17 Mouthwatering Cauliflower Recipes That Make It the Main Attraction

These florets will steal the spotlight.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published January 23, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
A whole roasted cauliflower with a spoon in a pot

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

If you're looking for something to do with that head of cauliflower hanging out in your fridge, you've come to the right place! We've pulled together a collection of mouthwatering recipes showcasing this humble yet versatile cruciferous veggie. We did include some delicious options for roasted florets, but if you're in the mood for something different, why not try your hand at pillowy gnocchi, a hearty curry, or roasting the head whole for an impressive 2-Ingredient Caesar Cauliflower? Whatever you choose, you really can't go wrong.

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  • Cauliflower Gnocchi (Trader Joe's Copycat!)

    Jessica Gavin

    "Thank you for this wonderful recipe. I made a double batch last night and my family devoured them. I have tried a lot of recipes that substitute cauliflower for other ingredients and this one is the best so far. While I have never tried the TJ 's cauliflower gnocchi, my daughter eats it regularly and said the ones I made were better. This recipe is a keeper." —Jeanne, Reader

  • 4-Ingredient Roasted Cauliflower Soup

    Overhead view of a white bowl of cauliflower soup drizzled with paprika oil

    Simply Recipes / Jazzmin Kaita 

    "I serve this soup with a drizzle of smoked paprika oil (just olive oil and smoked paprika stirred together—nothin’ fancy), which is a beautiful contrast to the beige soup, but you could go many different ways: a drizzle of plain olive oil, chili oil, scoops of pesto or chimichurri, chili crisp, croutons, or a handful of shredded cheddar and crispy bacon." —Megan Scott, former Senior Editor

  • Crispy Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower

    Roasted cauliflower topped with melted cheese and breadcrumbs with a fork on the side on a blue plate

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "We ate this roasted cauliflower with crispy cheddar and breadcrumbs at least twice a month in our house, and I never got sick of it. I’m confident that it will turn any picky eater—or food snob 11-year-old like me—into a veggie lover." —Rebecca Fennel, Recipe Developer

  • 2-Ingredient Caesar Roasted Cauliflower

    Whole roasted cauliflower in a pot with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "The best thing about using a Dutch oven for this recipe is that it’s table-ready. You can just serve the cauliflower right in the pot you cooked it in, easy-peasy. If you want to kick the recipe up a notch, a garnish of grated parmesan lends a cheesy crust, and chopped parsley brings a pop of color." —Betsy Andrews, Recipe Developer

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  • Cauliflower Pasta with Bacon and Parmesan

    A bowl of pasta with cauliflower and breadcrumbs served in a green dish
    Elise Bauer

    "Only made this because I happened to have all of the ingredients on hand. Was perfectly delighted! Really enjoyed it. Would make again and not change a thing." —Cindy, Reader

  • Cauliflower Bisque

    Bowl of cauliflower bisque garnished with chopped herbs and black pepper with a spoon placed inside

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "I’ve always loved how adaptable this soup is. With a few simple tweaks, it can be a unifying starter for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike. Just swap the butter for olive oil, and heavy cream for coconut cream. The coconut amps up the nuttiness of the cauliflower, giving it an even more savory flavor." —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer

  • Air Fryer Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

    Air Fryer Cauliflower with Buffalo Sauce on a platter with dip and vegetable sticks.
    Nick Evans

    "There’s no reason you have to go with the standard for the hot sauce base. Try a more Tex-Mex style sauce by using something like Tapatio or go Thai with a Sriracha or Korean with gojuchang!" —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Gholpi (Afghan Stewed Cauliflower)

    Gholpi (Afghan Stewed Cauliflower)

    John Robinson / Simply Recipes

    "Felfel is ground red chili peppers that are akin to cayenne peppers, but not as spicy. Afghans often call it chili powder, but it’s not the same as the chili powder spice blend found in the U.S. You can find felfel online or use half the amount of cayenne pepper instead." —Myo Quinn, former Associate Editorial Director

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  • Cauliflower Chickpea Curry

    Elise Bauer

    "For those of you who simply cannot tolerate cilantro, I would recommend slicing some arugula and adding that to the curry as it cooks, or toss with fresh chives or thinly sliced onion greens. It won't be the same, but the greens will help brighten the dish." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Cheesy Baked Cauliflower

    Scooping Easy Cauliflower Bake out of a glass casserole dish.
    Coco Morante

    "I like to use one sharp and one mild cheese to get a balanced flavor. Feel free to use all one type of cheese if you like, and that flavor will really come through. Avoid using soft, spreadable cheeses like brie and camembert, as those will tend to make the sauce too oily." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Cauliflower Pasta Bake

    Sally Vargas

    "This is a mac and cheese for grown-ups. It is not the ooey-gooey comfort food of your childhood, but something a little more refined that just so happens to be cheesy and crispy." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • Roasted Cauliflower with Sesame Seeds

    roasted cauliflower

    Simply Recipes / Robin Asbell

    "Whether Anthony Bourdain meant it to be or not, this recipe is vegan and dispels his earlier belief that all vegan food is tasteless. He teases maximum flavor from a vegetable, and it’s worth making." —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

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  • Cauliflower Purée

    Cauliflower Purée
    Elise Bauer

    "WOW I think I found a new favorite recipe! This is a lot like mashed potatoes when you follow the recipe exactly. Next time I want to try making it thin and using it as a base for soup, then I'll saute some veggies and throw them in." —Nicole, Reader

  • Air Fryer Crispy Cauliflower

    Nick Evans

    "An air fryer is a great way to get extra crispy cauliflower, of course, but you can also bake the cauliflower instead. Either way, this cauliflower works great as a hearty vegetable side or served with spicy blue cheese dip as an appetizer. Yum!" —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Pasta with Cauliflower, Tomato, and Parmesan

    Pasta Cauliflower Tomato Parmesan
    Elise Bauer, Sheryl Julian, Lisa Lin, and Sally Vargas

    "Made this a couple of weeks ago and my kids (2 & 5) LOVED it. Said it was the best pasta they had ever had. The adults liked it too, so a winner all round. There were no leftovers." —Elise, Reader

  • Cauliflower Gratin

    Cauliflower Gratin
    Elise Bauer

    "I tried this tonight and I followed the recipe to the letter and it came out great. I can see using different cheeses to mix it up a bit, and I may try it with panko bread crumbs next time, but man! This was really good!" —SYates, Reader

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  • Cauliflower Curry

    Sally Vargas

    "Here's a good trick for cutting apart the cauliflower, which I learned on the job at my first restaurant near Woodstock, New York. Our friendly neighbor, chef, and mentor taught us to cut a deep cross at the base and then separate the head into quarters. Slice away the core and outer leaves. Then, with a paring knife, cut between the little 'branches' to make florets." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

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