Air Fryer Fried Cauliflower

Skip the oil and the deep fryer to make your own crispy crunchy air fryer fried cauliflower in under 30 minutes.

Why this recipe works

The panko breading on these air fryer fried cauliflower bites cooks up to be golden and crispy while the cauliflower itself turns tender and soft. Talk about the perfect bite. Plus, these crisp little golden nuggets don’t need excessive oil or a deep fryer to be palatable.

Let’s be honest, cauliflower on its own can definitely be good, but it’s almost always better when jazzed up with a breadcrumb coating or a dipping sauce. You can give it a facelift and transform it into cauliflower pizza crust, keep it simple and toss it with some seasonings like we do in our air fryer cauliflower recipe, or add a little crunch to the mix with panko breadcrumbs. I’ve definitely played around with my fair share of different ways to use cauliflower during my keto journey!

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CAULIFLOWER – You’ll need 1 medium-sized head of cauliflower for this recipe. Try to cut the cauliflower florets into even sizes so that they cook at the same rate. Keep in mind, the smaller you cut your florets, the shorter the cooking time. It’s best to check them a minute or so before they are supposed to be done to make sure they are at the tenderness you want.

PANKO – Instead of panko, feel free to use regular breadcrumbs. During my keto journey, I ate a lot of cauliflower. The bread crumbs here would normally have prevented me from eating it. However, they make loaves of keto-friendly bread now, which you can easily dry out the ends of to make your own keto-friendly breadcrumbs!

How to Make Air Fryer Fried Cauliflower

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 390 F for 4 minutes.
2. Cut cauliflower into large florets. Try to keep them uniform in size so they cook evenly.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine panko bread crumbs, onion powder, garlic salt, and chili powder. Whisk together.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the egg and water.
5. Toss a floret in the egg wash.
6. Lift and let excess drip off (not completely!) and then place in the panko mixture. Turn the floret until it’s coated in crumbs, then place it into the air fryer basket.
7. Air fry at 390 F for 12-15 minutes, shaking halfway through.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

The easiest way to cut a head of cauliflower into florets is to place the head facing upwards, then slice it in half through the center. This will expose the core and all the individual floret stems. Use the tip of your knife to cut the florets off at the stems.

Absolutely, if you’d like to know how to deep fry them, hop over to my fried cauliflower recipe.

Store cooled leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Rewarm in the air fryer using the reheat function or pop them in the oven at 350F for around 10 minutes or until warmed through.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your air fryer fried cauliflower with dipping sauce on the side such as ranch, chipotle mayo, honey mustard, or buffalo sauce. They’re awesome as a side dish to go along with dinner, but are also a good little snack or appetizer to enjoy at any time of the day.

More Cauliflower Recipes

• Air Fryer Cauliflower
• Cauliflower Mini Pizzas
• Instant Pot Cauliflower
• Spicy Roasted Cauliflower

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