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    Home » Recipes » Low-Carb Keto Vegetable And Side Dish Recipes

    Easy Whole Roasted Cauliflower (With Garlic Butter)

    Published: Feb 9, 2015· Modified: Nov 11, 2022· By Libby Jenkinson May contain affiliate links.

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    5-INGREDIENTS COOKBOOK STARTER PACK JUMP TO RECIPE
    collage of hwo to make The BEST whole roasted cauliflower

    If you've ever struggled to make cauliflower taste delicious, or are tired of eating cauliflower the same way over and over, you will absolutely love whole roasted cauliflower with garlic butter.

    While I absolutely love cauliflower-based dishes such as mashed cauliflower, roasting cauliflower is such a nice change

    collage of hwo to make The BEST whole roasted cauliflower
    How to make easy whole roasted cauliflower recipe.

    Roasted cauliflower is so versatile. It can be served as a side dish with chicken, beef, turkey, salmon, or pork. You can also slice leftovers and fry them in a hot skillet.

    In fact, after you make it once, this roasted cauliflower recipe will become your favorite way to cook a cauliflower head too.

    Jump to:
    • Is cauliflower keto or low-carb?
    • Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Butter Sauce
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Baking
    • Serving
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Top tips
    • Storage
    • FAQs about roasting cauliflower
    • More keto cauliflower recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • More keto side dishes
    • 💬 Comments

    Is cauliflower keto or low-carb?

    Cauliflower is a commonly used keto vegetable because it is extremely versatile, low in carbs, high in fiber, and can be used in a variety of dishes.

    Nutrition of cauliflower per cup (107g): 5.3 g total carbs, 2.1 g fiber, 3.2 g net carbs, 2.1 g protein, 0.3 g fat, 26 calories.

    cauliflower nutrition panel

    Nutritional values from cronometer.com

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Butter Sauce

    whole roasted cauliflower on a white plate with a lemon
    Whole roasted cauliflower with herbed garlic butter sauce.

    There are so many delicious recipes that use cauliflower - cauliflower bread, mashed cauliflower, cauliflower rice, and even cauliflower sushi! This whole roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite recipes of all.

    There is so much to love about this whole roasted cauliflower. My favorite thing about a roasted cauliflower head is that I can roast it once, and I have a healthy side dish for my meal prep all week. Less cooking means I save myself so much time.

    Plus, I think you just can't beat the taste of roasted cauliflower. This is the best way to improve the veggie. Even those who don't typically like cauliflower may enjoy this dish!

    Have fun with this whole roasted cauliflower recipe and change it up. I'll share some of my favorite variations, but I'd love to hear how you changed it too.

    Ingredients

    labelled in to make a whole roasted cauliflower
    Simple healthy ingredients to make the whole roasted cauliflower recipe.

    The ingredient list for this roasted cauliflower recipe is short and sweet. Here's what you'll need:

    • cauliflower - for this particular dish you'll want to purchase a fresh intact head.
    • butter - full-fat butter adds so much flavor to this dish. Avoid using olive oil because it can make the cauliflower head taste bitter.
    • mustard powder - check for any added ingredients.
    • minced garlic - fresh garlic, minced garlic, crushed garlic.
    • lemon zest - prior to zesting, make sure to give the lemon a good wash so the skin is nice and clean.
    • dried parsley - fresh parsley gives the best flavor.

    See the whole roasted cauliflower recipe card below for amounts and instructions.

    Instructions

    This is an easy recipe for whole roasted cauliflower with butter, garlic, and mustard. With minimal preparation, this dish is an incredibly simple addition to your easy Sunday lamb roast or any other meal.

    First, make the garlic butter mixture in a small bowl. Melt your butter and mix with chopped fresh garlic (or crushed garlic), mustard powder, lemon, and parsley.

    melted herbed garlic butter in a small mixing bowl
    Melted butter with fresh herbs and crushed garlic.

    Next, prepare the whole cauliflower head.

    whole fresh cauliflower
    Beautiful fresh cauliflower should look bright and clean.

    Break the large green leaves from your head of cauliflower and keep the head intact. Carefully cut a cross X shape into the center of the cauliflower head with a sharp knife. This helps the thick white stalk cook evenly.

    Place the trimmed cauliflower head in a roasting tray, deep baking dish, baking sheet, or even a deep cake tin.

    a red knife cutting into a whole cauliflower

    Next, using a basting brush, brush your cauliflower head with garlic butter.

    Using a pastry brush, work the garlic butter into all the folds of the cauliflower head and make sure the entire surface is covered.

    a blue pastry brush brushing melted herbed butter onto a whole cauliflower
    Whole baked cauliflower brushed with garlic butter sauce and fresh parsley.

    Place the cauliflower head in a baking dish. As it cooks, you can continue to baste/brush the whole cauliflower head with garlic butter to ensure it cooks soft and full of garlic flavor.

    Baking

    Place the baking dish into a pre-heated oven on the middle rack. Bake the whole roasted cauliflower until lovely golden brown.

    If you know your oven has a tendency to burn food, you can cover the entire cauliflower head with aluminum foil to keep the cauliflower moist, tender, and absolutely delicious.

    Serving

    Cut the roasted cauliflower head into six pieces or slice and serve.

    Alternatively, you can cut it into large slices and gently fry each cauliflower "steak". Sprinkle with parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast before serving.

    Substitutions

    There are quite a few different ingredients you can substitute for roasted whole cauliflower if you need to.

    If you don't have butter, use either ghee, avocado oil, olive oil, or coconut oil. I am not a huge fan of coconut oil in this particular dish, but it will work to add fat to the cauliflower while it roasts.

    You can use garlic powder instead of fresh minced garlic in this roasted cauliflower recipe. Use one teaspoon of garlic powder for each clove of garlic.

    Finally, you can also make this as a baked cauliflower in a cast-iron skillet if you don't have a baking dish. A head of cauliflower fits perfectly in the skillet or even a dutch oven.

    Variations

    • Make it spicy. If you want it to have some spice, I suggest sprinkling some smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper on top of the whole roasted cauliflower head.
    • Change the flavor profile. I know that lemon garlic is a classic pair, but try making a Southwest-inspired roasted cauliflower. Instead of lemon, garlic, and fresh parsley, combine lime zest with fresh cilantro and some onion powder.
    • Add tahini. Another tasty variation to try is to add homemade tahini on top before you roast it.
    • Make it cheesy. This cauliflower recipe will also taste delicious with parmesan cheese on top. Yum!

    Top tips

    sliced whole roasted cauliflower on a white plate with herbs

    If you prefer your cauliflower to be softer (less crispy), just wrap the entire thing in aluminum foil as it bakes.

    Want to make this with small pieces of cauliflower instead of a whole head? Avoid the hassle of cutting up the cauliflower and use this recipe to roast cauliflower florets. They are already bite-sized and ready for you to divide up into your meal prep containers.

    Storage

    Store roasted cauliflower in an airtight food storage container or plastic food storage bag. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days.

    FAQs about roasting cauliflower

    If you don't see your question in this list, please leave it in the comments.

    Why is my roasted cauliflower mushy?

    This often happens if you cut the cauliflower into florets. I prefer to roast the entire head of cauliflower because it protects the cell structure of the cauliflower and keeps the entire thing nice and crispy.

    Should cauliflower be washed before roasting?

    Yes, you should definitely rinse your cauliflower before you roast it - even if you bought organic cauliflower.

    Just make sure to pat dry well.

    Can you roast cauliflower in the air fryer?

    Yes, you certainly can! Follow my recipe up to the point where you bake it. Then, place it in the air fryer instead of the oven.

    Air fry the cauliflower at 190C/375F for 35 minutes.

    Can I make whole roasted cauliflower ahead of time?

    Yes, if you have dinner guests arriving, prepare the roasted cauliflower recipe and keep it covered with foil in the fridge. Place it in a preheated oven 45 minutes before you want to eat it.

    How can I use the remaining sauce?

    You can keep the leftover garlic butter sauce covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can use it to brush almost any cooked vegetables, almost any cauliflower recipe, roasted veggies, or add to cauliflower rice. Your vegetarian friends will love you.

    Which mustard powder is best on the keto diet?

    Dijon mustard powder is the best to use. Check to ensure there are no added sugars and no added wheat or unnecessary carbs.

    Is the whole roasted cauliflower recipe easy?

    Yes, there are only 3 steps to this easy low-carb keto recipe.
    1: Make the garlic sauce.
    2: Brush and cover the whole roasted cauliflower head.
    3: Bake. your delicious dish.

    Can I make the whole roasted cauliflower recipe on my air fryer?

    Yes, place your whole head of cauliflower into a baking dish that can fit into your air fryer basket. Allow space on all sides to allow the heat to cook the head of cauliflower evenly. The baking dish prevents the sauce from dripping and burning inside the air fryer.

    whole roasted cauliflower on a white plate and slcied
    Awesome recipe for whole roasted cauliflower with a garlic sauce.

    More keto cauliflower recipes

    Cauliflower is such a versatile vegetable and nutritious vegetable. It can be used in so many ways instead of high carb side dishes when going low carb. Try these other cauliflower recipes.

    • Mashed cauliflower
    • Cauliflower rice
    • Broccoli and cauliflower bake
    • Cauliflower popcorn (yes, really!)

    Please leave a comment below and tell me how you like to serve cauliflower.

    whole roasted cauliflower on a wooden board

    📖 Recipe

    whole roasted cauliflower on a white plate and slcied

    Please rate this recipe.

    4.4 from 29 votes

    Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (With Garlic Butter)

    Whole roast cauliflower with garlic butter can easily be jazzed up with garlic, mustard, chilli, bacon or even curry powder (just not all at once). 
    Servings: 6
    NET carbs: 3.3g
    Author: Libby Jenkinson
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 45 minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes
    Category: Dinner. Side Dish. Vegetables
    Diet: Diabetic. Gluten Free. Vegetarian
    Egg free. Gluten Free. Grain free. Keto. LCHF. Low Carb. No Sugars. Wheat Free
    Review Recipe Print Pin Email

    Recipe Video

    Calculate ingredients

    Adjust servings: 6
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    Ingredients

    • 1 head cauliflower
    • 110 g (1 stick) butter melted
    • ¼ teaspoon mustard powder
    • 1 clove garlic minced crushed
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
    • 1 tablespoon dried parsley

    Instructions

    • Remove all the leaves and the bottom of the stem from the cauliflower so it will sit level in the baking dish.
    • Cut a deep cross into the stem so it cooks evenly.
    • Mix the melted butter with herbs, garlic, and mustard.
    • Place the prepared cauliflower in a baking dish and brush over the herb butter mixture.
    • Place in the oven to roast at 180C/350F and brush occasionally with the herbed butter as it cooks.
    • Test the centre with a knife or skewer to make sure it is cooked in the centre.
    © Copyright Ditch The Carbs

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    Nutrition Facts
    Whole Roasted Cauliflower Recipe (With Garlic Butter)
    Serving Size
     
    1 serve
    Amount per Serving
    NET carbs
     
    3.3
    g
    Total Carbohydrates
     
    5.4
    g
    2
    %
    Fiber
     
    2.1
    g
    9
    %
    Sugar
     
    1.9
    g
    2
    %
    Protein
     
    2.2
    g
    4
    %
    Fat
     
    15.2
    g
    23
    %
    Sodium
     
    161.3
    mg
    7
    %
    Potassium
     
    306.1
    mg
    9
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    465.3
    IU
    9
    %
    Vitamin B1
     
    0.1
    mg
    7
    %
    Vitamin B6
     
    0.2
    mg
    10
    %
    Vitamin B12
     
    0.1
    µg
    2
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    48.1
    mg
    58
    %
    Vitamin D
     
    0.3
    µg
    2
    %
    Vitamin E
     
    0.5
    mg
    3
    %
    Vitamin K
     
    20.7
    µg
    20
    %
    Calcium
     
    31.1
    mg
    3
    %
    Folate
     
    56.2
    µg
    14
    %
    Iron
     
    0.5
    mg
    3
    %
    Magnesium
     
    16.7
    mg
    4
    %
    Selenium
     
    1.1
    µg
    2
    %
    Zinc
     
    0.3
    mg
    2
    %
    % Daily Value*
    -
    Calories
    158.3
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    Approximate nutrition information is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. For the most accurate nutritional data, use the actual ingredients and brands you used in your preferred nutrition calculator.

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    Libby Jenkinson in her garden

    I'm Libby Jenkinson MPS. A registered pharmacist, Health Coach, Cert.Adv Nutrition, mother of 3 and founder of Ditch The Carbs and Low-Carb Practitioners.

    Learn more about me →

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    1. Linette

      November 02, 2022 at 2:00 am

      5 stars
      How would I cook this in an air fryer on Bake setting?

      Reply
      • Libby Jenkinson

        November 02, 2022 at 1:31 pm

        5 stars
        I would cut the core/centre of the cauliflower and remove it so it will cook evenly inside your air fryer. Bake on bake setting for 20 minutes, checking every 10 minutes to see how it is cooking. Brush the herbed butter over a few times during cooking to prevent dry roasted cauliflower.

        Reply
    2. Rochelle

      October 18, 2021 at 5:25 pm

      5 stars
      This is my absolute go-to recipe when having a family Sunday roast. The garlic butter is superb and I LOVE the lemon and mustard.

      Reply
    3. Maria

      April 07, 2018 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      So true Carol. I’m cooking the whole head of cauliflower from now on. Can’t wait to try it.

      Reply
    4. Christina

      August 21, 2017 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      I love roasting cauliflower whole. I wrap the cauli, leaves & all, in foil, place on a tray & bake. Once cooked, I serve straight from the tray drizzled with a little olive oil & seasoned with salt & pepper. Pretty plain, but tasty. I can't wait to try your version!

      Reply
    5. djnikkik

      November 19, 2016 at 10:31 pm

      5 stars
      This is a recipe that everyone needs to try, it tastes absolutely HEAVENLY! I've had roasted cauliflower before, but cut into florets and only with a little olive oil and garlic added. Your method of whole roasting is genius and your herb butter is AMAZING! Given the minimal ingredients and the ease of making it, I can't believe how beautiful this tastes with the herb butter, thank you for a great recipe 🙂

      Reply
      • Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com

        November 21, 2016 at 11:48 am

        5 stars
        Thank you, what a lovely review.

        Reply
    6. Judy

      May 29, 2016 at 9:48 pm

      5 stars
      We are going to put it in the kettle roaster. So looking forward to it! My husband isn't LCHF but he was the one who wanted to try it!

      Reply
    7. Hélène

      March 06, 2015 at 10:10 am

      5 stars
      Also I rly like cauliflower roasted as florettes with sliced onions (and maybe broccoli). Drizzle olive oil over and then salt & pepper to taste. Stir every so often till browned. Just a change of pace for those looking for more ideas.

      Reply
    8. Hélène

      March 06, 2015 at 10:05 am

      5 stars
      I made a roasted cauliflower today (with a tahini dip smeared all over it). I did it at 400F for an hour. It still wasnt rly done. Next time I will cut it in half and put it flat side down on a buttered or oiled pan to roast it. If ur interested here's the dip recipe:
      1/2c tahini
      1-2cl garlic, minced
      1/4-1/2tsp cumin
      1/2tsp salt (my tahini was unsalted)
      pepper to taste
      1/2 large lemon, zest and juice
      some olive oil to thin it -- optional, I didnt use it but next time I will
      It tasted incredibly like hummus! YAY a hummus substitute (i miss beans and bean dips lol)

      Reply
      • Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com

        March 06, 2015 at 10:09 am

        That sound delicious and thank you for posting your recipe Helene. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Nan

      February 10, 2015 at 4:23 am

      At what temperature do you roast this? Thanks

      Reply
      • Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com

        February 10, 2015 at 9:16 am

        180C (350F)

        Reply
    10. Connie Clausen

      February 10, 2015 at 3:08 am

      You don't say what temp to bake the whole cauliflower.

      Reply
    11. carol

      February 09, 2015 at 2:47 pm

      Thank you for this recipe. Now I have an easy way to use our head of cauliflower.

      Reply

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