Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks

5 from 105 votes

These easy delicious air fryer cauliflower steaks are seasoned with hearty, earthy spices cooked fast to a golden outside and tender inside. A great meatless low calorie main dish or side dish.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 88kcal

Author: Toni Dash

Equipment

air fryer

Ingredients

1 large cauliflower head
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
lemon wedges for serving optional
fresh chopped parsley for garnish optional

Instructions

Remove all the green cauliflower leaves, cut off the bottom stem to be level with the bottom of the head of cauliflower. Rinse and pat dry.
1 large cauliflower head
Set the cauliflower stem side down on a cutting board. Slice into 1-inch thick slices or 'steaks' using a large sharp knife. Save any broken florets to make cauliflower rice or dip with favorite dressing.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
While the air fryer is preheating, combine the olive oil, spices and lemon juice in a small bowl whisk together. It will make a slurry to brush on the cauliflower steaks.
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Place the thick slices of cauliflower on a cutting board or plate. Brush some of the spice mixture onto both sides of the cauliflower using a pastry brush or silicone brush.
Place cauliflower steaks in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer with room between. You'll need to cook in batches.
Cook for 12-15 minutes, gently turning the cauliflower over halfway through (use a pliable spatula and be gentle or some of the florets can fall off). The cauliflower should be cooked through but still with a firm texture and crispy edges.
Serve hot as is with lemon wedges or with your favorite dipping sauce (we love our Ranch Dressing or Blue Cheese Dressing).

Notes

Pro Tips

Air Fryer cooking. Every brand and model of air fryer cooks slightly differently. It's important to monitor your personal air fryer when cooking for adjusting cooking time or batch cooking depending on the size of your air fryer tray or basket.

Make steaks 1-inch thick. Thick cauliflower steaks will stay intact through the cooking process. Any thinner and they tend to fall apart.

Storing leftovers

Cooked cauliflower doesn't stand up well to storing. We recommend making the amount you'll consume in a sitting and make more when needed (it's so fast and easy)!

Nutrition