Home » Recipe Index » Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

This air fryer frozen cauliflower is ready in just 20 minutes for an easy and tasty veggie side! The cauliflower is lightly seasoned and turns out so tender and delicious.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.

air fried cauliflower in a bowl with a fork

Looking for a healthy and tasty side that can be ready fast?

Air fryer frozen cauliflower is ready in just 20 minutes and tastes so much better than cooking it in the microwave or the oven!

The florets turn out tender and juicy without getting soggy or rubbery, and the light seasoning adds the perfect pop of flavor.

If you’re looking for an easy way to add veggies to your meal, you’re going to love this recipe!

Save This Recipe!
Enter your email and we'll send this recipe right to your inbox. Plus you'll get amazing recipes in our newsletter!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:

  • The 20-minute method for making frozen cauliflower in the air fryer
  • How to know when your florets have finished cooking
  • Tips and tricks for making the best air fryer cauliflower
  • What to serve with this tasty veggie
  • How to reheat leftover cauliflower in the air fryer

This is one of my go-to sides when I’m short on time but want to get a healthy veggie on my plate.

But it also makes a great snack if you want something warm and crispy. There’s really never a bad time to make air fryer cauliflower!

Air Fryer I recommend: Large, easy to clean, square basket, burner on top and bottom. Click to see it.
ingredients to make air fryer frozen cauliflower

How to Make Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.

STEP TWO: Toss the frozen cauliflower with the oil, paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper until the cauliflower is fully coated.

cauliflower in an air fryer basket

STEP THREE: Transfer the seasoned florets to the air fryer basket in a single layer.

STEP FOUR: Air fry for 14-16 minutes, shaking once halfway through.

air fried frozen cauliflower

How Long Does Frozen Cauliflower Take to Cook in the Air Fryer?

This is going to depend on the make and model of your air fryer as well as the size of your cauliflower florets.

However, you can usually expect your frozen cauliflower to be done after air frying for 14-16 minutes.

You want the florets to be golden in color with a little bit of deep-brown crispiness on the edges.

They should have a slight crunch on the outside but be fork-tender on the inside. If the florets feel too tough, continue cooking for a minute or two.

If some of the florets are extra big, you could also slice them in half when you shake the basket.

Just be sure to work quickly so you don’t lose too much of the heat in the air fryer. It doesn’t have to be pretty, just a quick chop and then throw the pieces back in!

frozen cauliflower cooked in air fryer

Tips for Making the Best Frozen Cauliflower in the Air Fryer

  • Oil and seasoning has a tendency to clump when you’re tossing with anything frozen, so you may need to use your hands to make sure the seasoning fully coats all the cauliflower. 
  • Try to keep the florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. If you overcrowd the basket, the florets won’t be able to crisp up properly and may turn out more soggy.
  • Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to help the cauliflower air fry on all sides.
fork in a piece of cauliflower

What to Serve with Air Fryer Cauliflower

What Brand of Frozen Cauliflower is Best?

You can use any brand you like! I’ve tried Green Giant, Taylor Farms, and generic store brands like Great Value, Meijer’s, and more.

All of them have turned out delicious! 

Just be sure to pay attention to the size of the florets as they can vary from brand to brand.

If the florets are extra large, they’ll need to be cooked longer.

If the florets vary a lot in size, you could always start with the big ones and then throw the smaller ones in after 3 minutes or so to prevent them from overcooking.

ready to serve cauliflower

How to Reheat Cauliflower in the Air Fryer

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
  2. Lay the leftover cauliflower in the air fryer basket in a single layer
  3. Air fry for 3-4 minutes until crispy on the outside and heated all the way through.

More Air Fryer Cauliflower Recipes

Other Air Fryer Frozen Veggie Recipes You’ll Love:

Love air frying? Join our newsletter! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or join our free Facebook Air Frying Community.

frozen cauliflower cooked in air fryer

Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

Samantha Erb
Lightly seasoned air fryer frozen cauliflower is so tender and juicy! It tastes so much better when prepared in the air fryer and makes for the perfect side dish.
4.34 from 3 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Air Fryer Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 119 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound frozen cauliflower florets
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 400 F.
  • Toss the frozen cauliflower with the oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; you may need to use your hands to make sure the seasoning fully coats all the cauliflower.
  • Air fry for 14-16 minutes, shaking once halfway through.

Notes

How to reheat cauliflower:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
2. Add cauliflower to the basket and cook for 3-4 minutes or until hot all the way through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 119kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 564mgFiber: 6gSugar: 5g

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


samantha

About Samantha

I’ve always had a love of cooking and creating new recipes, so it only made sense to create a food blog so I could share those recipes with you. This site is designed to provide easy and flavorful recipes with as little ingredients as possible. That means you still get great flavor combinations without all that extra time and effort. Read more...

4.34 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




SEEN ON

as seen on promo graphic

SEEN ON

as seen on promo graphic