Cauliflower Dinner Recipes (that aren't cauliflower rice) (2024)

Cauliflower doesn’t have to be served as a side dish or rice substitute – it’s a great vegetable to use in all kinds of main dishes, too. I love to use it in place of meat for healthy versions of some of my favorite comfort foods like Chinese take-out dishes, tacos, and even pasta and pizza. In this post, I’m sharing 27 cauliflower recipes that I love to make for dinner. I hope you find some new cauliflower dinner recipes to try!


Firecracker Cauliflower | Crispy cauliflower florets coated in a sweet and spicy firecracker sauce is delicious served over rice.

Sheet Pan Cauliflower Tacos | This is a healthy way to get a taco fix and all of it cooks on a sheet pan for an easy dinner. Top the veggie tacos with all of your favorite toppings and you won’t miss the meat. I’ve also made sheet pan fajitas with cauliflower that are so delicious, too.

Bang Bang Cauliflower | I love bang bang sauce and it’s delicious drizzled over crispy baked cauliflower florets. It’s a light and easy dinner. You might like to try my keto version or skinny bang bang cauliflower, too.

Shrimp and Cauliflower Grits | This is a lightened up and low carb version of traditional shrimp and grits. It’s just as flavorful and comforting as the original – the cauliflower grits are so creamy and cheesy.

Sweet and Sour Cauliflower | This is my healthier take on the classic Chinese take-out dish. It’s easy to make in 30 minutes. You might like my Thai sweet chili cauliflower dish, too.

Korean Fried Cauliflower | This is a fun and vegetarian twist on Korean fried chicken made with cauliflower. The florets are ultra-crispy and coated in a savory and sweet soy garlic sauce. Another recipe I love to make is my buttermilk fried cauliflower. It’s crispy and delicious, too.

Thai Red Curry Cauliflower | This is one of our favorite ways to enjoy curry. The sauce is so silky and the whole dish is ready in less than 30 minutes.

Cauliflower Gnocchi | You can replace the potato with cauliflower and make delicious gnocchi that’s lighter and so delicious. Serve it with your favorite pasta sauce!

Creamy Cauliflower Soup | This soup doesn’t have any heavy cream or butter but it’s still so creamy and rich. You can enjoy several bowls without all the guilt.

Mini Cauliflower Deep Dish Pizzas | These low-carb pizzas have a thin cauliflower crust and are topped with cheese, sauce, and pepperoni. Or, try my pizza muffins for a different twist.

Cashew Cauliflower | This is an easy and healthier version of the popular Chinese cashew chicken dish using cauliflower in place of the chicken. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes!

Mongolian Cauliflower| For this dish I make a classic Mongolian beef sauce, but sub the beef in the dish for cauliflower florets instead.

Cauliflower Waffle Grilled Cheese | This fun sandwich is made with cauliflower waffles and lots of melted cheese for a twist on traditional grilled cheese.

Cauliflower Tortillas | For taco night, try swapping flour tortillas with these low-carb cauliflower tortillas. They have a great flavor and can be folded to hold all of your favorite taco fillings and toppings.

Low-Carb Shepherd’s Pie | If you’re craving serious comfort food but don’t want something heavy, you will love this keto-friendly shepherd’s pie.

Honey Sesame Cauliflower | Roasted cauliflower is delicious all on its own, but when you toss it in a delicious honey sesame glaze it’s even better.

Crispy General Tso’s Cauliflower | You won’t miss the chicken in this dish. The cauliflower is super crispy and coated in a savory sauce.

Cauliflower Crusted Grilled Cheese Sandwiches | For a twist on grilled cheese you have to try this cauliflower crusted sandwich.

Orange Garlic Cauliflower | Crispy, panko-coated baked cauliflower is coated in an orange-scented garlic sauce for a delicious dinner. You might like to try my baked orange cauliflower, too.

Cauliflower Tot Nachos | Make a batch of my cauliflower tots and you can use them to make a batch of these totchos. Add all of your favorite toppings and it’s a filling meal!

Cauliflower Noodles Lasagna | In this recipe I show you how to use cauliflower to make lasagna noodles. Add sauce, meat, and cheese and you get a low carb version of a favorite Italian dish.

Honey Lemon Cauliflower | This easy dish starts with sautéed cauliflower florets that are coated in a light honey lemon glaze.

Cauliflower Pizza Crust | This crust is like a chewy thin-crust pizza crust but is gluten-free. You can add your favorite toppings and you won’t even miss regular pizza crust.

Cauliflower Grilled Cheese | This looks so much like a regular grilled cheese sandwich no one will guess it’s made with cauliflower bread! Plus, it’s keto-friendly and gluten-free.

Cauliflower “Crab” Cakes | There’s no crab in these “crab” cakes, but they have the same texture and flavor. It’s one of my favorite ways to use cauliflower.

Cauliflower Pizza Mug Cake | If you’re craving pizza this low-carb pizza mug cake is a great way to indulge without all the calories.

Kung Pao Cauliflower | I gave kung pao chicken a healthier make-over and used cauliflower instead of chicken. It’s so delicious and light you won’t miss the take-out version.

I hope you’ve enjoyed browsing my favorite cauliflower dinner recipes! For even more recipe be sure to check out my cauliflower side dish recipes or my whole cauliflower recipe collection.

Cauliflower Dinner Recipes (that aren't cauliflower rice) (2024)

FAQs

How do you eat cauliflower if you don't like it? ›

Making a cheese sauce (and adding cooked chopped onions to the sauce would be extra tasty) and pouring it over the cauli. Or cauli with potato slices and covering with a cheesy sauce, then baking in oven - yum. Or you can cut a “steak” of cauli, and cover it with cheese and bacon and bake that until cauli is soft.

Is it good to eat cauliflower for dinner? ›

This versatile veggie can be eaten raw, cooked, roasted, grilled, baked into a pizza crust, or cooked and mashed as a substitute for mashed potatoes. You can even rice cauliflower and serve it in place of white rice.

Is cauliflower rice actually healthy? ›

Cauliflower rice is a nutritious alternative to rice that's low in calories and carbs. It may even provide a number of benefits, such as boosting weight loss, fighting inflammation, and even protecting against certain illnesses. What's more, it's simple to make and can be eaten raw or cooked.

What does cauliflower do to your gut? ›

Digestion. Cauliflower is high in fiber and water. Both are important for preventing constipation, maintaining a healthy digestive tract, and lowering the risk of colon cancer. Studies have shown that dietary fiber may also help regulate the immune system and inflammation.

What protein pairs well with cauliflower? ›

Ground beef and cauliflower combine to create a hearty weeknight casserole that both kids and adults will love. Serve with tortilla chips and sour cream. Carolyn Casner is a longtime recipe tester and contributor for EatingWell.

When should you not eat cauliflower? ›

If instead of pale brown, the spots are dark brown to black in color, the curds have taken on a mushy texture, or have an off-putting odor, it's best to toss the head of cauliflower and get a fresh one. These are all signs of decay and spoilage.

What part of cauliflower is not edible? ›

Every part of a cauliflower is edible, even the tough outer skin. However, we do recommend peeling this part before cooking as it's a bit tough to chew.

What organ is cauliflower good for? ›

Cauliflower Benefits

Fiber helps maintain healthy digestion, reducing your risk of digestive disorders. It also promotes the growth of good bacteria in your gut. A healthy balance of gut bacteria helps lower inflammation in your body and reduces your risk of heart disease, dementia, and obesity.

Does cauliflower clean your gut? ›

Cauliflower contains enzymes that aid in detoxification. 19 Those enzymes act like internal garbage collectors: They scour your body for toxins and waste products, bind to them, and then escort them out of the body.

Is cauliflower an anti inflammatory? ›

Cauliflower provides a significant amount of antioxidants, which are beneficial for reducing inflammation and protecting against several chronic diseases.

Is cauliflower rice good for belly fat? ›

Cauliflower rice is low in calories and high in fibre, making it a great rice alternative for people looking to lose weight.

Is it OK to eat cauliflower everyday? ›

While everyone's tolerance is different, too much cauliflower can create G.I. distress, like excess gas and bloating. “Make sure to drink enough water to move it through your system,” suggests Lincoln. Cooking it can also dial back digestion woes.

Which is better broccoli or cauliflower rice? ›

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

Can you freeze cauliflower? ›

Freezing cauliflower is a great way to avoid waste. It will also make the cooking time quicker when you come to cook it from frozen. Like most vegetables, if frozen raw, the texture, taste, colour and nutritional value deteriorates, so make sure you blanch it to preserve these elements.

How do you store extra cauliflower? ›

How to Store Cauliflower in the Fridge. Store fresh cauliflower heads in a loosely closed or perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator. Cauliflower needs air circulation, so don't seal or knot the bag closed. (If you bought a plastic-wrapped head of cauliflower from the grocery store, just loosen up the knot.)

How do you freeze a whole head of cauliflower? ›

How to Freeze Cauliflower
  1. Wash your head of cauliflower. ...
  2. Cut the cauliflower. ...
  3. Prepare to blanch the cauliflower. ...
  4. Blanch the cauliflower in boiling water. ...
  5. Transfer the cauliflower to an ice bath. ...
  6. Arrange the blanched cauliflower on a baking sheet. ...
  7. Pre-freeze the cauliflower.
Oct 11, 2021

Does cauliflower detox your body? ›

Not only is cauliflower a smart and tasty alternative to grains and pastas like flour and rice, it also has some pretty significant health benefits. Cauliflower provides antioxidant nutrients and sulfur-containing nutrients to boost liver detoxification.

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