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Make delicious cauliflower steaks, seasoned with olive oil, garlic, spices, and a squeeze of lemon. Roasted or grilled, they’re crispy, caramelized on the outside, and tender inside—perfect as a main or side dish.
Boiling or steaming cauliflower can be bland, but roasting or grilling cauliflower steaks with the right seasoning turns them into something everyone will love. The high heat creates a tender interior and a caramelized, crispy exterior, with grilling adding a smoky touch.
In just 30 minutes, cauliflower steaks come together quickly and easily. All you need is a few simple pantry ingredients, a sharp knife, and an oven or grill. Plus, you can easily swap out seasonings and toppings to suit your preferences.
Serve them as a plant-based main or versatile side dish—they’re perfect for any occasion! If you love this recipe, you’ll also enjoy these roasted cabbage steaks as well.
Watch how to make it
Ingredients
- Cauliflower: Use large, densely-packed heads of cauliflower that are free from blemishes and heavy for their size.
- Olive oil: You can also use avocado oil or other oil with a high smoke point.
- Seasoning: I use a simple combination of salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes (OR cayenne pepper/chili powder), and garlic cloves (or garlic powder in a pinch).
- To garnish: I love to drizzle some lemon juice and sprinkle fresh herbs like thyme, flat-leaf parsley, or chives, but these are optional.
See the printable recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make cauliflower steaks
Start by preheating the oven to 400ºF/200ºC. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Then, soak the whole head in a bowl of salt water (or vinegar water). After 15 minutes or so, rinse the head with cool water and pat it dry. Remove the outer leaves if necessary.
Cut the Cauliflower Steaks: Using a long sharp knife, trim the stem just enough so the cauliflower can stand on your cutting board, but don’t remove the whole stem—it helps hold the slices together.
Then, slice the cauliflower into even, thick pieces, anywhere from ¾ inch to 1 ½ inches thick, but keep in mind that thicker slices will take longer to cook.
You can save the leftover pieces to cook with the steaks or use them in other recipes.
Season the cauliflower steaks: First, mince the garlic. Then, mix it well in a small bowl with the olive oil and all the spices. Next, using a pastry/silicone brush, liberally brush both sides of the cauliflower slices with the seasoning.
Roasted method: Place the seasoned cauliflower steaks on the parchment-lined baking tray and in the oven. Cook them for about 25 minutes at 400ºF/200ºC, flipping halfway. The cauliflower steaks are ready when they’re tender in the middle and golden brown and crisp outside. Drizzle with lemon juice for a zesty kick. Enjoy!
Grilled method: For a smoky flavor, grill the seasoned cauliflower steaks on medium heat (350-375ºF/176-190ºC) for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Customize the flavor: This recipe is super flexible! For a touch of sweetness and better caramelization, add a sweetener like honey or maple syrup to the dressing.
You can also brush the cauliflower steaks with melted butter, BBQ sauce, or hot sauce for an extra flavor. Want something different? Try experimenting with seasonings like Italian herbs, za’atar, lemon pepper, or Cajun spice for a unique twist.
What to serve with cauliflower steaks
Whether you serve these cauliflower steaks as a main dish or a side, here are my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Pair with a light side salad like Fattoush or Tabbouleh.
- Drizzle lemon tahini sauce or garlic cream sauce,
- Compliment with your favorite protein like grilled or roasted chicken, garlic butter steak bites, or honey-glazed salmon.
Storage
- In the fridge: Allow the cauliflower steaks to cool, and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- To freeze: Freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months in a Ziplock bag.
- To reheat: Warm them in the oven, air fryer, or a stovetop grill pan. I don’t recommend using a microwave as it can make them soggy.
More simple cauliflower recipes
If you try this cauliflower steak recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
Cauliflower Steak
Ingredients
- 1.6 lb cauliflower 2 small
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 0.3 oz garlic 3 cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/2 lemon optional for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To clean it well, soak the whole cauliflower head in a bowl of salt water (or vinegar water) for about 15 minutes. Rinse it and pat it dry.
- Use a long, sharp knife to slice the cauliflower into even pieces. Trim the stem slightly to help the cauliflower head stand steady on your chopping board. You can slice them as thin as ¾ inch or as thick as 1 ½ inches, but thicker slices will take longer to cook.
- In a small bowl, mix the minced garlic, olive oil, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and paprika. Whisk well.
- Use a silicone brush and liberally brush both sides of all the cauliflower slices with the seasoning mix.
- Oven method: Place cauliflower slices on a parchment-lined tray and bake at 400ºF/200ºC for 25 minutes, flipping halfway. Once tender and golden, squeeze with lemon juice and enjoy!
- Grill method: Preheat the grill to medium heat (350-375ºF/176-190ºC). Grill cauliflower steaks for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender with a smoky char. Drizzle with lemon juice and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi, I’m from Australia. I’m assuming the “grill” is the “BBQ”?
Hi Betsy,
Yes, you can use the BBQ (whether gas or charcoal). You can also choose to make this recipe by making it in the oven – all the details for this are in the blog post as well. I hope you give it a try!
Wow, my wife and I have never had Cauliflower Steak before and discovered this fantastic and easy recipe. I grilled a small head of Cauliflower for a side dish using a mesh grate & it was perfect.
Unbelievable recipe. 5 Stars.
Glad you both enjoyed it, Marty!
Great cauliflower steaks! I love the spices.
Thank you for your comment, Linda. Glad you liked the recipe 🙂
This is the best recipe out there for cauliflower steaks, hands down! Absolutely delicious and super easy and quick to make.
Thank you so much. Glad you liked it!
Why do you recommend the salt water or vinegar soak?
Hi Denise,
The salt or vinegar water helps remove dirt and bugs from the cauliflower. And it can also help with removing any bitter taste (some varieties are a bit more bitter).
Thanks for the recipe! I made roasted cauliflower: very good! I’ll try the grilled one asap.
Thank you for your comment, Cami! I hope you like the grilled one too 🙂
Game changer! My favorite way to eat cauliflower. Roasting in the oven is good. But not as good as on the grill. ❤️
Thank you for your comment, Amy. Everything tastes better on the grill 🙂
Fantastic.
Thank you for your comment, Nicole!