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If you’re trying to find a way to love cauliflower even more, make these Easy Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Pizzas. Cheesy baked cauliflower is so delicious. Oven-roasted cauliflower slices topped with Italian seasoning, marinara sauce, melted cheese, and pepperoni. All served up mini pizza style. Top these cheesy cauliflower pizzas with fresh basil for a dinner that’s mouth-wateringly delicious. Best for nights when you’re craving something cozy. But also want something healthier that the whole family will love!
I recently did a poll on Instagram asking about more gluten-free recipes. I asked if you guys wanted them, and if so, what kinds? There were definitely mixed responses. Many of you still seem to want ALL the gluten (which you know I love). But many of you would like a few good gluten-free recipes that don’t feel boring and are easy to create!
Don’t get confused, I’m not going gluten-free on you guys. But I thought I would use this as inspiration for some new recipes. I’d like to find a few healthier takes on dishes we all love most.
Enter these mini cauliflower pizzas. Totally gluten-free, but still totally delicious.
When I started making this recipe, I wasn’t sure it was something I was going to share. Because really, do we need yet another cauliflower recipe? Probably not, but then here we are.
These little cheesy baked pizzas just turned out so good that I was too excited about them not to share. With school starting back up, and life getting busy with fall right around the corner, I thought these could be a really great after school snack or dinner. A bit of a healthier take on our favorite weeknight pizza.
Plus, I think this might just be my favorite cauliflower recipe yet. That’s kind of a bold thing to say, but there’s just something better about a cheesy cauliflower recipe. Clearly, I’m excited.
The Details
Here’s the thing about this recipe, it’s so easy, but cutting the cauliflower into slices can sometimes be challenging. I find it’s easiest to use smaller, tighter heads. They tend to hold together better than the larger heads.
Once you have the cauliflower cut into slices, simply season them up with a few spices and herbs, then roast them in the oven until they’re just tender. Try not to overcook the slices, you don’t want them to get too mushy on you.
When the cauliflower comes out of the oven, top it with all the essential pizza toppings…marinara sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. So simple, but promise these are going to be delicious.
Then throw the cauliflower right back into the oven to melt the cheese and crisp up those pepperonis.
When the pizzas come out of the oven, the cheese should be bubbling up and the kitchen should smell like the classic pizza we love.
Serve these mini pizzas up warm, right out of the oven. And with a very generous sprinkle of extra parmesan and basil.
Oh so very delicious…cheesy, perfectly spicy, a little salty, but also light and herby too. All the very good things we love. And while I know we all love real pizza, this is such a nice lighter option.
It’s such a great warming vegetable-focused meal or hearty side dish.
And if you’re trying to get your kids, your husband, anyone really, to eat more vegetables, this is the recipe to make. All my picky eating brothers agree.
Looking for other quick weeknight cauliflower recipes, try these:
Chipotle Cauliflower Tacos with Creamy Jalapeño Verde
Cauliflower and Cheese with Spicy Breadcrumbs
Crispy Roasted Cauliflower with Creamy Pesto Pasta
Lastly, if you make this Easy Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Pizzas, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Easy Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Pizzas
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 455 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 medium heads of cauliflower, sliced into 1 1/2 inch slices
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded fontina cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 ounces sliced pepperoni
- basil, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 450° F.2. Stand the cauliflower on its stem, cut them in to 1½ inch slices. Place on a baking sheet and rub with olive oil. 3. In a bowl, combine the thyme, oregano, paprika, garlic, and onion powder. Sprinkle over the cauliflower, then season with salt and pepper. Bake 15 minutes. 4. Remove from the oven and spoon over the marinara sauce. Top with equal amounts of the cheeses and then the pepperoni. Bake 5 minutes, then switch the oven to broil and broil 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is melted. 5. Top with fresh basil. Enjoy!
Delish! Thank you.
Hey Eileen,
Happy Wednesday! I love to hear that this recipe was tasty, thanks for making it! xxT
This looks like a recipe that could be adapted to the air-fryer well (and even simpler to make with fewer steps?). Anybody try that? (I find it hard to guess the right combination of time and temp in the air fryer — just like 40 years ago I had the same problem with the microwave time and power levels and now don’t give it a thought).
Hey John,
I’ve not tested this recipe in the air fryer, but let me know if you give the recipe a try. I hope you love it! xTieghan
Wow! I’m so glad to have another cauliflower recipe for next summer, since we grow a lot in our garden. This was a huge hit today with my whole family, both toddlers included. We used pesto instead of marinara, since that’s what we had, and that was so yummy too! Thanks for the great recipe!
Hey Katie,
Awesome! I love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy New Year!? xTieghan
Loved it! I just started the Keto Diet and this is a welcome edition to my recipe box.
Oh Tieghan…I don’t think you could ever do a recipe wrong, but it’s amazing how you do every recipe AMAZING! I made these for my husband and son last night and sent the ingredients home with my daughters family to make…and goodness gracious…YUM!
They are so beautiful to platte.
They are hearty and filling.
They are guilt free.
They are simple to make ( Don’t skip the spices before roasting the cauliflower! I almost did on accident. That’s what made the recipe!)
And there are DE-LI-CIOUS!
Thank you!
Hi there! Thank you so much, this is such a kind comment! I really appreciate it. So glad you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! 🙂 xTieghan
I had a pretty small cauliflower hanging out in the fridge so I just chopped it into florets, tossed it in the herbs and some olive oil, threw it in a casserole dish, and followed the rest of the recipe from there. It worked perfectly and turned out delicious!
Hey Dana,
Happy Friday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a go:) xTieghan
Made this delicious cauliflower pizza for dinner. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so much fun to make too.
Hey Amy,
Awesome! So good to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xx
I was only making this for me, so I got a 12oz bag of precut cauliflower and just sliced some ends off to make them lay flat. As an added bonus, the spaces between the pieces allowed the sauce to make its way to the bottom and cook the veggies in it!
Now I want to try a white pizza with pesto base!!
Hey Bailey,
Awesome! So good to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xx
Made this tonight, it was so good! I was liberal with the marinara because I like it saucy. So easy and carb free, will definitely make again?
Hey J.C.,
Happy Wednesday! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have the best day:) xTieghan
Thanks for this! I missed your poll, but my family must be gluten-free for medical reasons so I’m anxious to try this! 🙂
I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Hurry. Try it! It was simple and amazing!
Amazing recipe!!!
Hey Nadia,
Happy Sunday! Thanks a lot for making this recipe. I am delighted to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Am I missing the crust? I don’t see any mention in steps or ingredients but the picture looks like I see a crust.
I think I get it after re-reading… the “slices” of cauliflower are the “crust. I like to know how to make a true cauliflower crust more like a traditional pizza but I am sure this is amazing!
Hey Justin… we do love a yummy cauliflower crust around around our home, but let me tell you, the grown men in my life LOVED this last night as did the little kiddos. It will be a repeat! It was delicious and hearty. Cut the slices thick and don’t forget to use the spices before roasting. You should give it a try!
Hey there,
The “crust” is the cauliflower:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Have made something similar before but not nearly as yummy as this – with all the herbs and oil and melty cheese. No guilt (ish) pizza!
Hey Judy,
Fantastic! Love to hear that the recipe was enjoyed, thanks bunch for making it. Have the best weekend:) xTieghan
How clever is that?! Making this soon. Xx
Thanks Kelly-Jane! xTieghan
Easy and yummy
Hey Edna,
Happy Friday! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed! Thanks a lot for making it. xTieghan