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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

    Easy Roasted Whole Cauliflower with Homemade Creamy Alfredo Sauce

    Published: Feb 17, 2017 · Modified: Jun 14, 2021 by Sandi Gaertner · 13 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you love cauliflower, take it to the next level by roasting your cauliflower whole. This easy roasted whole cauliflower recipe is so easy to make!

    Top it with my homemade creamy alfredo sauce, and you have an incredible side dish. If dinner is a big part of your family's evening, give some of my gluten free dinner recipes a try too!

    a whole roasted cauliflower on a plate
    Jump to:
    • Ways to cook a whole cauliflower:
    • Recipe step by step directions:
    • Fun toppings:
    • Serve it with:
    • Tools:
    • Recipe
    • Community

    You can see the beautiful crust that bakes into this baked cauliflower head. It is perfect for holding sauces!

    I had no idea how good a whole oven-roasted cauliflower could be. I have seen them at restaurants and skipped right over them when they were on the menu.

    Mr. Fearless Dining loved this baked whole cauliflower. We roasted it and then topped it with my easy homemade alfredo sauce is restaurant-quality...better than anything he has tried. (And yes, Mr. Fearless Dining is the one who ALWAYS orders the roasted whole cauliflower off the menu!)

    A hand sprinkling sunflower seeds on a roasted whole cauliflower

    Homemade alfredo sauce is so easy! If you haven't made an alfredo sauce from scratch yet, you will LOVE how easy this is to make. This sauce is so good on pasta, vegetables, baked potatoes, anywhere you could put a sauce.

    This alfredo sauce is even delicious on gluten free pizza instead of a red sauce!!

    Two heads of cauliflower on the grill
    I brushed pesto on this cauliflower before putting it on the grill!

    Ways to cook a whole cauliflower:

    Whole, not chopped up into pieces! Here are my favorite ways to cook a whole cauliflower:

    • Bake it in the oven as I did.
    • Toss the whole cauliflower head on the grill (see picture below).
    • Cook it in a pressure cooker (though it won't get crispy on the outside)
    Roasting a Whole Cauliflower Head next to a roast wrapped in bacon in a pan

    You can even toss the whole cauliflower in a pan and bake with your other dinner items! Add my easy creamy alfredo sauce recipe, and you have a delicious easy meal!

    Recipe step by step directions:

    Let's make that creamy alfredo sauce while your cauliflower is roasting.

    Roasting garlic in oil

    Step 1: Saute olive oil and garlic in a skillet over medium-low heat.

    Simmering homemade alfredo sauce in pan

    Step 2: Add heavy cream and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to simmer.

    Homemade Alfredo Sauce simmering in a pan

    Step 3: Add the parmesan cheese. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.

    This is the ultimate sauce for all of your cooking!! If you LOVE cauliflower, you should also try this Turmeric Lime Cauliflower recipe. You can roast the cauliflower in cut pieces or whole! Even my kids love it!!

    Top view of a whole roasted cauliflower topped with alfredo sauce

    Fun toppings:

    • Try crispy fried shallots. You can make these by sautéing in a pan with some garlic and olive oil. It will get crispy and delicious!
    • You can top your roasted cauliflower with a simple marinara sauce.
    • Make an enchilada out of it with enchilada sauce (like Hatch gluten free brand's) and add cheddar cheese on top!

    For this recipe, I added some sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds and scallions and enjoy!

    Serve it with:

    • Zucchini Ribbon Lasagna with Alfredo Sauce
    • Air Fryer Scallops
    • Gluten Free Oven Fried Chicken (cook them in the same pan!)
    • Cut up the cauliflower and serve it in these Savory Gluten Free Crepes!

    Tools:

    1. A roasting pan is definitely a plus for roasting. You can get one big enough to include other foods too!
    2. Use a basting brush to spread the olive oil onto the cauliflower evenly.

    Recipe

    Roasted Whole Cauliflower with Homemade Alfredo Sauce

    Sandi Gaertner
    Easy whole roasted cauliflower with four ingredient alfredo sauce.
    5 from 3 votes
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    Prep Time 7 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 32 mins
    Course Gluten Free Side Dish Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 people
    Calories 521 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 head cauliflower
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 1 large garlic clove minced, or 2 small cloves
    • 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
    • Wash a cauliflower and cut off the leaves.
    • Place in pan. Brush with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
    • Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden.
    • In a saucepan, add oil and garlic. Saute 2 minutes.
    • Add heavy cream. Turn heat to low and simmer until it gently boils.
    • Turn off heat and add parmesan cheese.
    • Drizzle the sauce over the roasted cauliflower. Sprinkle with sunflower seeds and scallions. Eat hot.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 521kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 10gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 29gPolyunsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 139mgSodium: 329mgFiber: 7gSugar: 9g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

    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.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joyce

      February 24, 2020 at 9:58 am

      I noticed that 1/2 cup of heavy cream was on the recipe twice. Does that mean I should use 1 cup of heavy cream?

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        February 24, 2020 at 10:03 am

        I actually think 1/2 cup is fine...if you like a lot of sauce, you can definitely use 1 cup. I clarified the recipe, I appreciate your reaching out :-).

        Reply
    2. Kavey Favelle

      June 16, 2017 at 6:12 am

      5 stars
      Loving the idea of an Alfredo sauce over a whole roasted cauli, that really sounds like the perfect garnish!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        June 16, 2017 at 9:05 am

        Thank you so much Kavey. Alfredo is one of the few sauces my picky child will eat 🙂

        Reply
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