Flip a head of cauliflower into scrumptious roasted cauliflower florets tossed in olive oil and seasoned with contemporary lemon zest, paprika, and thyme. This simple lemon roasted cauliflower recipe is the right aspect dish for on a regular basis dinners and vacation meals!
Strive my candy and sticky cauliflower bites and these veggie-packed cauliflower tots subsequent.


Since cauliflower usually is available in pairs at our grocery store, I’ll chop up one head to make my air fryer Buffalo cauliflower, and the following normally turns into some form of tasty aspect dish later within the week. Immediately, it’s this oven roasted cauliflower with zesty lemon seasoning.
Like roasted mushrooms, roasting cauliflower in a sizzling oven brings out a scrumptious, caramelized texture. To not point out, the toasty taste that pairs completely with a easy mix of olive oil, paprika, lemon zest, and thyme.
This Roasted Cauliflower Recipe Is…
- 5 minutes to prep. Chop your cauliflower, toss it with seasonings, and roast.
- Nice for any meal. I make lemon roasted cauliflower for weeknight dinners, and it additionally makes a splendidly easy vacation aspect dish that’s loaded with taste.
- Simple to customise. Change the seasonings, or strive drizzling your roasted cauliflower with spicy zhoug sauce or chimichurri for much more taste!


Components You’ll Want
Right here’s what you’ll have to make this lemon roasted cauliflower. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable recipe with quantities and step-by-step directions.
- Seasoning – Candy or smoked paprika, salt, freshly floor pepper, and thyme. When you’re utilizing contemporary herbs, you’ll want 1 tablespoon of contemporary thyme for each 1 teaspoon of dried.
- Lemon – Zest one contemporary lemon utilizing a microplane or the small holes on a field grater.
- Cauliflower – Select cauliflower heads which can be creamy white and agency, with none blemishes.
- Olive Oil – Or your alternative of oil for roasting.
- Parsley – Freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley for garnish.
Extra Seasoning Choices
The fantastic thing about this roasted cauliflower recipe is you could simply change up the spices to create a veggie aspect dish that fits you. When you love the zestiness of lemon, hold the lemon zest and olive oil and swap the paprika and thyme to your favourite herbs and spices. Strive garlic powder, Italian seasoning, Cajun spice, or fajita seasoning.
Continuously Requested Questions
Make certain to unfold the cauliflower in a fair layer on the baking sheet, with sufficient area in between. This ensures that the cauliflower doesn’t steam.
Not needed for this recipe! In truth, I discover that parboiling could make cauliflower much less flavorful. When you’d wish to pre-cook it, I counsel steaming the cauliflower in a steamer basket as a substitute.


How Lengthy to Roast Cauliflower
Whether or not you’re getting ready this cauliflower as florets or steaks, you may anticipate to roast it in a sizzling 450ºF oven for about 20-Half-hour. The precise baking time will depend on the scale of the cauliflower items. See under and check with the recipe card for particulars.
Cauliflower is cooked when it turns darkish golden brown and a fork passes simply by way of it. In case your cauliflower is fork-tender however nonetheless creamy white, hold roasting! The darker coloration means it’s totally caramelized and crispy. Undercooked cauliflower will nonetheless be arduous and never so nice to eat.
What to Serve With Lemon Roasted Cauliflower
Coming from a household of cauliflower naysayers, I’ve made it a private mission to seek out scrumptious methods to organize and serve this humble veggie!
This lemony roasted cauliflower is an effective way to stability out wealthy, hearty dishes like savory Swiss steak and Cracker Barrel meatloaf. Add a aspect of mashed potatoes or inexperienced beans and tomatoes. I additionally love serving roasted cauliflower with artichoke rooster or stuffed rooster breasts.
Pin this now to seek out it later
-
Prep. Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
-
Combine the seasonings. In a small mixing bowl, mix the paprika, thyme, lemon zest, salt, and pepper; combine till totally included.
-
Season the cauliflower. In a big mixing bowl, toss the cauliflower with the olive oil and add the paprika seasoning; combine till all the things is properly mixed.
-
Fill the baking sheet. Switch the cauliflower to a baking sheet and organize the florets in a single layer.
-
Roast. Roast for 10 minutes, stir; proceed to prepare dinner for 10 extra minutes, or till tender and browned on the perimeters.
-
Serve. Take away from oven. Switch to a serving plate. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
Energy: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 660IU | Vitamin C: 15.6mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.8mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might fluctuate in line with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.
Methods to Roast Cauliflower
One of the vital frequent errors is roasting cauliflower at too low a temperature. If the oven isn’t sizzling sufficient, the cauliflower gained’t caramelize. For the very best outcomes, you want a highly regarded oven, so get yours preheating to 450ºF or as near it as it could get.
- Combine the seasoning. Mix paprika, thyme, lemon zest, salt, and freshly cracked pepper.
- Season the cauliflower. Toss the cauliflower with olive oil, then add the seasonings and toss once more to coat.
- Roast. Unfold the cauliflower out onto a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast at 450ºF for 20 minutes, stirring the florets midway by way of. When the cauliflower is tender and browned on the edges, switch it to a plate, garnish with parsley, and serve.
Strive Roasted Cauliflower Steaks As a substitute
I’ll generally chop the cauliflower into florets, as you see right here, and different occasions I’ll lower it into cauliflower steaks and roast it that means. Reduce into 1” thick steaks, the roasting time stays principally the identical at 450ºF.




Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. You may hold any leftover roasted cauliflower in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. I like to mix leftovers into cauliflower cheese soup!
- Reheat. Heat the cauliflower within the oven or microwave, or you may take pleasure in leftovers chilly in a salad.
