How to Cook Breaded Cauliflower

5 from 2 votes

3 methods for cooking breaded cauliflower: air-fried, baked, or pan-fried!

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Canadian

Servings:

Calories: 266kcal

Bread the cauliflower: In one bowl, add the Panko breadcrumbs.
In another bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add any spices you would like to add. Whisk well.
Add most of the water to the flour and whisk until smooth, adding more water as needed until you achieve a thick batter. (Thicker than pancake batter but thinner than cake batter.)
Dip each floret into the batter, letting the excess drip off.
Drop the dipped floret into the breadcrumbs and shake the bowl to coat the cauliflower, using your hands to press breadcrumbs in as necessary.
Move to a plate if frying.
Move to air fry baking trays or basket if air frying.
Move to a wire rack on top of a baking sheet if baking in the oven.

Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
Air fry for 10 minutes, flip, and then air fry for another 5-6 minutes, or until the cauliflower is fork tender. Rotate trays halfway if necessary. Spray with oil first for a more golden brown coating.

To fry the cauliflower, heat a wide skillet over medium heat with about 1/4 inch of oil.
Add the breaded cauliflower florets and cook, turning every 2-3 minutes until the outsides are golden brown and crispy and you can’t see batter or dry breadcrumbs.

Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
Bake for 15 minutes, flip, and then bake for another 10 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the cauliflower is fork tender. Spray with oil first for a more golden brown coating.

Make sure your cauliflower is dry to help prevent it from going mushy while it cooks.
Cut the cauliflower into even-sized florets for even cooking.
When air frying or baking, avoid overcrowding the trays for the crispiest results. Cook in batches if needed.
When air frying or baking, flip the cauliflower halfway through cooking for even cooking.
To coat the cooked cauliflower in a sauce, add your favorite sauce to a large bowl. Add the cauliflower and toss to coat. Serve right away.

While breaded cauliflower is best enjoyed fresh, you can store the leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Reheat at a lower temperature in the oven or air fryer, just until heated through.

Microwaving will reheat the cauliflower but won't keep the breading crisp.