This is hands down the most satisfying way to eat cauliflower. Just before these cauliflower steaks are ready to come out of the oven, you cover them in salty parmesan cheese, creamy pine nuts, and lemon juice. You could easily make this as a simple vegetarian main dish or serve it as a side dish with a classic steak.
If the only cauliflower you’ve known was boiled and buried under cheese sauce, these cauliflower steaks are about to change everything. When I make them this way, they’re crisp on the outside, tender in the middle, and packed with savory flavor in every bite. They’re deeply satisfying in that way vegetables can be when they’re treated right — simple, bold, and surprisingly craveable.
A cauliflower “steak” is really just a thick slab cut from the center of the head, but that shape makes all the difference. It gives the cauliflower a chance to soak up olive oil, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper, much like a spice rub on a traditional steak. Roasting brings out its natural sweetness, while Parmesan melts and browns, adding salty depth, and toasted pine nuts bring warm nuttiness and crunch.
I love finishing them with fresh thyme and a squeeze of lemon, which brightens everything and keeps the flavors feeling lively. These don’t try to mimic meat — they’re proudly vegetable-forward — but they do borrow some of the same cooking techniques to create something layered, textured, and genuinely delicious. It’s the kind of dish that makes cauliflower feel exciting again.
Variations to try
Cauliflower is a great blank canvas, so it’s easy to adapt these steaks to suit your taste or whatever you’re craving. Here are a few simple, flavor-packed variations to get you started:
- Golden turmeric cauliflower steaks: Season with ground turmeric, chili powder, black pepper, ground ginger, and sea salt for a warm, spiced finish. Roast with olive oil, then finish with fresh lemon and cilantro. Use this roasted turmeric cauliflower recipe and cut the cauliflower into steaks instead of florets.
- Asian-inspired cauliflower steaks: Add sesame oil, miso paste, chili garlic sauce, and fresh ginger for bold, savory flavor. Follow this Asian-inspired whole roast cauliflower recipe , cutting the cauliflower into steaks.
- Cheesy Irish cheddar cauliflower steaks: Season with onion powder, paprika, and oregano, then top with sharp Irish cheddar. Use this cheesy Irish cheddar cauliflower recipe , slicing the cauliflower into steaks rather than pieces.
What to serve with cauliflower steaks
Turn these cauliflower steaks into a full blown spread with some of these options:
- Lemon Herb Butter Roast Chicken
- Green Bean Casserole
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Miso Tahini Butter
Cauliflower Steaks Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 2 large cauliflowers
- ▢ ¼ cup olive oil (plus more to serve)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper
- ▢ ½ teaspoon paprika
- ▢ 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- ▢ ½ cup pine nuts
- ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- ▢ 1 lemon (divided)
- ▢ Minced parsley and nice olive oil (to serve)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Cut each head of cauliflower into three steaks. 2 large cauliflowers
- Mix the garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika in a small bowl. 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika
- Place the cauliflower steaks on the baking sheet, drizzle them with olive oil, and then sprinkle them with the spices ¼ cup olive oil
- Roast the steaks for 20 minutes then flip them over and roast them for another 10 minutes. They should be nice and dark brown in many spots.
- Remove the cauliflower from the oven and sprinkle the parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and thyme leaves evenly over each steak. Squeeze half a lemon over the steaks. Put the cauliflower back in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the parmesan has melted and the pine nuts are toasted. 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, ½ cup pine nuts, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, 1 lemon
- Serve the cauliflower with the remaining lemon half squeezed over the top, a drizzle of olive oil, and a little parsley. Minced parsley and nice olive oil
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Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Cauliflower Steaks Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large cauliflowers
- ¼ cup olive oil , plus more to serve
- 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup pine nuts
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 lemon , divided
- Minced parsley and nice olive oil , to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Cut each head of cauliflower into three steaks. 2 large cauliflowers
- Mix the garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika in a small bowl. 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika
- Place the cauliflower steaks on the baking sheet, drizzle them with olive oil, and then sprinkle them with the spices ¼ cup olive oil
- Roast the steaks for 20 minutes then flip them over and roast them for another 10 minutes. They should be nice and dark brown in many spots.
- Remove the cauliflower from the oven and sprinkle the parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and thyme leaves evenly over each steak. Squeeze half a lemon over the steaks. Put the cauliflower back in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the parmesan has melted and the pine nuts are toasted. 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, ½ cup pine nuts, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, 1 lemon
- Serve the cauliflower with the remaining lemon half squeezed over the top, a drizzle of olive oil, and a little parsley. Minced parsley and nice olive oil
Notes
https://www.theendlessmeal.com/lemon-parmesan-cauliflower-steaks/
