These Cauliflower Steaks are juicy, tender roasted cauliflower seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika and served with a fresh walnut pesto. They are the perfect healthy vegetarian main or side to any meal and can be made in the oven, air fryer or grill! Gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, low carb, keto, paleo and Whole30 friendly.
PIN HERE for later and follow my boards for more recipe ideas
Roasted Cauliflower with Walnut Pesto
Want to transform that boring roasted cauliflower into the star at your dinner table? This hearty cauliflower steak recipe is easy to make and turns a plain vegetable into a delicious main dish that your entire family will love! The cauliflower is seasoned to perfection and roasted until tender and juicy on the inside while caramelized on the outside. Served with a fresh walnut parsley pesto, this vegan dish is sure to impress even your pickiest meat eaters!
These veggie steaks makes the perfect healthy vegan main or side dish and can even be made in the air fryer or a grill! Plus, they can fit into just about any dietary lifestyle. Naturally gluten-free, grain-free, low carb, keto, paleo, vegan and Whole30 compliant!
Ingredients you need
You only need a few simple ingredients to make cauliflower steaks happen. The same goes for the optional walnut parsley pesto!
- Cauliflower: The star of this recipe.You’ll need one large cauliflower head, sliced into steaks.
- Avocado oil: Or olive oil.
- Salt: Kosher salt or fine sea salt to taste.
- Smoked paprika: For a smoky flavor.
- Garlic powder: Or grated garlic.
- Onion powder: 1/2 teaspoon.
- Black pepper: Cracked black pepper to taste.
For the Pesto:
- Walnuts: Or pine nuts.
- Fresh parsley
- Vegan parmesan: Or nutritional yeast.
- Garlic clove: For flavor.
- Lemon: Adds brightness.
- Avocado oil: Or olive oil.
- Salt: Kosher salt or fine sea salt to taste.
- Black pepper: Cracked black pepper to taste.
Cutting Cauliflower into Steak
It’s super easy to cut a head of cauliflower into steaks. Just be sure to use a sharp kitchen knife – if the blade is too dull, the knife could slip and potentially cut your fingers.
First, remove the outer leaves from the cauliflower. Then slice the cauliflower into 1.5 inch slices.
How to make Cauliflower Steaks
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 400F. Grease or line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easier clean-up. Set aside.
- Cut the Cauliflower: Remove the outer leaves from the cauliflower and cut the cauliflower into 1.5 inch slices. Place the cauliflower on the baking sheet.
- Combine the Seasonings: In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, salt, pepper, paprika, onion and garlic powder until combined. Brush the seasoning onto the cauliflower steaks.
- Bake: Place into the oven and roast for 30-35 minutes, or until crispy and golden on the edges, flipping halfway through.
- Make the Pesto: While the cauliflower is roasting, make the pesto by placing all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined. Taste and adjust seasonings and add a splash of water, only as needed until desired consistency is reached.
- Serve and Enjoy: Remove cauliflower from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve cauliflower steaks with the pesto and enjoy.
Air Fryer Method
- If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 375F. Place the seasoned cauliflower steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure no to overlap.
- Air Fry for 8 minutes, then use tongs to flip. Air Fry for another 7 minutes or until tender, golden and cooked to your liking.
Grilling Method
- Preheat your grill to medium heat.
- Place the seasoned cauliflower steaks on the grill and cover.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes then use tongs to gently flip. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until tender, golden and cooked to your liking.
Tips for Success
Take note of the helpful tips and tricks below before you start cutting up that cauliflower.
- Pick a Good Head of Cauliflower: You want to use a fresh head of cauliflower that’s nice and white/off-white with no brown spots or wet-looking areas. It should be firm and feel heavy for its size. Bright green leaves are also a good sign.
- Cut the Steaks into Even Pieces: Make sure you cut the cauliflower into evenly-sized slices. This ensures even baking across the board.
- Why is My Cauliflower Mushy? Over-crowding your pan will cause the cauliflower to become mushy rather than tender-crisp. It’s important to spread it out in an even layer with no overlapping florets.
- Flip Halfway Through Roasting: Don’t forget to flip over your cauliflower about halfway through the cook time. Otherwise, one side will get crispier than the other.
Variation Ideas
You can coat your cauliflower florets with any seasoning blend of your choice. Here are some other tasty flavors to try!
- Cajun Roasted Cauliflower: The spicy, savory goodness of Cajun seasoning goes great with roasted cauliflower. You can add the parmesan cheese if you’d like or omit it for this version.
- Herb Roasted Cauliflower: Try leaving out the paprika and replacing it with equal parts Italian seasoning. Whether or not you add the parmesan is totally up to you!
- Parmesan Alternatives: Any kind of cheese will taste amazing on top of your roasted cauliflower. Cheddar, pepper jack, mozzarella—use what you like! If you’re vegan, just make sure the cheese works with your dietary needs.
Serving Suggestions
Whatever dishes you’d like to pair with this side are fair game. The flavors go well with pretty much everything!
- Serve with Grilled Salad: These Grilled Romaine Salad is the perfect side that compliments this hearty cauliflower perfectly.
- Pair with Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Need another healthy side dish to partner with this cauliflower? My crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts are a fail-proof choice.
- Serve with Air Fryer Chicken: Cooking chicken in the Air Fryer is a huge time-saver! Not to mention, it gets the meat beautifully golden with ease. You have to try this Air Fryer Chicken Breast!
How to Store and Reheat Baked Cauliflower
Leftover cauliflower should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge once it has cooled completely. It will stay fresh for about 3-4 days. Reheat your cauliflower in a 350°F oven until it’s hot and the cheese is bubbling.
Can I Freeze This?
Yes! Simply place the cooled cauliflower on a large baking sheet and freeze it for at least 20 minutes. Then, transfer it to a large resealable freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat it straight from frozen according to the following instructions.
When you’re ready to reheat your frozen cauliflower, place it in a single layer in your Air Fryer basket. Set the temperature to 365°F and heat the cauliflower for 7-9 minutes, or until it reaches your desired crispiness. You will have to work in batches. Don’t let the frozen cauliflower sit at room temperature while you’re working through reheating it.
More Healthy Cauliflower Recipes to Try
Hungry for more cauliflower? You are going to love the easy recipes below!
These Cauliflower Steaks are juicy, tender roasted cauliflower seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika and served with a fresh walnut pesto. They are the perfect healthy vegetarian main or side to any meal! Gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, low carb, keto, paleo and Whole30 friendly.
- 1 large cauliflower head
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- ½ tsp Kosher salt or sea salt or to taste
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Cracked black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1 cup packed fresh parsley
- ¼ cup vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast
- 1 garlic clove
- ½ lemon
- ¼ cup avocado oil or olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- Cracked black pepper to taste
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Grease or line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easier clean-up. Set aside.
- Remove the outer leaves from the cauliflower and cut the cauliflower into 1.5 inch slices. Place the cauliflower on the baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, salt, pepper, paprika, onion and garlic powder until combined. Brush the seasoning onto the cauliflower steaks.
Place into the oven and roast for 30-35 minutes, or until crispy and golden on the edges, flipping halfway through.
- While the cauliflower is roasting, make the pesto by placing all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined. Taste and adjust seasonings and add a splash of water, only as needed until desired consistency is reached.
- Remove cauliflower from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve cauliflower steaks with the pesto and enjoy.
If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat to 375F. Place the seasoned cauliflower steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure no to overlap.
Air Fry for 8 minutes, then use tongs to flip. Air Fry for another 7 minutes or until tender, golden and cooked to your liking.
Preheat your grill to medium heat. Place the seasoned cauliflower steaks on the grill and cover. Cook for 5-6 minutes then use tongs to gently flip. Cook for another 5 minutes, or until tender, golden and cooked to your liking.
*Nutritional info is calculated without the pesto.
How to store and reheat
Leftover cauliflower should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge once it has cooled completely. It will stay fresh for about 3-4 days. Reheat your cauliflower in a 350°F oven until it's hot and the cheese is bubbling.
How to freeze
Place the cooled cauliflower on a large baking sheet and freeze it for at least 20 minutes. Then, transfer it to a large resealable freezer bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat it straight from frozen according to the following instructions.
When you're ready to reheat your frozen cauliflower, place it in a single layer in your Air Fryer basket. Set the temperature to 365°F and heat the cauliflower for 7-9 minutes, or until it reaches your desired crispiness. You will have to work in batches. Don't let the frozen cauliflower sit at room temperature while you're working through reheating it.
Leave a Comment