Name: Best Roasted Cauliflower Steak
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 large heads cauliflower, cut into 4 1” thick slices; 1 T. extra virgin olive oil; 1½ T. Italian seasoning; 2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced; ¼ t. crushed red pepper flakes; ¼ c. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, divided; Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Have you heard about cauliflower steaks? They may have started out as “just another trend,” but I think they are here for the long haul. And my tastebuds are thankful!

This parmesan herb-roasted version is by far the best cauliflower steak recipe I’ve tried.

It’s a hearty vegetarian dinner idea and only comes in at 2 Weight Watchers Freestyle Points. So next time you’re low on points, give these roasted cauliflower steaks a try.

They’re easy to serve with other pan-roasted veggies for a complete meal (more tips on that below).

If you love these steaks, you’ll have to try this garlic mashed cauliflower. So good!

Ingredients for Parmesan Cauliflower Steak

This truly is a simple recipe as you’ll see by the ingredients below. No fancy schmancy business here, but the taste is truly restaurant-worthy.

Cauliflower: I use 2 large cauliflower heads for this recipe, which leaves you with some leftover after “carving” the steaks. You can season and roast any remaining cauliflower florets from the edges of each head as a side or reserve for another recipe.

Olive oil: You can use other oils, but I think olive oil is best for roasting. At least that’s been my experience. Sometimes, I even just lay the steaks out on the pan and spray them with olive oil cooking spray.

Minced garlic: Stick with fresh garlic cloves if you can. However, garlic powder works just fine. I’d go with 1 teaspoon if using powder.

Red pepper flakes: The red pepper gives these baked cauliflower steaks a little kick. We like to snack on raw cauliflower in our house, but I admit, it’s rather bland on its own. The act of oven roasting packs a lot of flavor already, but the red pepper flakes help it reach a peak of delicious perfection.

Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated is best.

Seasonings: I went with good old-fashioned salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. It’s a simple blend that, together with the roasting, gives cauliflower a lot of flavor.

How to Cut Cauliflower Into Steaks

Before we dig in to the directions, I want to first address how to cut cauliflower steaks. The thickness is important because steaks that are too thin will burn easily, and steaks that are too thick won’t cook evenly.

Start with a washed and dried whole head of cauliflower. Remove any green or outer leaves, and cut it straight down the middle.

At this point, many people wonder if they should remove the core when slicing cauliflower, and the answer is no. The core, also known as the stem, is what keeps cauliflower steak from falling apart. So you actually want each steak to have a little stem intact.

For each half, cut out a 1-inch slice.

Since you need a little core in each steak, you usually only get 2 “steaks” per head of cauliflower. For oversized heads, you can squeeze out 3.

That means some cauliflower florets from the outer edges will not be used, but you can roast them on the side at the same time as the steaks for use in a leftover-type recipe or for snacking.

How to Roast Cauliflower Steaks

Place your top oven rack in the center position and preheat oven to 400°F.

Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat® baking mat and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. This is also where you’ll add any other spices to customize to your liking. I have a friend who puts an Indian twist on this recipe and replaces the Italian seasoning with turmeric and garam masala.

Place cauliflower “steaks” on prepared baking sheet and brush with the seasoned olive oil mixture on both sides.

Sprinkle half of grated Parmesan cheese on top and season with salt and black pepper, to taste.

Place in the pre-heated oven and roast for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully flip each “steak” and sprinkle with remaining cheese and a bit more salt and black pepper, if desired.

Return to oven and roast for another 15-20 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork-tender and nicely browned.

At this point, they’re ready to enjoy!

How to Serve Cauliflower Steaks: Perfect Pairings

These can easily stand alone, but they also act as a main entree that can be served with your usual sides.

I like serving cauliflower steak with capers and a side salad.

You can add some marinara sauce and a slice of mozzarella cheese for a bit more flavor, but it will increase your WW points. Totally worth it though if you have some extra points to spare! I mention this because my niece just can’t get enough of these cauliflower steaks, and that’s how she dresses them up to serve.

Another great pairing is other roasted vegetables. You can cook them alongside your steaks, so it doesn’t take any extra time. Roasted tomatoes are a favorite around here with sliced sweet bell peppers a close second.

If you don’t want cauliflower to be the main course, just cut them in half – or even in quarters – and make them your side dish! Garlic parmesan cauliflower goes perfectly with fish or turkey burgers.

Oh, and these steaks really shine with a sauce drizzled on top – check out some saucy inspiration below…

Leftover cauliflower steaks will keep in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. But you probably don’t have to worry about storing leftovers. These roasted cauliflower steaks tend to get devoured fast!

Delicious Cauliflower Steak Sauces: Must Try!

If you like things spicy, hot sauce is actually really good with roasted cauliflower. For more of a citrusy flair, try a lemon herb cauliflower steak sauce. It’s really easy to make by processing lemon juice, fresh cilantro and parsley, and garlic cloves with extra virgin olive oil in your food processor.

I also love a good Bang Bang sauce. It’s really easy to customize whether you’re vegan, following Weight Watchers, or simply enjoying as a healthy meal.

You can use fat-free mayo as well as vegan or regular mayonnaise if you’re not on any restrictions. Whisk it with some chili sauce and a splash of sweetener like agave or honey.

Another savory sauce for cauliflower steaks is soy with garlic and ginger mixed in.

Can I Grill Cauliflower Steaks Instead?

Absolutely! Grilled cauliflower steaks provide a slightly different flavor than baked cauliflower steaks, but different definitely doesn’t mean bad in this case.

If you’d rather grill than roast, just heat it up to about 450℉. Allow it to come to full temperature before cooking. You can then follow the recipe as stated, but place in the grill and cook for 5 minutes on each side.

You’ll know they’re done when you can easily pierce the thickest part of the steaks with a fork and they’re sufficiently charred.

That’s about it! if you’ve been wondering how cauliflower steak tastes but haven’t branched out and tried it, do yourself a favor and cook this cauliflower steak recipe tonight! Then come back and let me know how it went 🙂

Want More Cauliflower Recipes?

More Cauliflower Recipes

I used to think cauliflower was just a good salad topping or snack with fat-free ranch dip. But honestly, you can do so many delicious things with cauliflower! Check out these easy recipes: