Spicy Roasted Cauliflower

This simple spiced cauliflower gets a kick from warm spices and a touch of sugar.

By
Molly Watson
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/22/24
Tested by
Diana Andrews
Diana Andrews
Tested by Diana Andrews
Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer and product tester at Food Network. 
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Ward, MS, RDN
Spicy roasted cauliflower on a baking sheet

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

The cauliflower craze has been on for some time now, and its no surprise given the vegetable's ability to transform into low-carb pizza crust, mash, steaks, and more. It's so versatile, it can stand in for "chicken wings" or take on just about any other shape you'd like, thanks to its mellow flavor and white color—unless, of course, you're using purple or green cauliflower.

But there's no reason to hide the flavor of cauliflower when you can bring out its nuttiness and sweetness by roasting it, as in this recipe. Spices and just a bit of sugar turn a head of cauliflower into a caramelized, spicy treat, ready in just 40 minutes. This simple recipe for roasted cauliflower also gives the veggie a wonderful tender texture, with irresistible crispy edges.

What's the Best Way to Bring Out the Flavor of Cauliflower?

Though cauliflower lends itself to many cooking methods, including steaming, boiling, and grilling, nothing quite brings out its wonderful nutty and sweet flavors like roasting.

Bring Even More Flavor to Cauliflower with These Key Ingredients

  • Warm spices—In this recipe, a combination of both hot and sweet paprika adds spice but also a deep earthiness. Cayenne adds a sharper heat for those who like it. Turmeric brings its brilliant golden color and rich flavor, while cinnamon adds a touch of warm sweetness. If you only have sweet or regular paprika, you can use that in place of the hot paprika. Then you can add a touch more cayenne if you like things spicy.
  • A bit of butter—Just a little butter gives the cauliflower a wonderful richness. You can make this dish vegan friendly by swapping regular dairy butter for margarine or a vegan butter substitute.
  • Just a touch of sugar—You might be surprised by how just a teaspoon of sugar can transform an entire head of cauliflower, helping the florets to caramelize and bringing out the veggie's natural sweetness.

Health Benefits of Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a nutritional powerhouse. It provides fiber, potassium, fluid, and phytonutrients (plant-based compounds that protect cells from damage).

What to Pair With This Spiced Cauliflower

Serve the roasted cauliflower as a side dish to any chicken, beef, or pork recipe, as part of a vegetarian lunch or dinner spread, or simply as a stunning appetizer—perhaps with a few slices of crusty bread with herby butter. It's also a lovely addition to a mix of roasted vegetables and to grain bowls.

What You Need to Make This Spicy Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
A Sharp Chef's Knife
A Nice Large Pot
A Sturdy Baking Sheet

"Roasted cauliflower is made exciting with a spicy hit of paprika, pepper, and just a touch of sugar that help caramelize the florets and produce crispy edges." —Diana Andrews

Spicy roasted cauliflower on a white plate
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head cauliflower

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, more to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, optional

  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric

  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather ingredients.

    Ingredients for spicy roasted cauliflower recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 450 F. Trim and core 1 medium head cauliflower, separating the florets into bite-sized pieces and chopping the core into small cubes or batons.

    Cauliflower cut into florets on a wooden cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. In a large pot over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter.

    Butter melting in a saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Remove the pot from the heat and mix in 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika, 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (if using), 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, and 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.

    Salt, sugar, and pepper added to melted butter for spicy roasted cauliflower

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add the cut-up cauliflower into the pot. Toss to coat with the spicy butter as evenly as possible.

    Cauliflower florets tossed in spicy buttery sauce in a saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. Lay the cauliflower pieces in a single layer on a roasting pan or baking sheet. Cook in the oven until browned, sizzling, and tender with crispy bits forming on the edges, approximately 25 minutes. Stir at the halfway point to cook evenly. Serve with your favorite main dishes and enjoy.

    Spicy roasted cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

How to Store Spicy Roasted Cauliflower

  • Refrigerator—Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
  • Freezer—Leftovers can also be frozen. Use within three months for the best quality. Defrost in the refrigerator or in the microwave.
  • How to reheat—Reheat in the oven or microwave. The cauliflower will lose some of its crispiness if you reheat it in the microwave, but it will be no less delicious.

Feeling Adventurous? Add One of These Sauces to Your Spiced Caulflower

The cauliflower is delicious all on its own, but if you want to add another element, here are a few delicious and refreshing sauces to drizzle on top:


  • Garlicky yogurt sauce—Blend 1 cup of Greek or plain yogurt with 2 cloves of garlic and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cumin.
  • Creamy mint sauce—Blend 1 cup of sour cream with 1/2 cup of freshly minced mint leaves, a pinch of red chile flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Add a drizzle of olive oil before using.
  • Yogurt-cilantro sauce—Blend 1 cup of Greek yogurt with 3/4 cup of fresh cilantro leaves (stems removed), salt and pepper to taste, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
  • Creamy avocado sauce—Blend 1/2 cup of plain yogurt with the flesh of 1 large avocado. Add salt and pepper to taste, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and the juice of half a lime.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
78 Calories
6g Fat
5g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 78
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 192mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 42mg 212%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 152mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Cauliflower, Raw. FooData Central. United States Department of Agriculture.