Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 2 x 500g (1lb) bags frozen cauliflower florets; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; pinch of salt and pepper; Olive oil spray

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Making air fryer frozen cauliflower is one of the easiest side dishes— no thawing needed. Grab my best temperature and tips for delicious roasted cauliflower!

Air fryer cauliflower florets on plate with tahini sauce on the side.

If you have a bag of frozen veggies, olive oil spray, and some spices, you can make an easy and delicious side dish that requires almost no time to prep! Roasting frozen cauliflower in the air fryer is one of my greatest dinnertime hacks ever. It’s quicker than most other cooking methods, no chopping is required and it comes out perfect every time.

We love adding them to meals or turning them into a roasted cauliflower salad. Cooking frozen cauliflower (or any vegetable) in the air fryer is a game changer in terms of prep.

Ingredients you’ll need

Frozen cauliflower: You’ll need one-two 500g bags of frozen cauliflower florets, depending how much you would like.
Olive oil spray: I recommend using cooking oil spray as it is easier to coat the florets evenly.
Seasonings: My go too’s are paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Ingredients shown to make air fryer frozen cauliflower.

How to make air fryer frozen cauliflower

Cauliflower: Place the frozen cauliflower florets in a large bowl and spray with olive oil.

Add seasonings: Sprinkle the spices, salt and pepper over the cauliflower

Toss well, to ensure all florets are coated.

Air fry: Place the cauliflower into an air fryer basket. Air fry at 200°C/ 390°F for 10 minutes. Stir and shake the basket, then air fry an additional 10-15 minutes, until desired level of crispiness.

Roasted cauliflower florets in an air fryer basket.

Serve immediately

Tips and tricks

Don't defrost the cauliflower, cook it straight from frozen.
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.
Use one bag of frozen cauliflower for 3 servings or two bags for 6 servings.

Flavour ideas that go well with cauliflower

Parmesan: Add ⅓ cup parmesan cheese to the cauliflower once cooked.
Herb: Substitute paprika for 2 teaspoons of Italian herb seasoning.
Hummus plate: Serve over hummus and top with pistachios and pomegranate seeds.
Tahini: Drizzle with lemon tahini sauce to serve.

How to store

Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days
Reheat leftovers in the air fryer for for 3-5 minutes at 200°C/ 390°F or until warmed through.

Recipe FAQ

Can I make this without oil?

Yes, you can roasted frozen cauliflower without oil, but it will be harder to get the spices to stick and the cauliflower may stick to the air fryer basket. I recommend using cooking oil spray to coat the florets and also lightly spray the air fryer basket.

Should I thaw frozen cauliflower before cooking?

There's no need to defrost frozen cauliflower before cooking. In fact, it's best to cooking it straight from frozen. They can be added straight into dishes being cooked, like casseroles, stews and oven bakes, or throw in for the last few minutes with pasta being cooked in boiling water.

How long does frozen cauliflower take to cook?

Frozen cauliflower generally takes about 25 minutes to cook in the air fryer. However this depends on your specific air fryer model, the size of the cauliflower florets and how much you are cooking at the same time.

Other air fryer veggie recipes

Air Fryer Cucumbers

Air Fryer Broccoli & Cauliflower Parmesan

Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts

Air Fryer Cherry Tomatoes

If you try this air fryer frozen cauliflower recipe or have a question, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.