Delicious Five-Ingredient Baked Cauliflower

Category: Small Bites, Worldwide Flavors

Skip the oil and embrace oven-baked awesomeness with these simple cauliflower tots. First, boil cauliflower chunks until soft, then blend them into small bits. Mix your cauliflower with chopped onion, grated Parmesan, breadcrumbs, beaten egg, salt, and pepper, then form small cylinder shapes. Bake until they're golden and crunchy, turning once during cooking. Enjoy them with your top dip choices such as ketchup, pesto, or hummus. These yummy veggie morsels work great as a light snack, party starter, or meal companion!

Monica
By Monica Monica
Updated on Tue, 06 May 2025 14:17:20 GMT
A plate of food with a ketchup dipping sauce. Pin
A plate of food with a ketchup dipping sauce. | flavorsfuse.com

These cauliflower bites completely changed my approach to getting veggies into fussy eaters at my house. They've got this amazing crunch on the outside while staying soft and tasty inside, giving you that comfort food feeling without all the guilt you'd get from regular potato nuggets.

I stumbled upon this idea when I was trying desperately to add more veggies to our family meals. What began as just trying something new quickly turned into something my family asks for every week, particularly my teenager who used to hate vegetables but now eats these by the handful.

What You'll Need

How To Make These

A plate of fried food with a ketchup dipping sauce. Pin
A plate of fried food with a ketchup dipping sauce. | flavorsfuse.com

I think of Parmesan as my hidden trick in this dish. At a dinner I hosted once, my buddy who always says he can't stand cauliflower ate seven of these before I told him what they were made from. The look on his face was totally worth all the prep time!

Keeping Them Fresh

A plate of food with a ketchup dipping sauce. Pin
A plate of food with a ketchup dipping sauce. | flavorsfuse.com

Easy Swaps

Pairing Ideas

FAQs About the Recipe

→ Can I use frozen cauliflower instead of fresh?

You bet, frozen works too, but make sure you thaw it completely and squeeze out all extra water before you chop it up.

→ What dipping sauces pair well with cauliflower tots?

Ketchup, pesto, hummus, ranch, or a spicy mayo all taste fantastic with these little bites.

→ How can I make the tots gluten-free?

Just swap regular breadcrumbs for a gluten-free option like ground almonds or gluten-free panko.

→ Can I air-fry these instead of baking?

You sure can! Heat your air fryer to 400°F, spray the basket lightly, cook them for 6 minutes, flip them over, then cook another 3-5 minutes until they're nice and crispy.

→ How can I store leftovers?

Pop any extra tots in a sealed container in your fridge for up to 3 days. Warm them up in the oven or air fryer to keep them crunchy.

→ Can I add additional seasonings?

Go for it! Try some garlic powder, paprika, or fresh chopped herbs like parsley to kick up the flavor.

Crunchy Cauliflower Bites

Crunchy, cheese-packed cauliflower bites using just five basic items.

Prep Time
30 min
Cooking Time
45 min
Total Time
75 min
By Monica: Monica

Category: Global Appetizers

Skill Level: Moderate

Cuisine Style: American

Yield: 35 Servings (35 tots)

Dietary Preferences: Low-Carb, Vegetarian

What You'll Need

01 2 average-sized cauliflower heads, broken into florets
02 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
03 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan
04 1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs
05 1 big egg

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 01

Heat your oven to 350°F. Cover a nonstick baking tray with plenty of cooking spray.

Step 02

Get a big pot of salty water bubbling. Toss in your cauliflower bits and let them cook until soft when poked, about 5-10 minutes. Drain them really well then dump into a food processor. Give it a few quick pulses until you get rice-sized pieces. Don't blend it too much.

Step 03

Scoop 3 packed cups of your mashed cauliflower into a big bowl. Mix in the chopped onion, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir it all up until it looks kind of like mashed potatoes.

Step 04

Grab small handfuls of the mix, about 1-2 tablespoons each time. Roll them into little tot shapes with your hands. Put them on your greased tray, leaving an inch of space between each one. Keep going until you've used everything up.

Step 05

Pop them in the oven for 20 minutes, then flip them over and cook another 10-15 minutes until they're nice and crispy. Take them out and serve with ketchup, pesto, hummus or whatever dip you like.

Step 06

If you want to use an air fryer, warm it to 400°F. Spray the basket so nothing sticks, add a bunch of tots and cook for 6 minutes. Flip them over and cook 3-5 minutes more until they're golden and crunchy.

Additional Notes

  1. Chop the onion tiny so it blends into the cauliflower mix easily.
  2. Got leftover cauliflower mash? Use it like mashed potatoes for a tasty side dish.

Essential Tools

  • Non-stick baking tray
  • Food processor
  • Big cooking pot
  • Mixing bowl

Allergy Information

Review each ingredient for possible allergens and consult a healthcare professional if you're unsure.
  • Has egg
  • Contains milk products (Parmesan)
  • Has gluten from breadcrumbs

Nutritional Facts (Per Serving)

This info is for reference purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice.
  • Calories: 22
  • Fats: 0.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 2.7 g
  • Proteins: 1.5 g