) statement piece that's sure to impress. Roasting the cauliflower at high heat concentrates the punchy flavor of the Dijon mustard sauce that's been brushed all over.

Get the Recipe: Mustard-Parmesan Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Baked Cauliflower Tots

What can't cauliflower do? It's delicious as a puree, makes a great meaty steak and now, can be enjoyed as the ultimate finger food-a crunchy tot. We use crispy rice cereal as a gluten-free breading. A hot oven (and a little cooking spray) gets you a crackling exterior without deep frying.

Get the Recipe: Baked Cauliflower Tots

Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

Quick, easy and family-friendly, Katie tosses her cauliflower alfredo sauce with pasta and shrimp for the perfect weeknight meal.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

Cauliflower Gratin

Ina adds nutmeg to enhance the nutty flavors of Gruyere and Parmesan, then tops her dish with breadcrumbs to form a rich, buttery crust.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Gratin

Garlic and Herb Cauliflower Chips

A light and tasty snack that comes together in under 30 minutes. Try these for a keto- and gluten-free-friendly substitute when you're having a cracker or chip craving.

Get the Recipe: Garlic and Herb Cauliflower Chips

Chicken-Fried Cauliflower

Who needs meat? This unique twist on classic chicken-fried steak gives vegetarians an indulgent main course that will make even meat-eaters a little jealous.

Get the Recipe: Chicken-Fried Cauliflower

Cauliflower and Potatoes (Aloo Gobi)

Aarti steams cauliflower and potato in a simple side dish that she often ate while she was growing up. The flavors are delicate enough to be served as an intro to Indian food.

Get the Recipe: Aloo Gobi

Low Carb Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

Ditch the takeout with these cheesy, gluten-free breadsticks. Don’t be afraid to make extra – you’re going to want more for leftovers.

Get the Recipe: Low Carb Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

Whole Cauliflower Wellington

Herb-butter roasted cauliflower gets a golden puff pastry blanket — the perfect main dish for vegetarians or cauliflower lovers.

Get the Recipe: Whole Cauliflower Wellington

Buffalo Cauliflower with Blue Cheese Sauce

Enjoy one of your favorite bar and party snacks in a new form. With our spicy buffalo sauce and cool, creamy blue cheese sauce, cauliflower is as satisfying as wings but with a fraction of the calories and fat.

Get the Recipe: Buffalo Cauliflower with Blue Cheese Sauce

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Here, cauliflower stands in for rice to recreate your favorite takeout classic but with fewer carbs. Our version is vegetarian, but it can easily be made with cooked bacon, diced ham or any other meat.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Fried Rice

Spicy Cauliflower Wings

One bite of these spicy and hot cauliflower wings, which are based on Nashville-style hot chicken, and you may never go back to traditional chicken wings ever again. The key is the Louisiana-style hot sauce made from pepper, cayenne and sharp vinegar.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Cauliflower Wings

Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Dump Dinner

Skip cooking a big pot of rice and throw the ingredients into a casserole dish instead for an easy dump-dinner meal. The basmati rice and chickpeas absorb all the delicious flavors of ginger, garlic, curry powder and coconut milk. Finish with a quick drizzle of yogurt along with fresh cilantro leaves and lime wedges for a simple and complete meal that pulls from Indian pulao.

Get the Recipe: Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Dump Dinner

Cauliflower Cornbread Muffins

Whip your egg whites for a fluffy, gluten-free muffin that looks and tastes like your favorite cornbread. Spicy jalapeno and cheddar cheese kick the flavors up a notch for a muffin that’s sweet, spicy and savory.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Cornbread Muffins

Roasted Cauliflower Lasagna

Cauliflower is the star in this healthy lasagna, appearing in two roles-once when it's blended into the ricotta cheese filling for texture, and a second time when it's roasted and used in place of the traditional meatballs or sausage. Sweet red bell pepper adds complexity to the tomato sauce and balances the richness of the cheeses.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Lasagna

Cauliflower Tikka Masala

Cauliflower, chickpeas and peas make this vegetarian version a hearty one-pot meal. By using sour cream or yogurt instead of the traditional cream you get a lighter dish with big Indian flavor.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Tikka Masala

Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole with Cauliflower

Rachael adds a boost of healthy nutrients to the classic Italian dish with tender, steamed cauliflower. Meal prep tip: Cover and refrigerate before baking this casserole so you've got a no-sweat mid-week dinner covered.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole with Cauliflower

Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Pomegranate and Tahini

Whether you want a vegan-friendly main course for an upcoming dinner party, or a new method for cooking one of your favorite veggies, this cauliflower fits the bill. Inspired by Eyal Shani's world-famous whole roasted baby cauliflower served at his Miznon restaurants, we seasoned a head with cumin and coriander for a subtle hint of spice, then made a nutty tahini sauce for drizzling over the top. Fresh green herbs and tart ruby pomegranate seeds add a pop of color and flavor to this impressive dish.

Get the Recipe: Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Pomegranate and Tahini

General Tso's Cauliflower

The takeout heavyweight gets the vegetarian treatment in a homemade version that features fresh ginger, orange zest and crispy cauliflower.

Get the Recipe: General Tso's Cauliflower

Roasted Cauliflower

Roast cauliflower florets with olive oil, garlic and red pepper for a tender veggie that’s crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Toss it together right on the baking sheet to avoid extra cleanup.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower

Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta

Giada uses the whole cauliflower, leaves and all, in this cheesy cauliflower casserole.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan and Pancetta

Grilled Cauliflower Salad

Guy grills five different veggies for a crisp, crunchy side that’s nutritious and tasty. A goat cheese vinaigrette adds a zesty zing to the simple salad.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Cauliflower Salad