This is the cauliflower recipe I make on repeat all winter. The cauliflower emerges tender and golden, shrouded with near-burnt onions and salty crisp parmesan. The best part? The whole unpeeled cloves of roasted garlic, which can be spread across bread like butter — heaven.

A plate of oven-roasted cauliflower with garlic and parmesan.

If you read Orangette, you’ve long known about this oven-roasted cauliflower recipe. Molly Wizenberg wrote about it over three years ago now, describing it as her “new go-to” roasted cauliflower recipe, one “you’ll probably have memorized after the first read-through.”

You will, I promise. This recipe takes five minutes (maybe less) to prep: cut a head of cauliflower into florets, toss with a sliced onion, a few sprigs of thyme, whole unpeeled garlic cloves, olive oil, salt and pepper. Transfer it to the oven, and after 30 minutes or so, when the onions begin to caramelize and the cauliflower edges begin to brown, sprinkle over parmesan cheese, and let it bake for 10 more minutes. That’s it.

The cauliflower emerges tender and golden, tangled in a web of sweet, near-burnt onions and salty crisp parmesan. It’s irresistible. The best part? The whole unpeeled cloves of roasted garlic, which can be spread across bread like butter or squeezed directly into your mouth as you would with steamed edamame. No judgment here.

Every year this time of year, when the cauliflower begins arriving in my CSA, I start making this dish, and I never tire of it. Give it a go—I hope you find it enters your weekly rotation as well.

Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower, Step by Step

Spread cauliflower, onions, garlic, and thyme on a sheet pan. Season with salt and pepper.

A sheet pan of cauliflower, onions, garlic, and thyme, not yet roasted.

Add olive oil and toss to coat.

Cauliflower on a sheet pan with olive oil, salt, pepper, onions, garlic, and thyme.

Spread into a single layer:

A sheet pan of cauliflower, onions, garlic, and thyme, ready for the oven.

Roast for about 30 minutes:

Oven-roasted cauliflower florets on a sheet pan.

Add parmesan:

Oven-roasted cauliflower florets on a sheet pan sprinkled with parmesan.

Roast 10 minutes more:

Oven-roasted cauliflower florets with parmesan and garlic on a sheet pan.

Serve immediately…

Oven-roasted cauliflower florets in a white bowl.

With good bread on the side…

A plate topped with bread and whole cloves of roasted garlic.

to welcome those spreadable, roasted cloves of garlic.

A plate topped with bread and whole cloves of roasted garlic spread across the bread.
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A plate of oven-roasted cauliflower florets with parmesan.

Easy Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower Florets Recipe

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Description

Source: Bon Appetit via Orangette

Note: This may take a bit of trial and error to get just right — I find 30 minutes for the first bake, and 10 minutes once the parm has been added to be about right, but even with this shorter cooking time, the onions emerge near burnt—some in fact are burnt. I love this flavor, but I know it’s not everyone’s thing. I suggest trying this once as written, then making adjustments accordingly for the next time around. You may have better luck reducing the oven temperature down to 400ºF or so.

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 4 sprigs thyme
  • 4 garlic cloves, unpeeled (I use 8 — however many you use, try to use fat ones, to ensure, soft spreadable roasted garlic butter in the end)
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil or grapeseed oil (I use 4)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss cauliflower florets on a large rimmed baking sheet with onion, thyme, garlic, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast, tossing occasionally, until almost tender, 35-40 minutes—check after 30 minutes. Note: See notes above. I find 30 minutes to be consistently right for me, but every oven is different, so start checking at the 30 minute mark.
  2. Sprinkle with Parmesan, toss to combine, and roast until cauliflower is tender and golden, about 10 minutes.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American