Cheesy Cauliflower Steaks
An easy to make, low carb side dish that will deliver in big taste.
If you’re asking yourself why make these cauliflower steaks.. the answer is why not? They are quicker to slice up and easier to prep with the oil mixture. You only have to slice the head three times – make sure its in half first though. They will look adorable on your table or plate next to chicken or real steak lol.

So I had this cauliflower on death’s door and I needed a healthyish snack so this was born. I’m so glad I decided to try this version. They were crispy on the outside and perfectly spiced. I ate mine without cheese and it was amazing aka vegan version.

Thank you for swinging by Hungry Happens! If you create this dish or any from our site, please take the time to comment and rate the recipe! All the best and LOVE YOUR LIFE!

Cheesy Cauliflower Steaks
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbs parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- optional: fresh parsley garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix the oil, grated parmesan, spices and salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove the leaves from the bottom of your cauliflower and leave the stalk in place. Slice the cauliflower in half. Then slice those two pieces in half to create your 'steaks'. Transfer them to your baking sheet and brush all over (top, bottom and sides) with the mixture from step 2. Air fry or bake until the stalk is fork tender and golden brown, about 15 minutes for air fryer (flip half way through), 20 minutes for the oven. Remove from oven and sprinkle with the shredded cheese. Place back in the oven until melted.
Nutrition
Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 451mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 133IU | Vitamin C: 70mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 1mg
So good! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Glad you enjoyed!!!
I am baking them in a regular oven at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Is that ok? OR does it need more cooking time?
Hi Denise! That should be good…but I typically just bake until tender and/or golden brown. That should definitely work! Every oven is different … some stronger than others.
We had these with our rib-eyes tonight and they were so good!🤤
Hi carol!! mmmm that sounds so good! Glad you enjoyed and thank you for taking the time to comment on the recipe!
Excellent recipe – my family loves it !! I will be making it again and again !!
Hi Arlene! Glad the whole crew enjoyed the cauliflower steaks! And thank you for taking the time to comment! Cheers!
Soooo good!!
Hi Connie! Glad you liked them! Thank you for the comment!
How do you air fry, on what temp and how many minutes
Hi Lorraine, Preheat your air fryer to 375 F and cook for around 15 minutes, flipping half way through. You want them golden and fork tender
Oops, I thought it said 400° 🥴 I guess I’ll find out if it was too much!😂 It looks good so far!🤗
Omgosh! It was delicious!! Definitely a keeper! Thank you for the awesome recipe!💕
YES! Glad you liked them!
i read 400 as well…
The instructions say 400° in air fryer.
Yes? or 375°?
Thank your for sharing the recipe! Just tried them and they are soo yum !!!
Hi Lamia! Thank you for the comment! I’m glad they were enjoyed!
If I want a dairy free option do I just leave off all the cheeses?
Hi Jen, yes or sub in nutritional yeast for the grated parmesan and vegan shredded cheese for the topping. I had it without the cheese and it still tasted amazing!
Nope, you’ll definitely want to add more cheese to make it dairy free
What is the green garnish on top of cauliflower
Hi Elaine! It is parsley. But you can use chives or cilantro or basil. Whichever you prefer.
So good . Thank you
Hi Rick! Thanks for trying the recipe and i’m glad you liked them!
No idea given of how long to cook the cauliflower?!
Hi Julie.. I’m so sorry about that! it is in the video but of course it should be in the recipe too. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I will correct that right now.
Don’t people read the directions??? Everything is clearly stated.
Turned out so well !! It’s a keeper recipe 🙂
Hi Deepa! Glad you liked it! Thank you for the comment!
Really enjoyed this recipe! The seasonings were perfect (I doubled them because my head of cauliflower was pretty big) My grocery store was out of shredded mozzarella so I substituted fresh mozzarella instead. It was delish!!!
Hi! MMMMMmm fresh mozz is the best! Glad you tried the recipe and liked it! Thank you for the comment too!
Absolutely loved this..even my husband liked it
Hi Vickie! Glad you both enjoyed! Thanks for the rating too!
Very good!
Hi Deborah! Glad you enjoyed them! And thanks for trying the recipe!
where is the Ingredients ?
Very yummy!
HI Monica! Happy you liked them! Thanks for the comment and rating too!
I came across your recipe few days back and ever since then was looking forward for the opportunity and finally here I go with it today.
Wishing me great tasty,yummylicious cauliflower bake.
Hi Simiona! I hope you had so much yummy delicious cauliflower!!!!
Made this tonight over whole wheat pasta… sprinkled over a handful chopped basil and toasted pine nuts. Delicious. Thank you.
Hi Kerriann, MMMMMM that sounds amazing! Glad you enjoyed the dish!
This is delicious, your instructions baked them to perfection. We are also thinking of other toppings to use on cauliflower “steaks”, we love it! Thank you!
Hi Jill! Thank you! Definitely recommend a little pizza cauliflower steak action!
The best, it was soooo goooood
Hi Maria! LOVE to read that – happy you liked them!
Which spices?
WOW! Speechless these were SOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!
That’s great to read! And thank you for trying the recipe!!
Always love cauliflower and broccoli and happy I found this recipe😍 I know this must be delicious. Can’t wait to cook it🥰
Hi Fira! Hope you enjoy the recipe! I always do!
Saw this recipe on Instagram and made it for dinner tonight. We loved it! Will make again.
Hi Risa, I love that! Thank you for the rating!
Made it for dinner tonight and it was delicious. I’d say to mix the Parmesan cheese and spices together first then add the oil. I made them in my air fryer and didn’t flip them.
Hi Mic! Perfect! Glad you liked the recipe!
These were very tasty and I appreciate a new and simple way to prepare cauliflower! Always looking for good Keto recipes. thank you!
If I use my air fryer, do I still use parchment paper?
Sounds delicious! Do you need to boil the cauliflower before you bake it, or literally just cut and bake?
no boiling needed here!
This cauliflower recipe was so delicious and super easy to make!! My family cannot stop talking about how yummy it was. Will make my cauliflower this way from now on.
Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Jennifer, That’s so awesome – it’s definitely a keeper!
Even following your recipes on TikTok.
Was excited to try making Cheesy Cauliflower Steaks. It was delicious!
Love your saying, and “love your life”.
Hi Susi Lee, Thank you so much! That message means a lot to me!
Delicious!!!
Hi Debbie! Thanks and I’m glad you liked it!
Easy to make and very tasty
Hi Myra! Thank you for the review!
tried it and loved it. Dinner guests loved it although they weren’t big cauliflower lovers. Will do it again. Thanks
NICE! Glad the whole crew enjoyed!
Not sure what I did wrong. I cut the cauliflower in half and cut 2 steaks. then cut the rest to make another steak which fell apart – to make 4? I brushed the 2 steaks & cauliflower parts but there didn’t seem to be enough sauce. I put them in the oven at 400 but they really didn’t get fork tender until about 35 minutes. I watched the video but couldn’t come up with anything. Was I not suppose to try and make 4 steaks out of the cauliflower? Once you cut 2 steaks – what do you do with the rest of the cauliflower? 🤷♀️
That happens sometimes, you just cook them anyway. Its all good with the marinade. Hope you try it again!
Tastes incredible!!! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Melissa! Thanks for the comment and rating! Glad you enjoyed.
These were sooo good! Definitely making again, even my nephew who fights eating vegetables loved these.
Hi Laura, I’m so glad you enjoyed and your nephew too!
Brilliant – my kids ate their cauliflower tonight and enjoyed it! Made this as a side to corned beef and it was perfect. Thank you. I’ll be trying more of your delicious-looking recipes soon. Thanks for sharing.
So easy, so good!
Hi Nanette! Glad it was a hit! and thank you for the rating!!
Just made this tonight yummmmm absolutely delicious. Hubby says please make it again 😊
Hi Barbara, SO happy you tried the recipe and you both liked it!! And thank you for coming back to rate it too!
I really like a different way of cooking cauliflower. We had them with grilled chicken and sauteed zucchini. Only 2 stayed whole and the other 3 broke apart. To me it didn’t matter I just put cheese on them anyways and it was all good. The only thing that didn’t work was not enough mixture to coat all sides of cauliflower. I just added a little more olive oil. Both my husband and I enjoyed it. I will have this again.
Hi Marian, Sorry the mixture wasn’t enough. That happens to me on occasion and I do exactly what you did. Thanks for the feedback and trying the recipe!
Hi there.. i am trying it with gratin cheese! Let u know! (Run out of mozzarella)
Hi Edith! OHHH that sounds delectable! Let me know what happens!
This recipe was fantastic! Everyone really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing it with everyone.
Made these steaks for the first time. So easy. I also substituted the mozzarella for Harvarti cheese since that’s all I had at the time. So delish!!
This was absolutely delicious. Ate the whole head myself.
Hi Laura, With this recipe, its so easy to eat the whole thing! Thanks for the rating!
Did not fully cook through at 400 for 20 minutes in oven..
Please keep in mind that every oven is different. Always continue to cook until you reach the desired result.
I made this tonight, very tasty and will definitely make again and also share recipe with my family and friends…. I will suggest to not put mozzarella cheese on bulk part, waste of good cheese cause you don’t eat that part of the cauliflower…
Hi Pat! That is immensely appreciated to share the recipe with your family and friends – thank you!!
why wouldn.t you eat that part??? tastes as good as the rest. just cut it thru so it.ll cook faster. 🤷♀️
I hope this isn’t too stupid of a question…but…which way do I slice it? Across the stem or top to bottom?
Its not silly at all. Slice top of the head down to the bottom (stem)
I made this cauliflower last night. It was delicious, thank you for a new veggie I love.
Hi Gail, thats awesome! Glad you enjoyed! And thank you for the rating!
Can I par boil and then grill it instead?
Hi Shiana, Sounds like its worth a try. the only thing that concerns me about the boiling is the cauliflower piece falling apart. Let us know what happens pls!
I loved this recipe.
Yay! glad you liked it and thank you for trying it out!
Love dipping sauces is there one for this recipe?
Hi Katherine, I would try my 5 minute Lazy Tzatziki with this dish….
https://hungryhappens.net/easy-steak-and-rice-bowls-with-yogurt-sauce/
So good. My kids love it too!
So yummy and I don’t like cauliflower! 🤣
And I just realized I didn’t even use the mozzarella, I forgot it. 🤣
It was yummy even with just Parmesan!
I like it without the cheese too lol
Hi Julie! Glad I reformed you kind of lol
Very good, thank you. Since o
I’m frugal I riced all the pieces of cauliflower that fell off. Put the same spiced after I cooked it.
HI Sharon, Thats a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
Delicious way to enjoy cauliflower in a different way. I didn’t have onion powder so skipped that. I’d also cut down on the garlic powder next time and didn’t have shredded mozzarella so used some shredded Colby jack that I had on hand. I may also try a dash of cayenne next time. I also added some butter with the olive oil. Very easy. Will make again!
Excellent, Thank you so much for your good recipe
My pleasure! Thanks for trying!!
This recipe is so delicious! Everyone in the house likes it.
Hi Judy, glad the whole family enjoyed! Thanks for trying them out!!
These look so good…I plan to try them soon. Is the nutritional content for one “steak”?
They look delicious and I’ll definitely be making them soon. Thank you!
we are trying these tonight with Tuna steaks 😋
Bitte um das Rezept, von der Masse
Easy and delicious! Had to double recipe because I made 4 cauliflower steaks. Yum! Thank you!
We are both big cauliflower and cabbage eaters. Having this for the first time tonight with a prime porterhouse. Expecting this to be delicious.
Hi Jacob, I’m sorry you didnt like the dish!
Can you prepare the Cauliflower Steaks a day ahead of time?
I can’t wait to try the recipe. Thank you for sharing it.
Very good. I added some lemon juice and some additional spices but very tasty as is I am sure.
I’ll try this tomorrow with my steak. Looks delicious and presentable
looks so good. can you make these and before baking vacuum pack for future use. I am the only one in my family that would eat these.
Thankyou so much for this! I made it like you said and actually topped with green pepper onion and a small amount of pepperoni’s and Moz cheese and used a bit of pizza sauce for a low carb pizza ~ has the same flavors of my home made pizza less the crust and now I can enjoy it when I make my hubby his 🙂 It is Amazing!!! I don’t feel I am missing the dough bottom at all!
Very good. We baked it at 425* and it was done in about 35 minutes. Next time, I will save 1/2 of the sauce and baste the second side when I turn it. I added a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Great Thankyou so much
So good, and in the 2nd try I succeeded in creating not only 4 “steaks” but more. Even better, the recipe is very quick… Only disadavantage: you est much more than intended🙈
So good, and in the 2nd try I succeeded in creating not only 4 “steaks” but more. Even better, the recipe is very quick… Only disadavantage: you eat much more than intended🙈
Hi Sabine, that sound like the story of my life I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I have everything here to make this receipt the olive oil.My question is,do you think I could use avocado oil instead?or will that change the flavor to much?
Sorry,everything except the olive oil
Hi Jeannie, Yes, you can use avocado oil – no change in flavor.
O. M. G. I’m not wild about cauliflower so I’m so glad I found this!!! It was delicious and I added the cheese!!! Yummmm!!
So easy and very yummy!! Can’t go work here .
They we be on repeat at our house.
These look amazing! Would you recommend meal prepping these or is it best to have them fresh?
Hi Cynthia, you can definitely meal prep these!
What can parmasen cheese be substituted for? is cheddar or feta ok?
YES! that sounds delicious with cheddar
I made this last night in my Air Fryer. My family loved it and I will definitely make it again. I followed the recipe as it was. Delicious!
Amazing. And super easy
This was everything it was meant to be.
Hi Mella, glad you liked them!1
Absolutely delicious!!!
Hi Cindy! Glad you liked them! Thank you!
Very delish. At 22 mins in the oven at 400F I think I would add some more time (30 mins maybe) to make them a little more tender, or cut them thinner ( mine were approximately 1” thick). They were still very good. I used a non dairy cheese which worked very well, no one even realized it was not an Italian cheese. I will definitely make this again and even change the spices according/ complimentary to the main dish. Thank you so much. I love your site and use it often!
Yum!!! Just had for dinner!
So good!! Easy to make! I love all of your recipes! I wish you would make a cook book. You are the best❤️
Hi Deborah, YOU are the best and I thank you for the kindness and support!! I definitely see a cookbook in my future – stay tuned!
Very good, very filling! Thanks for posting this recipe!
Hi Janet, thanks for trying this out!
These Cheesy Cauliflower Steaks were sooo good and I paired them with your Melt in Your Mouth Chicken recipe! Thank you! Keep ‘em coming!! 🥰
I made this for the first time today and it was wonderful. But I do have a couple of questions. First of all do you need to flip them when they’re in the oven? Second, how many grams are ounces are considered a single serving? That would determine the amount of carbs and calories consumed, but I will keep this recipe and use it often!
Oh my goodness! So yummy and easy. This recipe will definitely be on the menu for my next ladies night get together.
Hi Darlene, thats awesome! Thanks for trying them!
To oily and no flavor
Hi, I just discoverd this recipe and it looks incredibly good. I want to ask of I could replace the onion and garlic powder because I can’t eat this. Thanks for any suggestions! Have a nice day, lieve
So simple and soooo good. Remarkable how easy it was and how delicious! We will be making this again for sure.
I’m a VERY picky vegetarian. I’m not pro-vegetable; just anti-meat. =)
This super easy recipe knocked-it-outta the park for me.
Love, Love, Love-
Eva Marie
Hi Eva, Glad you enjoyed the ‘steaks’!!! Thanks so much for the rating too!
Drizzle a little fresh lemon juice over it once it’s done. The best!
I have already made them twice in two weeks, and they are delicious. Only I find that 20 minutes in the oven is too much since they have to bake even longer when putting the mozzarella cheese on.
Love this recipe! Trying to stick to a low carb diet so this was perfect! I only had havarti cheese so used it and was delicious.
Hi Anne, LOVE havarti cheese too! Thanks for the rating!
love this one. i’m gonna cook this for myself tonight. tnx for your recipe.
carla
Hi Carla, glad you enjoyed the cauliflower dish! Thank you!
I love this recipe, thank you!! Also I wonder if anyone has tried to make it like a casserole? This way you can use the whole cauliflower.
Yum!! So good!!
I’m making this tonight. Do I need to flip the cauliflower steak if it’s cooking in the oven? Thanks!
YES!
How can this be made in a regular oven instead of an air fryer?
Can you cut in small portions and use the same method for appetizers?
Made these last night! THANK YOU so much. I am diabetic and celiac. I have such a hard time finding recipes that i LOVE. I LOVE this one because it was great, easy and could be shared with people who DO NOT have my awesome food restrictions! I ate at least half of the head of cauliflower myself it was sooooo good! I will be making it again and again and may even play with some of the spices. I thought I had mozzarella in the fridge but only had sharp cheddar and used that. It was awesome. Will try with mozz next time! Please keep providing your awesome recipes because I do find that I can modify them (most) for my dietary needs but I still get something delicious and good for me.
I was Amazing. I tweaked the spice. Made a small head and ate the whole thing. Really liked it. Definitely will make again.
I am truly shocked at all the good reviews. Because of them, I couldn’t wait to make this recipe. I made it tonight, followed recipe exactly. They tasted BLAND, & not even golden after 30 min at 400°, so I cooked them at 425° for 10 extra min. They turned more golden but still mushy. Cauli should def be cooked at 450° for best flavor & golden color. I will not make this again.
This was a big hit! I didn’t have much mozzarella on hand, so used cheddar on some of the steaks, which was delish.
se fosse em Português, até que eu poderia fazer. Não falo Inglês, nunca quis aprender, e acho um desaforo, essa imposição. vc quer se promover no Brasil, então fale no meu idioma! certo?
Great recipe, I tried it and our family enjoyed it a lot. Thanks!
Can I use bread crumbs?
I did use GF bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese but it was shredded.
It came out so good my husband said it was a keeper’
I used different spices , sea salt and lemon pepper’
👍👍👍
Absolutely delicious.
Thanks for trying them!
Bun!!
These were delicious, easy to make and just a great overall recipe. I made half my cauliflower to the recipe but the other half I added some marinara before I put the cheese on. It was amazing! Next time I want to add some cheddar instead of mozz! I highly recommend!
Hi Erica, Thanks for sharing your feedback! Glad you liked the steaks@
Awesome easy! Just try it:). My go to for cauliflower-veggie dinner.
Hi Marcia, same here! Glad you tried it!