I don’t know about you, but getting my kids to eat a variety of vegetables at times can be challenging. So when I find a vegetable they do like, I try out different variations of it and test different flavors to change things up a bit and avoid falling into a flavor rut.
Right now Brian and I are in the middle of our first Whole30, and while the kids aren’t following The Whole30 rules, they are eating better as a result of our efforts, and they’re trying new vegetables — well, at least Natalie is trying new vegetables. Carter has texture issues.
Natalie loved the Garlic and Thyme Mashed Cauliflower that I replaced mashed potatoes with, the Carrot And Zucchini Noodles that I replaced pasta with, and the Sweet Barbecue Oven Roasted Broccoli I recently made. And that got me thinking… If she liked the Sweet Barbecue Oven Roasted Broccoli, wouldn’t she also like Sweet Barbecue Oven Roasted Cauliflower?
I prepared the cauliflower exactly that same way I did the broccoli, roasted it in the oven for that toasted flavor — and only just enough, to keep it still a bit crunchy.
Hallelujah! My daughter LOVED the Sweet Barbecue Oven Roasted Cauliflower too!
And what’s even better, is that this side dish recipe is crazy easy to make, and is the perfect side dish for all sorts of mains, like our two favorites Garlic Marinated Barbecue Chicken and Sweet Italian Marinated Barbecue Chicken, or even an Italian Turkey Meatloaf!
Making Sweet Barbecue Oven Roasted Cauliflower
All you have to do is preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, cut the cauliflower into pieces, arrange them on the baking sheet so no two pieces touch, and bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the cauliflower from the oven and transfer all the pieces to a large bowl, adding the olive oil and barbecue sauce and tossing to coat evenly. Finally, arrange the cauliflower on the baking sheet again and bake for 5 more minutes.
That’s it. Then you serve it along side the rest of your meal and prepare for your family to be amazed and surprised by the fantastic deliciousness of this side dish!
A Couple Notes:
- While you can use any store-bought Barbecue sauce in this recipe, to keep it Whole30 compliant, I used Matty’s Organic Barbecue Sauce from Tessemae’s All Natural.
- You may be tempted to save a little effort and just toss the cauliflower in barbecue sauce up front and bake it for 20 minutes straight, but if you do, your cauliflower won’t be as crisp and you risk the barbecue sauce burning.
Whole30 Dinner with Oven Roasted Sweet Barbecue Cauliflower
We’re actually close to being done with our first Whole30, and we’ve made it past being sick during Whole30, staying on track with Whole30 on a holiday like Easter, and taking a road trip during Whole30. The program — eliminating sugar, alcohol, grains, dairy, legumes, carrageenan, MSG, and added sulfites — isn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. In fact, it’s been a catalyst to cook up some new things, try new recipes, and test out new flavors.
I’ve been pretty obsessed with the Matty’s Organic Barbecue Sauce I ordered and was dying to try it out on both the broccoli and the cauliflower at the same time, so we had a whole barbecue themed meal with Oven Roasted Sweet Barbecue Cauliflower, Oven Roasted Sweet Barbecue Broccoli, and Artichoke and Garlic Chicken Sausages sauteed in a little barbecue sauce.
OMG. this meal hit every barbecue sauce craving I had and then some.
Oven Roasted Sweet Barbecue Cauliflower
Pair crunchy oven-roasted cauliflower with sweet barbecue sauce for a summer flavor that's absolutely irresistible.
Prep Time
Cook Time
Total Time
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp Matty's BBQ Sauce from Tessemae's All Natural
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut cauliflower into pieces and arrange on baking sheet so no two pieces touch. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove cauliflower from oven and transfer to a large bowl. Add olive oil and barbecue sauce. Toss to coat evenly. Arrange cauliflower on the baking sheet again and bake for 5 more minutes. Serve immediately.
Notes:
While you can use any store-bought Barbecue sauce in this recipe, to keep it Whole30 compliant, I used Matty's Organic Barbecue Sauce from Tessemae's All Natural.
You may be tempted to save a little effort and just toss the cauliflower in barbecue sauce up front and bake it for 20 minutes straight, but if you do, your cauliflower won't be as crisp and you risk the barbecue sauce burning.
