Ready to learn how to roast a whole cauliflower head?! This whole roasted cauliflower recipe is a show-stopper, whether you’re a meat eater and having it as a side dish, or it’s the main course of a vegetarian meal. While it makes a stunning addition to a Christmas or Thanksgiving menu, whole baked cauliflower recipes are also easy enough to enjoy any night of the week. This one is drizzled with a garlic parmesan sauce, perfectly cooked, and sliced into circles or wedges for serving. It’s similar in flavor to my garlic parmesan oven roasted green beans, but with a more dramatic table presence.
Ingredient & Substitution Notes
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for a whole roasted cauliflower head, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Cauliflower – I used a medium whole cauliflower head, so if yours is large, you may need to increase the amounts of the oil and seasonings. After you wash the cauliflower, be sure to dry very well — this roasts the exterior instead of steaming it in the oven and infuses the seasonings and cheese.Olive Oil – Helps the seasonings stick and adds flavor. Ghee would also work well and add a buttery taste. I don’t recommend using butter, which tends to burn too easily.Garlic – Use fresh garlic, since it will get crushed and blended into the sauce. Minced garlic is more likely to burn. If you don’t have any fresh garlic, you can substitute about 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, but fresh tastes best.Seasonings – Including dried basil, parsley, and thyme. You can also use an equivalent amount of homemade Italian seasoning instead to save time.Grated Parmesan Cheese – Parmesan is tangy and crisps up well on roasted whole cauliflower, almost like bread crumbs. If you don’t have parmesan, a variety of hard or soft cheeses will work, such as feta, blue cheese crumbles, or shredded cheddar, but the texture of the topping will be different. If your lifestyle allows or if you want a vegan option, swap the cheese for bread crumbs instead.Sea Salt & Black Pepper
How To Roast A Whole Cauliflower Head
This section shows how to cook a whole cauliflower head, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
How Long To Roast A Whole Head Of Cauliflower?
For a whole roasted cauliflower recipe, roast it 35 to 45 minutes covered, followed by a few minutes under the broiler. Cut off the woody center of the bottom stalk, but be careful to avoid removing too much, as cooking whole cauliflower requires the head to stay intact. See the picture below for how it should look. If you want to know how to make roasted cauliflower in the form of florets instead of roasting a cauliflower head whole, try a roasted cauliflower florets recipe instead. This will require much less time in the oven, but a bit more prep time. Broccoli and cauliflower florets can be roasted together and make a colorful addition to any meal.
How To Serve A Roasted Cauliflower Head
The “hardest” part of this garlic parmesan roasted cauliflower? Serving it! But don’t worry, I’m here to help. 😉 Here is how to serve whole roasted cauliflower:
Carefully lift the full roasted cauliflower out of the dutch oven and onto a cutting board. I usually use two large forks and lift from underneath.Slice the whole baked cauliflower. You can slice the cauliflower into “steaks” (large circles) or cut it into thin wedges, kind of like a pie. I prefer wedges, but it’s up to you!
Storage Instructions
Store: Place leftovers in a covered container in the fridge up to 4 days.Meal prep: Mix the garlic parmesan sauce in advance, then use when ready. Alternatively, you can also bake the whole roasted cauliflower with parmesan and reheat when you’re ready to eat it.Reheat: Warm a whole roasted cauliflower head in the oven by covering it in foil and baking at 350 degrees F. (You might want to add fresh parmesan on top before reheating.) The microwave works in a pinch, but the texture is best with the oven method.Freeze: Cut into slices or pieces, let it cool completely, and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
What To Serve With Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Whole cauliflower recipes can be the star or main entree of a vegetarian meal (plain or with a drizzle of tahini sauce!), but cooking whole cauliflower also makes the perfect side dish to your favorite protein. Try out some of these main entrees:
Steak – For a fancier meal, you can’t go wrong with filet mignon, sirloin steak, or even New York strip.Chicken – Try chicken cacciatore, Tuscan chicken, creamy mushroom chicken, or simple chicken drumsticks.Pork – Pair whole roasted cauliflower with pan seared pork chops, stuffed pork chops, or pork tenderloin.Seafood – Make lemon cod or baked salmon for weeknights, or sea bass, lobster tails, or halibut recipes for special meals.
More Whole Cauliflower Recipes
There are so many ways to turn whole cauliflower into a mouthwatering side dish! While this is my only recipe for roasting cauliflower whole, these easy cauliflower recipes use an entire head as well: Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it!
