Your family will love this simple yet tantalizing air fryer cauliflower steak recipe. This dish is packed with bold flavors, using common pantry staples like chili powder, cumin, and lime. This is the perfect side dish for a quick weeknight side dish or dinner. This recipe is incredibly easy to make in your air fryer, but I also share oven directions. All you need is 20 minutes from start to finish.
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This is a great recipe with lots of options if you are trying to add more meatless dishes to your diet. You can add pepitas, black beans, or other proteins to make it a main dish, or serve it as a flavorful side dish. This is a versatile vegetable recipe, and I will share some fun options below.
If you are looking for more recipe ideas, I have lots of tried and true gluten-free air fryer recipes to try!
What sets my recipe apart:
Allergen Information:
This easy vegetarian side dish recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, egg-free, and oat-free. Make it vegan and dairy-free using a vegan cheese and sour cream brand. This air fryer cauliflower steak recipe is low-carb as well!
Ingredient Notes:
- Cauliflower – Pick out a large cauliflower head so you can cut more steaks.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, salt, and ground black pepper.
- Avocado Oil—Use avocado oil or another oil with a high smoke point. I have a great list of high-heat oils for the air fryer.
- Garnish Options – Fresh herbs like cilantro, sour cream, scallions, and cheddar cheese. Add sliced jalapeño for a spicy kick.
Tips For Success
1. Cut the cauliflower steaks thick so they don’t fall apart into lots of florets.
2. Let the seasoning mix sit on the cauliflower so the flavors absorb.
3. Pat the cauliflower steaks with paper towels to ensure they are completely dry so the seasoning sticks well.
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
Step 1: Wash the cauliflower and use a sharp knife to remove the stem and leaves from the head. Cut the cauliflower into thick slices. You will end up with some extra florets, which you can cook as well!
Step 2: Place the cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer.
I use a counter-sized oven-style air fryer in this recipe because I really want the hot air to circulate around the slices. The air fryer I own has been discontinued, but this is the style. There are quite a few different ones online. You can also use a regular air fryer basket type, but be sure it has a rack with holes under it for air to circulate. (Every brand I have seen does have this rack.)
Step 3: In a small bowl, add the marinade ingredients. Use a whisk to mix the spice marinade.
Step 4: Use a pastry brush to brush the marinade onto the cauliflower steaks.
🤣 Sandi Says: I found out the hard way it will leak to the counter if you do it as pictured. Place the air fryer rack on a pan so you don’t make a big mess.
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Step 5: Put the cauliflower into the air fryer and cook it at 375º F for 15-20 minutes. The cooking time will vary by the size and thickness of the cauliflower steaks. If you use the oven-style air fryer, you need a drip pan!
Step 6: See how nice and golden brown these air-fried cauliflower steaks turned out? Top them with melted cheese, sour cream, scallions, salsa, or anything else you like!
Add protein to make it a meal!
This can make a great meal by adding some protein!! Vegan or vegetarian or with animal protein! Protein You can add black beans, refried beans, pepitas, grilled chicken, steak, or even top it with some Homemade Chili!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Place the cauliflower on a cutting board with the stem side down. Use a sharp knife to slice the cauliflower vertically into slices. Make sure to keep the slices even. The slices from the middle of the cauliflower tend to hold together better than those from the outer edges.
The thickness is up to you, but I like to cut the steaks in 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness.
Yes, you can easily bake these cauliflower steaks. Place the cauliflower steaks on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush the sauce over the steaks and bake at 375º F for 20-25 minutes. As with air frying, the baking time can vary depending on the size and thickness of the cauliflower steaks.
If your cauliflower steaks are tough, they are not fully cooked, and you need to cook them longer.
Storage:
Store leftover cauliflower steaks in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep fresh for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing the leftovers because they thaw very mushy.
I hope you enjoy this roasted cauliflower steak recipe as much as we did. Air frying really does seem to add delicious crispiness to the cauliflower.
More Air Fryer Recipes:
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Mexican Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower head
- ¼ cup avocado oil * see notes
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
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Instructions
- Wash the cauliflower and use a sharp knife to remove the stem and leaves from the head.
- Use a sharp knife to slice the cauliflower vertically into slices. Make sure to keep the slices even. The slices from the middle of the cauliflower tend to hold together better than those from the outer edges. Cut the cauliflower into thick slices. I like to cut the steaks in 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness. You will end up with some extra florets, which you can cook as well!
- Place the cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer.
- In a small bowl, add the marinade ingredients. Use a whisk to mix the spice marinade. Use a pastry brush to brush the marinade onto the cauliflower steaks.
- Put the cauliflower into the air fryer and cook it at 375º F for 15-20 minutes. The cooking time will vary by size and thickness of the cauliflower steaks.
- Top them with melted cheese, sour cream, scallions, salsa, or anything you like!
Notes
- Be sure to use an oil that works with high heat. Here is a great list of high smoke point oils for the air fryer.
- Oven Baking Instructions: If you don’t have an air fryer, here is how to bake the cauliflower steaks: Place the cauliflower steaks on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush the sauce over the steaks and bake at 375º F for 20-25 minutes. As with air frying, the baking time can vary depending on the size and thickness of the cauliflower steaks.
- Store leftover cauliflower steaks in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep fresh for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing the leftovers because they thaw very mushy.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
