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These crispy cauliflower fritters are how I trick my kids into eating veggies. They even ask for seconds. The parmesan and savory seasonings make these golden, cheesy, and packed with flavor!

Stack of crispy cauliflower fritters.

A Reader’s Review

Fantastic!

– Laurie

Why My Cauliflower Fritters Stand Above the Rest

  • Better batter, better results: The light batter, made with egg, green onion, and spices, fries up golden without hiding the cauliflower.
  • Next-level crunch: Italian breadcrumbs are my secret weapon. If that’s not in your pantry yet, it should be. Youโ€™ll never fry without it again.
  • Cauliflower done right: My quick hot water soak trick gets into every floret so you can cook with confidence.

Ingredients Needed

Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.
  • Cauliflower: Fresh cauliflower is best! Using frozen cauliflower adds too much moisture, and cauliflower rice is too small. I found that it affected the overall texture of the fritters.
  • Cheese: Want to switch it up? Swap the parmesan for shredded cheddar for a richer, melty twist.

How to Make Crispy Cauliflower Fritters

Crispy Cauliflower Fritters are super addictive and a breeze to make! They are like a vegetarian version of popcorn chicken and taste great with some sriracha or sweet chili sauce.

  1. Prep and Boil: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Steam or boil 1 head of cauliflower, chopped into small florets, for 5-10 minutes or until tender. It should be mashable but not mushy. Drain well and cool slightly before mashing.
  2. Mash: In a large bowl, mash the cauliflower with a fork or potato masher until slightly chunky.
  3. Combine: Stir in flour, Italian breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, grated parmesan cheese, one large egg, salt, and pepper until well combined.
  4. Make Patties: Form the mixture into small uniform patties.
  5. Fry and Serve: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the patties in batches for 6-8 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Add more oil to the pan, as needed. Garnish cauliflower fritters with chopped green onions and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Alyssa’s Cauliflower Fritters Pro Tip

Chill the Mixture: If the mixture feels too wet, put it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before forming the patties. Any longer and you will need to let the mixture come to room temperature slightly before cooking.

Plate of fried crispy cauliflower fritters.

More Crispy Appetizers To Try

If you’re a fan of crispy appetizers, be sure to check out my fried cauliflower bites, baked parmesan ravioli, avocado fries, and garlic chicken bites. Here are a few more to try.

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Cauliflower Fritters

5 from 1 vote
By: Alyssa Rivers
These crispy cauliflower fritters are light, cheesy, and perfect as an appetizer for the game, after-school snack, or yummy side.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Steam 1 head cauliflower, chopped into small florets, for 5-10 minutes or until tender. It should be mashable but not mushy. Drain well and cool slightly before mashing.
  • In a large bowl, mash the cauliflower with a fork or potato masher until slightly chunky.
  • Stir in ยผ cup all-purpose flour, ยผ cup Italian breadcrumbs, ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder, ยฝ teaspoon onion powder, ยฝ cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, ยฝ teaspoon salt, and ยฝ teaspoon black pepper until well combined.
  • Form the mixture into small uniform patties.
  • Heat Olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the patties in batches for 6-8 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Add more oil to the pan, as needed. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

Updated May 27, 2025
Leftover Instructions: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in a skillet or air fryer to bring back that crispy texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 10gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 669mgPotassium: 504mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 183IUVitamin C: 70mgCalcium: 166mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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