Honey Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
Last Updated on October 29, 2026 by Betty Davies
A little sweet, a little spicy and a lot of flavor, this honey garlic roasted cauliflower recipe packs a punch! Oven roasted in a cast iron skillet for extra crispy edges, it’s glazed with a honey, garlic, sriracha and lime sauce for maximum taste.
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This honey garlic cauliflower side dish is a must for your plate! Oven roasted and coated in a honey garlic sauce, this is one tasty way to get some veggies on your plate.
Simple to make and quick to prep, the Asian inspired sweet and savory flavors work with lots of different main courses and it makes a great addition to rice bowls.
Be sure to try my Cheesy Oven Roasted Cauliflower Steaks and Cauliflower Broccoli Cheese Bake too!
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Delicious: every bite is exploding with flavor. Oven roasting in a cast iron pan gets the cauliflower wonderfully crisp and it soaks up the flavors from the sauce.
- Simple: There’s not much prep required for this recipe and the sauce is quick and easy to whip up.
- Dietary info: This recipe is vegan and dairy-free.
What You Need
Ingredients
- Cauliflower: Use one head of cauliflower for this recipe. Remove the stalk and cut into florets.
- Oil: A neutral high heat oil is best to use. Olive oil, canola or vegetable all work well.
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
- Garlic: Finely minced for maximum flavor.
- Rice Vinegar: Helps to balance out the sweetness of the honey.
- Soy Sauce: Adds an umami flavor and makes this side dish more on the savory side.
- Lime Juice: Just a little for added zing. Fresh is best, but bottled will work well.
- Honey: The sauce is not overly sweet, but the honey adds a rounded taste.
- Sriracha: This is optional if you like things spicy.
- Garnish: Chives and sesame seeds.
Equipment
I roasted the cauliflower in a large cast iron skillet. You can use a large baking sheet, but the edges won’t get as crispy. You will also need a large bowl to toss the cauliflower in and a sharp knife to remove the stem and cut into florets.
How to Make Crispy Roasted Cauliflower
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Cut the cauliflower into florets and toss with the oil and seasonings.
- Roast in the oven in a cast iron skillet til browned and crispy.
- Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl.
- Toss the cauliflower in the sauce.
- Return to the oven for a few minutes.
- Garnish and serve.
Recipe Variations
- For a thick sauce that is sticky and sweeter, add in an extra 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey.
- Use as much or as little sriracha as you would like. You can also add chili flakes to the sauce.
- Lime juice can be substituted with lemon juice.
- After you have glazed the cauliflower, you can sprinkle on some panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
Serving Suggestions
This honey garlic cauliflower side dish works great with chicken, fish, beef and vegetarian mains, especially those with Asian flavors. I love them in a rice bowl for a burst of texture and flavor. Try them with my air fried honey soy salmon or honey sriracha chicken.
Storage
Honey garlic roasted cauliflower is best served as soon as it’s ready. Leftovers will keep for a couple of days in the fridge and can be reheated in the oven or air fryer, but it will lose it’s crispiness.
Honey Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower
- 2 tablespoons oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- black pepper
- teaspoon garlic powder
Honey Garlic Sauce
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablepsoon sriracha sauce (optional)
Garnish
- chives or scallions and sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450F/230c. Place the cast iron skillet in the oven as it preheats to get it really hot.
- Remove the leaves and stem from the cauliflower and cut into bite sized florets.1 cauliflower
- In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower in oil and seasonings.2 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt, black pepper, teaspoon garlic powder
- Once the oven is fully preheated, carefully place the cauliflower florets in the hot cast iron skillet. Spread them out evenly in a single layer.
- Oven roast for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- While the cauliflower roasts, whisk together the ingredients for the honey garlic sauce.2 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablepsoon sriracha sauce
- When the cauliflower is browned and crispy, carefully remove it from the oven and place in a large bowl. Bour over the sauce and toss together so that the cauliflower is well coated.
- Return to the oven for 5 minutes.
- Serve with garnish.chives or scallions and sesame seeds
Notes
- For a thicker, sweeter and sticky sauce, add an additional 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey.
- A cast iron skillet will give the crispiest results. A large sheet pan will also work.
- The cauliflower should be dry before seasoning and roasting so that it doesn’t steam.
- Spread the cauliflower florets in an even layer and do not overcrowd.
- Nutritional values are an estimate and based on 1 of 3 servings.
