The grilled cauliflower is steamed for 10 minutes and then grilled to perfection – a great side dish for any meal!
The best grilled cauliflower steaks
We love a good veggie side dish to grill with any of our BBQ recipes. This cauliflower can be grilled with our grilled carrots, grilled corn or even our grilled zucchini for a vegetarian BBQ meal.
Have you ever cooked grilled cauliflower and the outside was grilled to perfection but the inside was still raw? We also! Not this grilled cauliflower recipe. Steam the cauliflower first to ensure it is cooked through, then quickly grill over high heat.
How to make grilled cauliflower
- Steam the cauliflower. Place the chopped cauliflower in a steamer basket, and then place the steamer basket in a large saucepan. Pour about half a cup of water into the pot and cover. Steam the cauliflower head for 10 minutes.
- Season the cauliflower. Carefully remove the cauliflower from the pot and let cool for 5 minutes. Drizzle olive oil over the cauliflower head and massage the oil into the cauliflower. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the cauliflower.
- Throw the cauliflower on the grill. Preheat the grill to 400°F and cover with aluminum foil. Place the cauliflower flat-side down on the grill and grill for about 15 minutes.
- Try it out. Halfway through the cooking time, gently flip the cauliflower upside down (yes, upside down) and grill the rest of the time.
- Remove from the grill. Remove the cauliflower from the grill and let cool. Cut into chunks or cut into cauliflower steaks.
Why do I have to steam cauliflower?
- Steaming the cauliflower will cook the inside of the cauliflower head, saving you time on the grill.
- Grilling a steamed head of cauliflower over high heat will help the outside of the head of cauliflower to char.
- We’d rather steam a head of cauliflower than cut it into steaks, because cauliflower steaks tend to fall apart easily!
Trust us: first steam and then grill!
Tips + tricks for grilling a whole head of cauliflower
It’s okay if you have a smaller head of cauliflower. We recommend steaming a smaller head of cauliflower for 5 minutes rather than steaming a large head of cauliflower for 10 minutes.
Your cauliflower is probably mushy because you steamed it for too long! If you have a smaller head of cauliflower, check the cauliflower every 2-3 minutes so it doesn’t get soggy.
Start by steaming a head of cauliflower for about 10 minutes. Then grill at 400F for about 15 minutes, turning every 5 minutes.
variations
If you really want to add some flavor to your grilled cauliflower, sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon of any of the spices listed below onto the cauliflower head. Massage the spices into the cauliflower head and continue with the recipe.
Do you want to grill cauliflower steaks?
If you’re not interested in grilling the whole head of cauliflower, you may very well make grilled cauliflower steaks instead!
Simply let your steamed cauliflower cool for 10 minutes before slicing into steaks. Then grill each steak for about 8-10 minutes, turning halfway through.
Serving options for grilled cauliflower
We like to serve this perfect cauliflower with a dip or sauce like hummus, chimichurri, or green sauce. But it is also ideal as an accompaniment to other barbecue recipes!
beer bratwurst Ever heard of beer brats? Bratwurst cooked in beer is by far the most delicious way to cook up brats. Start by cooking your sausages in beer and then top them off with a sear on the grill, some ketchup and mustard and enjoy!
Grilled steak- Get tender, juicy and perfectly grilled steaks with this How to Grill Steaks post. We give you the best tips and tricks to grill steaks like a pro.
Grilled Chicken Thighs – These are the best grilled chicken thighs because the skin is nice and crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
Ground Chicken Burgers – If you’re looking for a basic chicken burger recipe, this is it! These ground chicken burgers are so flavorful and juicy and are topped with our secret burger sauce.
storage
Place the grilled cauliflower in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.