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Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

The CRISPIEST Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower

This Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower is the easiest way to turn a bag of frozen florets into a CRISPIEST, golden, healthy dinner side in under 20 minutes. With paprika, cumin seeds, and a touch of olive oil, every piece becomes tender inside and crisp on the edges.
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Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Calories: 78
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 450 g frozen cauliflower florets
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.33 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 0.33 tsp paprika
  • 0.25 tsp cumin seeds

Equipment

  • air fryer
  • large mixing bowl
  • tongs or spatula

Method
 

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes to help achieve maximum crispiness.
  2. Add the frozen cauliflower to a large bowl. Pour in the olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, paprika, and cumin seeds. Toss well to coat without thawing the florets.
  3. Place the seasoned cauliflower in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overcrowd; cook in batches if needed.
  4. Cook for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket vigorously halfway through to promote even browning.
  5. Check for CRISPIEST golden edges and tender centers. Serve immediately while hot.

Notes

Do not thaw the cauliflower—cooking directly from frozen is the key to crisp edges. Shake the basket halfway through for even browning. Reheat leftovers in the air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes to restore crispness. Customize with cayenne, garlic powder, Parmesan, or lemon for easy variations.