New: Meal Planner
Plan your weekly meals instantly from anywhere on the web
Try the Meal Planner!
Roasted Whole Cauliflower Recipe with BBQ Sauce – With BBQ sauce’s smoky flavors, roasted cauliflower transforms into a delicious and satisfying dish that will impress the pickiest eaters. The secret to achieving the perfect texture and taste lies in boiling the cauliflower in vegetable stock and finishing it in the oven, basted with BBQ sauce, until crisp perfection. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a crowd-pleasing side dish or vegetarian main course everyone will love. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb friendly – Fire up your oven and enjoy roasted cauliflower like never before!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the roasted cauliflower recipe
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 4 cups (1l) low-sodium vegetable stock, more or less, depending on the size of the cauliflower
- 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup BBQ sauce of your choice
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Whole roasted cauliflower recipe
This roasted cauliflower recipe ticks all the boxes for a healthy, dietary-conscious dish! It’s gluten-free and dairy-free, making it suitable for those with dietary restrictions. And for those following a low-carb diet, this roasted cauliflower makes a satisfying and flavorful substitute for traditional BBQ sides.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
How to roast a whole cauliflower:
1. Trim your cauliflower head. Remove all leaves and hard stems to let the cauliflower sit properly.
2. Rinse the cauliflower under cold running water and pat it dry.
3. Place the whole cauliflower in a large pot or Dutch oven and cover with vegetable stock. Add fresh thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and simmer for 12 minutes.
4. In the meantime, preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and combine BBQ sauce, olive oil, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
5. When the cauliflower is done boiling, remove it from the pot and drain thoroughly. You can let it sit in a colander for a couple of minutes.
6. Transfer the cauliflower to a cast iron skillet or oven-safe pan and brush it with the BBQ sauce mixture.
7. Roast the cauliflower in your oven at 400ºF (200ºC) for 40-50 minutes or until fork tender, brushing with more BBQ sauce occasionally during cooking.
8. Remove the roasted BBQ cauliflower from the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve immediately. Enjoy! ❤️
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the roasted cauliflower recipe
- If you’re short on time, you can skip step 3 and roast the cauliflower without cooking it in the vegetable broth, but we feel it gives a greater depth of flavor and ensures even doneness.
- To check for doneness, pick the cauliflower with a knife; if it slides in easily, it’s cooked. You can broil for an extra 2 minutes to give it more color, but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper to the BBQ sauce mixture.
- You can also experiment with different types of BBQ sauce – from sweet to spicy – to find your favorite combination.
How to keep roasted cauliflower leftovers
Roasted cauliflower leftovers can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. They should be reheated in the oven covered with foil so they don’t dry out.
More cauliflower recipes
- 30 Easy Cauliflower Recipes
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
- Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Butter Sauce
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
- Baked Cauliflower Parmesan
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
