This Parmesan Ranch-Crusted Cauliflower requires just three primary ingredients and is incredibly easy to make. This flavorful vegetable side dish is a great way to get kids (and adults!) to love cauliflower. This recipe is easy enough to accompany a weeknight dinner and special enough to stand out on the holiday table.
Despite the spotlight on cauliflower these past few years, I feel it’s still seen as broccoli’s boring sister. I often use it as a secondary ingredient in soups or stir-fries, but I wanted to let it shine solo today. This Parmesan Ranch-Crusted Cauliflower dish is packed with flavor that doesn’t overpower the taste of the actual vegetable. Enjoy this cheesy cauliflower recipe as a regular weeknight side dish or a special addition to the holiday table.
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower
- It’s easy to make – This recipe has just a few steps, and they’re all really simple. The hardest part is cutting the head of cauliflower into bite-sized pieces, which can be bypassed with a bag of pre-cut cauliflower.
- Minimal Ingredients are needed – This delicious cauliflower recipe requires only three main ingredients: cauliflower, parmesan cheese, and ranch seasoning.
- It’s a great way to get kids to try cauliflower – I know vegetables drenched with cheese are not quite as healthy as they are alone, but sometimes getting your child to eat them, even if there’s cheese involved, is a win.
Health Benefits of Cauliflower
- Digestive Health – Cauliflower is high in fiber, which helps digestion run smoothly and keeps the belly feeling full for longer. It also contains prebiotic fiber, which feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
- Skin Health – Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a great compound for the skin. It helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, promotes collagen production, and may help protect the skin against harmful UV radiation.
- Heart Health – Sulforaphane is also known to help lower cholesterol levels, keeping arteries clear of fatty buildup. This contributes to lower blood pressure and lowers the risk of heart disease.
Parmesan Ranch Crusted Cauliflower Recipe Ingredients
- Cauliflower – For this recipe, I used one medium-sized head of white cauliflower. You can use purple or yellow if you prefer. I haven’t made this recipe using frozen cauliflower florets, but it should work well if you allow the frozen cauliflower to thaw beforehand.
- Ranch Seasoning – You can use homemade or store-bought ranch seasoning. I like to use the one from Trader Joe’s, but any packet works.
- Parmesan Cheese – For this recipe, I prefer to buy a block of parmesan cheese and grate it myself, but you can use a tub of pre-grated parmesan or the kind used on pizza (though your recipe may look a little different than mine).
- Olive Oil – I used extra virgin olive oil, but you can use whatever kind of oil you prefer.
- Salt and Pepper
How To Make Parmesan Ranch Crusted Cauliflower
- Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Wash the cauliflower and cut it into bite-sized florets. Add the florets to a steamer and steam until fork tender, 5-7 minutes. Remove the cauliflower from the steamer and add it to a large bowl. Toss the steamed cauliflower with the olive oil and ranch seasoning until it is completely coated.
- Sprinkle half of the grated parmesan evenly onto the bottom of a large metal sheet pan. Dump the cauliflower on top of the parmesan cheese and arrange it in a single layer. Evenly sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese onto the top of the cauliflower.
- Place in the oven and bake until parmesan cheese is lightly browned and crispy. Allow the cheesy cauliflower to cool for a few minutes, then use a spatula or your hands to break it apart. Serve on its own or with your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- This recipe is gluten-free. Just make sure the ranch seasoning is gluten-free.
- Make this recipe vegan by using meltable, vegan shredded cheese. Vegan cheese doesn’t always melt the same as regular cheese, so it may not be perfect, but it will taste good.
- Can a different type of cheese be used? I’ve only made this recipe using parmesan, but it should work with different types of cheese. Parmesan is known for getting crispy once melted and cooled, so I recommend using it if possible.
- How long do leftovers last? If stored in an airtight container, they should last about 4-5 days. Reheat them in the oven or microwave.
- Will this recipe work with broccoli instead of cauliflower? I haven’t tried it with broccoli yet, but I think it should work great.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will get back to you ASAP!
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Parmesan Ranch Crusted Caulilflower
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Parmesan Ranch Crusted Cauliflower only requires 3 main ingredients and is really easy to make! This flavorful vegetable side dish is a great way to get kids more interested in cauliflower, and adults love it too. This recipe is easy enough to accompany a weeknight dinner, but also special enough to stand out on the holiday table.
Ingredients
- 1 medium sized head of cauliflower
- 2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Wash your cauliflower and cut it into bite sized florets. Add the florets to a steamer and steam until cauliflower is fork tender, 5-7 minutes. Remove cauliflower from the steamer and add to a large bowl. Toss the steamed cauliflower with the olive oil and ranch seasoning, until cauliflower is completely coated.
- Evenly sprinkle half of the grated parmesan onto the bottom of a large metal sheet pan. Dump the cauliflower on top of the parmesan cheese and arrange in a single layer. Evenly sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese onto the top of the cauliflower.
- Place in the oven and bake until parmesan cheese is lightly browned and crispy on the bottom, about 15-20 minutes. Allow cheesy cauliflower to cool for a few minutes and then you can use a spatula to scrape it off of the baking sheet. Serve on its own or with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Side, Vegetarian
- Method: Stovetop, Oven
- Cuisine: American
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