With minimal prep & just 6-8 minutes of cooking you can make the best Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower. With a flavor packed rub with a bit of a spicy kick, this cauliflower is a great easy side for any meal.
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Cauliflower is one of those veggies I really hated as a child, and then I found buffalo cauliflower... It was sort of the turning point for me and cauliflower, because since then I have found so many amazing ways to make it.
And while I still love my buffalo cauliflower, this is definitely my favorite easy air fryer cauliflower recipe.
Why you will love this recipe
- It's the best way to cook frozen cauliflower
- Quicker than most other cooking methods
- Super easy and done in 6-8 minutes + 5 minutes of preheating
- Loaded with flavor from that delicious rub
- A spicy kick which can be excluded
- Low carb, gluten free and vegan - so it will suit most diets
What you need to make it
Ingredient notes
- Olive oil can be substituted for another type of oil, like canola oil
- Cayenne pepper gives this cauliflower a spicy kick - exclude or reduce the amount if you don't want it spicy
- Change up the seasoning as you like - for example with some garlic powder
How to make it
- Pour the olive oil over the cauliflower and mix well
- In a small bowl, mix together the spices
- Sprinkle over the cauliflower
- Mix well
- Place cauliflower in a preheated air fryer basket
- Air fry for 4-5 minutes at 390°F (200°C)
- Turn the cauliflower, then air fry for 4-5 more minutes
- Check if they are done - if not, add more time - then serve!
Tips & tricks
- Preheat the air fryer for the very best results
- Don't defrost the cauliflower, cook it straight from frozen
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket - you don't need to cook the cauliflower in a single layer, but make sure there's still some air around and don't fill the basket all the way
- Turn the cauliflower halfway for an even cook
- Adjust cook time depending on how much you're making - if you have multiple layers you might need to add more time
- Cook time can vary with different air fryers
- Use a kitchen thermometer to make sure the cauliflower is done - frozen food should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (73°C)
- Add other frozen vegetables - you can cook them all together as long as they have similar cook times. You can also check out my complete guide to cooking frozen veggies in your air fryer.
- Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 390°F (200°C)
Recipe FAQ
Yes, you can make this without oil, but you will have a harder time getting the rub to stick and also you run the risk of the cauliflower sticking to the air fryer basket.
I recommend using at least a little bit of oil, so feel free to reduce the amount and maybe just brush or spray the air fryer basket with a tiny bit of oil.
Frozen cauliflower will generally require 8-15 minutes in your air fryer, depending on your specific air fryer model, the size of the cauliflower florets and how much you are cooking at the same time.
Cauliflower goes great with so many flavors, among my favorites are butter, Pecorino cheese, lemon, potatoes and chickpeas.
This recipe specifically goes great with Hummus, Chipotle Ranch or Blue Cheese Sauce as a dip, and as a side for Lemon Basil Chicken, a classic Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak or with similarly seasoned Chicken Drumsticks.
More delicious air fryer sides
Here are some of my other favorite air fryer sides:
- Curly Fries
- Texas Toast
- Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Green Beans
- French Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Homemade Tater Tots
Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower
Print RateIngredients
- 3 cups frozen cauliflower
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Pour the oil over the frozen cauliflower and mix well. Mix together the spices and sprinkle over the cauliflower, mix well to get the spices everywhere.3 cups frozen cauliflower, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1.5 teaspoon smoked paprika powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 4-5 minutes, then shake them around and air fry for 4-5 more minutes. Check if they are done (if not - add more time) then serve!
Equipment (may contain affiliate links)
- Small bowl
- Spoon for mixing
Notes
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Olive oil can be substituted for another type of oil, like canola oil
- Cayenne pepper gives this cauliflower a spicy kick - exclude or reduce the amount if you don't want it spicy
- Change up the seasoning as you like - for example with some garlic powder
Tips & tricks
- Preheat the air fryer for the very best results
- Don't defrost the cauliflower, cook it straight from frozen
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket - you don't need to cook the cauliflower in a single layer, but make sure there's still some air around and don't fill the basket all the way
- Turn the cauliflower halfway for an even cook
- Adjust cook time depending on how much you're making - if you have multiple layers you might need to add more time
- Cook time can vary with different air fryers
- Use a kitchen thermometer to make sure the cauliflower is done - frozen food should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (73°C)
- Add other frozen vegetables - you can cook them all together as long as they have similar cook times
- Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
- Reheat leftovers in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 390°F (200°C)
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
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