Made with a sweet and spicy honey garlic Sriracha sauce, this Baked Cauliflower Recipe is so tasty even the picky eaters will be excited to eat their veggies! Serve it on its own as an appetizer or snack or with your favorite main courses for a complete meal. 

a bowl of honey garlic baked cauliflower with chopsticks grabbing a piece.

The Best Baked Cauliflower Recipe You’ll Ever Taste

This honey garlic cauliflower is our go-to recipe when we’re feeding a crowd and want to prepare something that’s both delicious and nutritious. Coated in a sweet and spicy glaze inspired by our favorite chicken wings, it’s baked until tender and is bursting with flavor. 

In fact, it’s so good, your guests won’t believe they’re eating their vegetables and will turn everyone into a cauliflower fan! The best part is that it’s made with nine ingredients and is ready with just 20 minutes of cooking. 

Served warm, it pairs well with all your favorite main courses and is guaranteed to knock your socks off. One of our favorite ways to prepare cauliflower, it’ll have the whole family excited to eat their veggies! 

Simple Ingredients You’ll Need 

The ingredients needed for this easy cauliflower recipe are super simple and can easily be found at your local grocery store. Here are the handful of items you need: 

For the Baked Cauliflower

  • Fresh Cauliflower – We used a whole head of cauliflower and cut it into bite-sized pieces. However, pre-cut florets are a great option to make this recipe super fast. 
  • Panko Bread Crumbs – We found panko breadcrumbs provide the best taste and texture, but you could also use crushed crackers, crushed pretzels, or even shredded bread. 
  • Large Eggs – These are crucial to getting the breadcrumbs to stick to the cauliflower. 

For the Sauce

  • Honey – Sticky and sweet, honey forms the base of this sauce, and ensures that it clings to the baked cauliflower! 
  • Spices – We use a dash of onion and garlic powder for a subtle, savory taste. 
  • Water + Cornstarch – Once dissolved, this will help thicken the sauce, helping it stick to the cauliflower pieces.  
  • Low-Sodium Soy Sauce – If you don’t have soy sauce, coconut aminos work just as well. 
  • Sriracha Sauce – Use as little or as much Sriracha as you’d like! 

​Flavor Variations

Cauliflower is the perfect vehicle for a wide variety of flavors! So, feel free to experiment with different ways to flavor of this whole roasted cauliflower recipe and make it your own. 

For instance, some great alternatives include:

  • Spices – Swap out or include different spices like black pepper, cumin, curry powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. 
  • Fresh Herbs – Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley to balance out some of the heat.
  • Sauce – If you aren’t a fan of the honey garlic sauce, swap it out with any other sauce you like best! Buffalo sauce or a creamy sauce like tzatziki or Ranch taste great.  
honey garlic whole baked cauliflower topped with scallions and sesame seeds.

How to Make This Honey Garlic Baked Cauliflower Recipe

Making a whole baked cauliflower recipe is simple and requires just a few minutes of prep time. Be sure to check the recipe card below for the full instruction list, and it will be ready in no time! 

Cauliflower

  1. Prepare the Breading. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth. Then, in a second, low bowl, add the panko breadcrumbs. Dip the cauliflower florets in the egg wash. Then, roll them in the panko, coating them completely. 
  2. Bake. Arrange the breaded cauliflower in a single layer on a large baking sheet greased with cooking oil spray, and bake in a preheated oven until they have golden brown edges and are lightly crisp. 

Honey Garlic Sauce

  1. Combine the Ingredients. In a saucepan over medium heat, add all the ingredients except the cornstarch and water. 
  2. Cook. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring until it is well combined. 
  3. Boil. In a small bowl, create a slurry by dissolving the cornstarch in water, and pour the mixture into the pot. Stir until the sauce reaches a low boil, and continue to cook until it thickens. 
  4. Combine. Toss the baked cauliflower in the sauce, coating each piece completely. 
  5. Enjoy! Garnish the honey garlic oven-roasted cauliflower with sesame seeds and chopped scallions, and dig in while it’s warm. 

Serving Suggestions

Honestly, we love to serve this baked cauliflower recipe on its own as a tasty snack. However, it also pairs well with all of your favorite main dishes for a complete meal! 

Some of our favorite options include: 

Common Questions About This Honey Garlic Baked Cauliflower Recipe

How long does this recipe last?

Stored in an airtight container leftover cauliflower will stay fresh in the fridge for up to three days.  

How long should I cook this baked cauliflower recipe? 

Every oven will bake slightly differently. However, we’ve found that 15-20 minutes is usually enough time for the cauliflower to become tender in the center and slightly crisp on the outside. Pay close attention to your oven, and adjust the bake time as needed! 

Why is my honey garlic cauliflower mushy? 

The most common reason baked cauliflower turns out mushy is that the pan was overcrowded. For the best results, arrange the cauliflower florets in a single layer, leaving a bit of space in between each piece. 

Should you rinse cauliflower before cooking it? 

Unless you buy pre-washed, ready-to-eat bags of cauliflower florets, we recommend giving your cauliflower head a gentle rinse to remove any dirt or debris before baking. 

Can I make this baked cauliflower recipe in the air fryer instead? 

We haven’t tried it yet, but you should be able to! Just be sure to shake the air fryer halfway through cooking to prevent your cauliflower from burning, and work in batches if it doesn’t all fit in a single layer in the basket. 

More Delicious Vegetable Recipes

Looking for more healthy vegetable recipes that have great flavor? Try out the delicious, healthy side dish recipes below for options that will have the whole family eagerly gathered around the dinner table! 

a bowl of honey garlic baked cauliflower with chopsticks grabbing a piece.

Honey Garlic Baked Cauliflower Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Author: Food Dolls
Servings: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 small head of cauliflower cut into bite sized florets
  • 2 cups panko bread crumbs
  • 2 large eggs whisked

For the sauce:

  • 6 Tablespoons honey
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 6 Tablespoons water + 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
  • 1 Tablespoon sriracha sauce more/less depending on how Spicy you want it

Instructions 

Cauliflower

  • Preheat oven to 400F. Place whisked eggs in a small bowl, set aside. In another bowl place the panko. Dip cauliflower pieces in egg and then roll in panko until fully coated.  Place on a baking sheet.
  • Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Sauce

  • In a sauce pan over medium heat, add all ingredients except the cornstarch + water. Bring to a simmer and stir until completely mixed. In a small bowl, completely dissolve cornstarch in water, then add to the mixture. Stir until sauce reaches a low boil again and cook until sauce thickens (about 2 minutes). Toss cauliflower in sauce until all the pieces are coated. Garnish with sesame seeds and fresh chopped scallions.
    close up image of honey garlic baked cauliflower

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25g | Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 671mg | Potassium: 579mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Meet Alia & Radwa

Welcome to Food Dolls! We’re so glad you found us. We are Alia and Radwa, sisters who want to share simple and easy recipes with you. We hope you find recipes here that you enjoy making as much as we do! Learn more about us!

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