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    Home » Recipes » Air Fryer Recipes

    Spiced Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

    Published: Feb 8, 2023 · Modified: Feb 17, 2023 by Nicole Addison · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This air fryer frozen cauliflower has never been tastier, quicker, and more affordable. With an easy garlic aioli, it makes for a yummy veggie side dish or snack!

    Air fryer frozen cauliflower with green onions and garlic aioli.

    Welcome back to part 2 of my frozen vegetables series, where I show you how to make frozen veggies taste great. Don't forget to check out part 1, where I did frozen broccoli.

    When I saw the price of a head of cauliflower at the grocery store last week, I knew I had to tackle this veggie next. I'm definitely not paying $5 for one head, and neither are you!

    If you didn't already know, frozen vegetables can often be more cost-effective than their fresh counterparts.

    They may not seem the most appealing at first, but they just take some love to jazz them up. Plus, they are minimal prep so you can save time in the kitchen.

    If you're apprehensive about the whole thing, this air fryer frozen cauliflower is the recipe for you! You only need a few simple ingredients, and you've got an easy side to add to the table.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for air fryer frozen cauliflower.

    Cauliflower

    • Frozen cauliflower
    • Olive oil
    • Hot sauce
    • Cumin, garlic powder, chili powder
    • Salt and pepper

    Easy garlic aioli dipping sauce

    • Mayonnaise
    • Plain yogurt
    • Lemon juice
    • Salt and pepper
    • Garlic clove

    Instructions

    Adding spices to frozen cauliflower.

    Preheat your air fryer by setting it to 400 and leaving it for about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, add frozen cauliflower, olive oil, hot sauce and all spices.

    Adding hot sauce to frozen cauliflower.

    Toss to coat.

    Putting cauliflower in the air fryer.

    Arrange cauliflower in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer (or use an air fryer liner). Bake at 400F for 8-10 minutes, flipping the cauliflower half way.

    Cooked spiced cauliflower in the air fryer.

    Prepare the garlic aioli sauce by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle with garlic aioli sauce and sprinkle with green onions. Use the remainder of the sauce for dipping as desired!

    Substitutions and Variations

    My favourite way to spice up this dish is by adding 1 teaspoon of honey- this gives it a "hot honey" twist that is absolutely mouth-watering. If you know, you know!

    Equipment

    • Air fryer
    • Mixing bowl
    • Air fryer liner (optional)

    Storage

    Frozen cauliflower in air fryer is best enjoyed fresh, as the crisp doesn't store as well. However, you can store this in the fridge for around 3 days. To reheat, pop it back into the air fryer for a couple minutes until it gets crispy.

    Top Tip

    Every air fryer is different. For best results, start watching the cauliflower after 6 minutes of baking. You may need to add time or decrease the cook time by a few minutes to get that perfect level of crisp!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can this be made in the oven?

    YES! Like most of my air fryer recipes, you can easily use the oven instead! You have two options:
    a) Cook straight from frozen- use a shallow pan (with edges as the cauliflower will defrost while in the oven). Bake at 400 for about 45-50 minutes- flipping halfway through baking (You may need to empty the water halfway through baking to create the nice crispy texture we want) 
    b) Defrost first- Leave your cauliflower in the fridge overnight or defrost in the microwave prior to baking. Bake at 400 for about 25-30 minutes (flipping halfway) 
    *For both methods I recommend broiling for 5 minutes prior to removing from the oven to get the final crispy layer.

    Can I double this recipe?

    Yes you absolutely can, I just suggest depending on your air fryer size to bake in batches as you don’t want to overcrowd your air fryer!

    Will this recipe work with fresh cauliflower?

    Yes! It absolutely will, You may just need to decrease the temperature to about 380 and decrease the time slightly.

    Frozen cauliflower with garlic aioli sauce.

    More Air Fryer Veggie Recipes

    • Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli (Ready in 10 Minutes)
    • Air Fryer Carrot Fries
    • The Ultimate 15-Minute Air Fryer Butternut Squash
    • The Best Air Fryer Eggplant Parm

    P.S. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this air fryer frozen cauliflower, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!

    Air fryer frozen cauliflower with garlic aioli sauce.
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    5 from 1 vote

    Spiced Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

    This air fryer frozen cauliflower has never been tastier, quicker, and more affordable. With an easy garlic aioli, it makes for a yummy veggie side dish or snack!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time9 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: air fryer veggies, vegetables
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 521kcal
    Author: Nicole Addison

    Ingredients

    Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

    • 500 g frozen cauliflower about 3 cups
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon hot sauce *see notes
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
    • Green onions for serving

    Easy Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce

    • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
    • 3 tablespoon plain yogurt
    • ½ tablespoon lemon juice
    • Salt and black pepper to taste
    • 1 clove garlic minced

    Instructions

    • Preheat your air fryer by setting it to 400 and leaving it for about 5 minutes
    • In a large bowl, add frozen cauliflower, olive oil, hot sauce and all spices. Toss to coat.
    • Arrange cauliflower in a single layer in the basket of your air fryer (or use an air fryer liner).
    • Bake at 400F for 8-10 minutes, flipping the cauliflower half way.
    • Prepare the garlic aioli sauce by whisking together all ingredients in a small bowl
    • Drizzle with garlic aioli sauce and sprinkle with green onions. Use the remainder of the sauce for dipping as desired!

    Notes

    *I used Franks which tends to be less spicy, so you may need to adjust based on the spice level of your hot sauce
     
    *I have included the nutrition information for this recipe below. However, always remember a recipe is so much more than just nutritional content and these numbers do not need to dictate your food choices. Please don't forget both your body and soul need nourishment!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 521kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 1542mg | Potassium: 1683mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 193IU | Vitamin C: 265mg | Calcium: 200mg | Iron: 3mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Emily

      February 25, 2023 at 9:54 pm

      5 stars
      The ONLY way I eat cauliflower now!

      Reply

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    Nicole Addison, RD, MHSc

    I’m Nicole, a Registered Dietitian, recipe developer and content creator on a mission to help individuals rediscover the joys of cooking with easy, accessible, healthy recipes. After years of struggling to find balance I have finally found that there is a way nourish your body while also fueling your soul.

    On my page you'll find yummy recipes, wellness tips, and even some of my favourite travel and lifestyle recommendations!

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