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crispy cauliflower just out of the oven on baking tray

Baked Breaded Cauliflower

Cauliflower tossed in a flavorful batter, breaded and baked until crispy! Perfect to dip in your favorite sauces for a healthy snack, or to serve in tacos for dinner.
5 from 5 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Sarah Sullivan

Ingredients

 

  • 1 medium head cauliflower about 2 lbs whole
  • 3/4 cup flour see notes
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • black pepper to preference
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened plain plant milk
  • 1 - 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • spray oil optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Chop the cauliflower into medium-sized florets and set aside.
  • In a very large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, spices, salt and pepper. Stir in plant milk. Depending on the type of flour you use, you may need an extra tablespoon or so of milk to reach the right consistency. The batter should be completely smooth and just slightly thinner than pancake batter.
  • Add cauliflower florets into the batter and toss in batter to coat. A flexible spatula works best for this, or use your hands if you don't mind getting a little messy! The cauliflower doesn't need to be 100% coated, but we want to distribute the batter evenly so all the florets have batter on them.
  • Add panko crumbs to a shallow dish and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. You might not need the entire 2 cups depending on the size of your cauliflower; I usually start with 1 cup and then add more to the dish as needed.
  • Working a few pieces at a time, dip battered cauliflower florets into breadcrumbs and toss to coat. Transfer to a lined baking tray and repeat until all the cauliflower is breaded. Optionally, spray lightly with oil to encourage more even browning.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Give the cauliflower a flip with a spatula at around the 15 minute point.
  • Serve immediately with your favorite sauce on the side, or toss in sauce and return to oven for another 3-5 minutes to bake the sauce into the cauliflower. Leftovers can be refrigerated and re-crisped in the oven (at 350°F for about 10 minutes) or in an air fryer.

For buffalo cauliflower

  • Toss with buffalo sauce and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

For bang bang cauliflower

  • Combine 1/4 cup mayo and 1/4 cup sriracha and toss cauliflower in sauce.

Notes

Gluten free: Brown rice flour or chickpea flour work well if you need to make this recipe gluten-free. You may need to add an extra tablespoon or two of milk, as both these flours are more absorbent than all-purpose. Rice panko breadcrumbs are also available.
Did you make this recipe?We’d love for you to leave a review on the website! You can also share a photo on IG and tag @sarahsvegankitchen_ or #sarahsvegankitchen.