This simple Roasted Cauliflower Salad is a delicious side dish option! Perfect for your next get-together or cookout. Made with crispy cauliflower florets, fresh cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, and the best Italian salad dressing!
The Best Roasted Cauliflower Salad
This belongs on your next cookout menu! With Memorial Day quickly approaching, I wanted to share a nice light, delicious side dish for your cookout menu! This is a healthier spin on your traditional Italian pasta salad. It’s made with roasted cauliflower, purple onion, tomatoes and cucumber (and yes, the cauliflower tastes AMAZING!). For the dressing, you can use your favorite store-bought Italian dressing, but this is my favorite, which is also Whole30 compliant!!
Looking for another delicious side dish? Checkout our Broccoli Bacon Salad!
What You Will Need
- whole head of cauliflower – we love sticking with roasted cauliflower in this salad recipe, but you could also toss in some broccoli florets.
- tomatoes, red onion, & cucumbers – a delicious combination of fresh vegetables!
- Italian dressing – grab your favorite option from the grocery store or mix-up a batch of our easy homemade Italian salad dressing.
- kosher salt & ground black pepper – just a bit of each for some added seasoning.
- optional add-ins – black olives, green olives, pepperoncinis
What’s The Fastest Way To Make This Roasted Cauliflower Salad
If you are in a pinch and need to speed up the cooking process then you can easily cook your cauliflower in the Instant Pot first, and then put it under the broiler for a couple minutes to brown it up a bit!
Make Ahead
Yes! You can make it the night before, BUT I would suggest adding the dressing right before serving to avoid the cauliflower from soaking up the dressing – no one likes mushy cauliflower!
How To Make Roasted Cauliflower Salad
To start this easy salad recipe, roast your cauliflower in the oven, let it cool, and cut into florets. While you have your kitchen knife and cutting board out, you can prep the rest of your fresh ingredients too!
Place all of the salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss with the Italian dressing, salt, and pepper.
How To Serve Roasted Cauliflower Salad
This is an easy side dish option that will go with just about anything! We love to serve it up at a backyard cookout or barbeque with a Smoked Beer Can Chicken, some Grilled Steaks, or a Pork Shoulder Roast. Just make up a few other side dishes and a pitcher of skinny margaritas for a fun little party!
Other Cauliflower Recipes You Might Like
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Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, sub avocado oil
- 2-3 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 head cauliflower, leaves removed
- kosher salt and ground black pepper
- 2-3 roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 cup cucumber, quartered
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 1 cup Italian dressing, creamy homemade Italian dressing or store-bought
Optional Add-Ins:
- olives or pepperocini
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Roast Cauliflower: In a small bowl, mix 2-3 tablespoons olive oil and 2-3 teaspoons garlic. Place 1 head cauliflower in a cast iron skillet or oven safe dish and pour the garlic mixture on top. Rub it all over the cauliflower and season with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
- Prepare Cauliflower: Let it cool slightly and cut into bite-sized florets.
- Combine: Put the roasted cauliflower florets in a large bowl with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion.
- Dressing + Taste: Pour 1 cup Italian dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Taste and adjust any flavors, as desired.
- Serve: Enjoy right away!
Notes
- Instant Pot: if you have an Instant Pot and are short on time you can also use that to make Instant Pot cauliflower!
- Serve: we love to serve this veggie-filled salad at a BBQ or cookout with char grilled burgers, perfectly grilled steaks, or a grilled spatchcock chicken!
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