12-Minute Air Fryer Cauliflower {VIDEO}

My air fryer cauliflower recipe yields crispy, golden, and tender florets in just 12 minutes. It’s perfect for a side dish, salad topper, bowls, and more.

If you love vegetable air fryer recipes, try my air fryer zucchini, air fryer brussels sprouts, air fryer carrots, and air fryer eggplant next.

Air frying cauliflower is, hands down, the best way to cook them. You get the oven-roasted or fried texture without needing excess oil and skip the lengthy baking time. This crispy air-fried cauliflower recipe is one of my absolute favorites and is a staple in my home. It seriously tastes too good.

Why I love this recipe

• Perfect texture and flavor. Air-frying foods are the perfect cheat for deep-frying. This dish delivers the crispy, caramelized texture and the comforting taste of fried cauliflower.
• Quick and speedy. Because it cooks in just 12 minutes, it’s perfect when I need a veggie to round out a meal.
• It’s versatile. The cauliflower is simply seasoned, so it pairs well with almost anything. I actually love it as a veggie snack.
• Healthy. Like air fryer buffalo cauliflower, I use only a touch of oil for maximum crispiness. Cauliflower is packed with fiber, vitamins, and protein and has very little fat.

Key Ingredients

• Cauliflower. Pick a clean, firm cauliflower head and cut it into bite-size florets. The easiest way is to make quarters and separate florets from the stem. You can also use two smaller heads of cauliflower.
• Salt and pepper. To taste.
• Olive oil. I recommend using some fat to give the edges those crispy textures without being dry. Olive oil is my go-to, but other cooking oils like avocado oil or vegetable oil will also work.
• Cumin. One of my absolute favorite spices to work with and one that lends itself SO well to cauliflower. Choose ground cumin over the seeds.
• Smoked paprika. For a subtle hint of smokiness. Other spices work, too, including basil, Italian seasoning, and chili powder.

How to air fry cauliflower

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Prep. Wash, clean, and pat dry the cauliflower florets. Toss them in a large bowl with the seasonings and oil.

Step 2- Air fry. Lay the seasoned florets in a single layer in the cooking basket and air-fry them for 12 minutes.

Step 3- Garnish and serve. Remove the air-fried cauliflower from the basket once you get the crispy brown edges.

Arman’s recipe tips

• Cook the cauliflower in a single layer so it cooks evenly and completely. If needed, cook them in batches.
• Pat dry the cauliflower. Before seasoning them, please. This will yield even crispier cauliflower.
• Shake the air fryer several times throughout for even cooking on all sides.

Storage instructions

To store. Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. 

To freeze. Freeze the air-fried cauliflower florets in a freezer-safe container/bag for up to 2-3 months.

To reheat. The best way to reheat the cauliflower would be to use an air-fryer to retain the texture.

Frequently asked questions

More delicious ways to cook cauliflower

Originally published May 2023, updated and republished February 2025