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grilled cauliflower garnished with green onions on plate with lemon wedges.
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4.78 from 18 votes

Easy Grilled Cauliflower (15-Minute Florets)

Transform your cauliflower into something special with a wonderful blend of spices and a bit of char. Grilled Cauliflower is an easy healthy side dish for any meal, ready in 15 minutes. The trick to this recipe is using a grill basket - my favorite BBQ tool.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings (change as needed): 4

Ingredients

  • 1 medium or large cauliflower add extra seasoning if using a large caulilfower
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil

Seasonings, Note 2

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon each, salt and black pepper (or more to taste)

Garnish

  • squeeze of lemon, 1-2 chopped green onions

Instructions

  • HEAT GRILL to medium high heat. Spray a grill basket with oil, Note 1.
  • PREPARE CAULIFLOWER: Remove outer leaves of cauliflower, cut out core, then cut cauliflower into florets. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will cook. In a large mixing bowl, mix together olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Add florets and toss to coat evenly. If the cauliflower seems a little dry, add a touch more oil. Place seasoned cauliflower in grill basket.
  • GRILL CAULIFLOWER: Grill for 10-15 minutes in total, depending on how soft you like your cauliflower and how large the florets are. Stir occasionally.
  • SERVE: Transfer to serving dish. Squeeze lemon juice (about 1/4 lemon) over cauliflower and sprinkle over chopped green onions and parsley if desired. Or drizzle with a sauce, Note 3.

Notes

  1. Grill basket alternative: A grill basket makes this recipe a snap as it has sides making it easy to stir. If you don't have one, you can use a wire cooling rack or slice the cauliflower into larger wedges to cook directly on the grill. 
  2. Variations for seasonings: If you don't like one if the spices, leave it out and replace it with something you like. You can also try other blends such as curry, taco seasoning, cajun, Italian seasoning, herbes de provence, or fajita seasonings.
  3. Optional toppings: Step it up with a drizzle of basil pesto, red pepper sauce, ranch dressing, tzatziki or 5-minute herb sauce. You can also garnish with fresh herbs.
  4. Make Ahead: Make the full dish a few hours ahead and warm in microwave for a minute or serve at room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. 
Nutritional values are estimates. 
Serving: 0g | Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 450mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 128IU | Vitamin C: 69mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg