Air Fryer Cauliflower Parmesan Recipe

Looking for a pleasing vegetarian entree that’s both mouthwatering and satisfying? Look no further than this cheesy air fryer cauliflower parmesan!

Air-fried in velvety marinara sauce and coated in a layer of melted mozzarella and parmesan, this air fryer cauliflower parmesan is the perfect weeknight dinner! Ready in only 20 minutes, the air fryer makes quick work of this oven classic.

You’ll begin by making air-fried cauliflower and cooking cauliflower steaks until they are tender and golden brown. Then, you’ll add the marinara sauce and cheese directly to the air fryer basket - so you’ll only have one thing to wash up!

This take on a cauliflower parm combines rich, gooey mozzarella with slightly fruity and nutty parmesan flavors for a double cheese topping that will have your mouth watering.

Ingredients you’ll need to make parmesan cauliflower

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

Cauliflower is a fantastic option for vegetarian entrees because it has a lovely texture and a slightly sweet flavor that combines well with any sauce or seasoning. It’s also low carb, high fiber, and a great source of nutrients.

Olive oil is neutral tasting and has a high smoke point, making it great for air frying. It also has many health benefits, including being helpful for the prevention of heart disease.

Salt and pepper are essential because they bring out the natural flavors in whatever you’re cooking, so don’t skip these, but feel free to adjust the amount to taste.

Marinara sauce combines tomatoes, olive oil, onion, garlic, and herbs (usually oregano). You can buy ready-made marinara sauce at most grocery stores, just be careful to choose a brand without too much added sugar.

Mozzarella cheese gives this air fryer parmesan cauliflower a wonderfully gooey and decadent topping! Unfortunately, traditional mozzarella uses rennet which means it isn’t vegetarian, so if you’re cooking for a vegetarian, look out for vegetarian mozzarella. You can also use provolone or Mexican cheese, which has the same stretchy, stringy quality, or switch to low-fat mozzarella.

Parmesan cheese has a strong flavor, complementing the milder mozzarella cheese. Parmesan refers to the traditional manufacturing process, so no cheese labeled parmesan will be vegetarian. Vegetarian hard cheeses with similar tastes and textures are available in any grocery store.

Fresh basil is an optional garnish that adds a fresh, subtle aniseed, and mint flavor to your parmesan cauliflower. Basil complements tomato and cheese flavors, so the trio is often served together. 

How to cook parmesan cauliflower in air fryer

Season the cauliflower: Place the sliced cauliflower on a large cutting board, and brush with olive oil to cover the slices—season with Italian seasoning and salt and pepper on both sides.

Air fry: Transfer the seasoned cauliflower slices to the fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 370ºF for 15 minutes turning halfway through carefully.

Add Sauce and Cheese: Spoon marinara sauce over the cooked cauliflower slices and sprinkles with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. And keep cooking for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Serve: Carefully remove the cauliflower parmesan from the air fryer basket and garnish with fresh basil. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Tips:

• Use medium or small cauliflower head to make the steak and save the crumble to roast with broccoli. 
• For each cauliflower head, you should have 3-4 steaks.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days in the refrigerator or up to 10-12 months in the freezer.
• To reheat: preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes and reheat the parmesan cauliflower for 3-5 minutes or until heated through.

How long to air fry parmesan cauliflower

It takes around 20 minutes at 370°F to cook the cauliflower parmesan air fryer, 15 minutes to air fry the cauliflower, and another 5 minutes to bake the cauliflower in the marinara sauce with the mozzarella and parmesan on top.

The cooking time may vary depending on which air fryer model you are using, so always check your cauliflower by inserting a fork into it and checking how tender it is.

What to serve with parmesan cauliflower steaks

This air fryer cauliflower recipe is gorgeous, served with pasta and extra marinara sauce or with these air fryer sweet potato cubes and your favorite greens. A quick and tasty dinner with no fuss!

How to store cook cauliflower parm

The marinara in this cauliflower parmesan recipe will mature and deepen the longer it’s allowed to mellow, so this dish is often even more delicious the next day!

To store your leftovers in the fridge, seal them in an airtight container and move them to the refrigerator within two hours of cooking. They will keep for 3-5 days.

To freeze, divide leftover cauliflower parmesan into portions and store ZipTop bags or airtight containers in the freezer. You can keep it in the freezer for 10-12 months.

How to reheat cauliflower parmesan

If you use an air fryer, preheat it to 350°F, then put your cauliflower parmesan into the basket. Heat for 3-5 minutes until warm all the way through.

If you are heating from frozen, you will need to increase the time by 5-10 minutes.

In the oven, heat at 350°F in an ovenproof dish until hot through. If you are heating from frozen, you will need to defrost it first.

On the stovetop, place in a non-stick pan and heat over a medium temperature until hot all the way through. You will need to defrost frozen cauliflower parm before reheating.

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