Tender bites of cauliflower roasted in the oven, covered in gooey melted cheese with caramelized edges, makes this Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower a delicious and nutritious companion to any main course.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Vegetarian Cauliflower Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients for Keto Roasted Cauliflower
• 🔪 How to Roast Cauliflower in the Oven
• 💡 Tips
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🍴 What to Serve with Roasted Cauliflower
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🍽️ More Cauliflower Recipes

❤️ Why You'll Love This Vegetarian Cauliflower Recipe

• Tender bites of cauliflower roasted in the oven
• Covered in gooey melted cheese
• Great flavor from the pepper jack
• Caramelized edges give it even more flavor
• Easy to make with minimal prep work

You may have heard that it's the simple things in life that bring the most joy. And that is exactly what comes to mind with this cheesy roasted cauliflower recipe. The dish features cauliflower florets that are roasted until slightly caramelized.

They’re topped with pepper jack cheese that gives them irresistible cheesy goodness with a subtle hint of heat. Not only is this roasted cauliflower recipe low in carbs but it’s also budget-friendly and super easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners.

Whether you're a huge fan of cauliflower or maybe just looking for new ways to add delicious and easy low-carb sides to your diet, this recipe never disappoints.

Roasting the cauliflower enhances its natural sweetness and nutty flavor that goes perfectly with the pepper jack cheese. But you can use another topping for it, like this homemade Parsley Pesto with Almonds. You can also serve the roasted florets with this tangy Bang Bang Sauce.

🛒 Ingredients for Keto Roasted Cauliflower

• Cauliflower
• Pepper jack cheese
• Olive oil
• Garlic salt
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Nonstick baking sheet
• Mixing bowl

🔪 How to Roast Cauliflower in the Oven

Preheat oven to 425°F

Cut the cauliflower into bite size florets and add them into a large mixing bowl.

Drizzle the olive oil over the top, then sprinkle in the garlic salt and ground black pepper.

Toss to combine, then pour out onto a nonstick baking sheet brushed or sprayed with olive oil. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. 

Then remove and add the shredded pepper jack cheese over the tops.

Bake for 7-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden, then serve.

💡 Tips

• Before roasting the cauliflower, you can line your baking sheet with parchment paper to make clean up from the melted cheese a breeze.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Store leftover cauliflower in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container or freeze.

🍴 What to Serve with Roasted Cauliflower

The great thing about this oven roasted cauliflower is you can serve it alongside just about any protein that you like. Here are some of my favorites:

• Stuffed Pasta Shells with Butternut Sauce
• Zucchini Parmigiana
• Citrus Glazed Salmon
• Air Fryer Steak Bites
• Baked Snapper with Compound Butter

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Cheeses: While Pepper Jack cheese adds a tasty spicy kick, you can use any melty cheese of your preference. Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack or Gruyere are great choices.
• Seasonings: You can use any of your favorite seasonings. Homemade seasoning blends like this Ranch Seasoning and Italian Seasoning are a great way to add extra flavor. For something a little spicier you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes.
• Other veggie add-ins: You can get creative and add other veggies, but keep in mind that you want vegetables with lower moisture content. Broccoli and Brussels sprouts work well because they roast for about the same amount of time as the cauliflower.
• Toppings: Crispy bacon crumbles, pine nuts, fresh herbs, or sliced green onions are great toppings for this dish.

Have you ever seen purple cauliflower in the stores before? It's absolutely beautiful and this Purple Cauliflower Recipe can be easily made in your Instant Pot.

Also be sure to try this roasted broccoli and zucchini that has great lemon and garlic flavor!

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Freeze Roasted Cauliflower?

Freezing roasted cauliflower is not recommended because the texture tends to become mushy when thawed.

How Do You Keep Cauliflower Cheese from Getting Watery?

Dry roasting cauliflower with just a little olive oil should not cause the cheese to become watery. After roasting the cauliflower, if there seems to be a good bit of moisture on the baking sheet, you drain it off before topping it with cheese.

Can I Use Frozen Cauliflower for this Recipe?

It's best to use fresh cauliflower for this dish in order for it to have the best texture and taste. Frozen cauliflower has a lot of moisture which makes it mushy and will prevent it from browning like it should.

Why is My Roasted Cauliflower Mushy?

Overcooking it: Roasting cauliflower for too long will cause it to lose its texture and become mushy.

Excess moisture: Make sure to pat the cauliflower dry with a paper towel before placing it in the oven.

Crowded pan: If the cauliflower is overcrowded on the baking sheet some pieces may become mushy while others remain undercooked. Spread the cauliflower in a single layer on the baking sheet to make sure they roast evenly.

Low temp: Cooking the cauliflower at too low a temperature can cause the cauliflower to almost steam instead of roast. Make sure your oven is preheated to 425°F before adding veggies to the oven.

🍽️ More Cauliflower Recipes

• Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
• Roasted Cauliflower with Chickpeas
• Cauliflower Risotto
• Whole Roasted Cauliflower
• Cauliflower Potato Salad