Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower – Easy Cheesy Side Dish

Introduction

This Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower is an easy and delicious side dish with crispy golden edges, savory garlic, and plenty of cheesy flavor. The cauliflower is tossed with olive oil, garlic, paprika, and Parmesan, then roasted at high heat until tender and beautifully browned.

For an extra cheesy finish, you can add shredded mozzarella during the final minutes of roasting. Serve it alongside chicken, beef, pork, or your favorite family dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 medium head cauliflower, cored and cut into florets
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ½ teaspoon ground paprika
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 cup low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (optional)
• Finely chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Position a rack in the center of the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Prepare the Cauliflower

Remove the stem and cut the cauliflower into evenly sized florets. If some florets are large, cut them in half to help them roast evenly.

3. Season the Cauliflower

Place the cauliflower in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and add the salt, paprika, black pepper, minced garlic, and ¼ cup of the Parmesan cheese.

Toss everything together until the cauliflower is evenly coated.

4. Roast

Arrange the cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, placing the flatter sides down when possible.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until the bottoms begin to turn golden brown.

Flip the cauliflower, then sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Add the shredded mozzarella if using.

Continue roasting for another 6–10 minutes, until the cauliflower is fork-tender, the edges are golden, and the cheese is melted.

5. Serve

Transfer the roasted cauliflower to a serving dish, including any crispy cheese bits from the baking sheet. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.

Conclusion

This Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower Recipe turns a simple vegetable into a flavorful, cheesy side dish that is perfect for almost any meal. With crispy roasted edges, garlic, Parmesan, and optional mozzarella, it’s an easy recipe that can make cauliflower the star of the dinner table.