What to Serve with Cauliflower Steaks (Hint: They Go with Just About Anything)
Whether they’re grilled to smoky perfection, dusted in turmeric or drenched in lemon-herb sauce, cauliflower steaks never disappoint. They’re a lighter vegetarian alternative to meat, plus they pair well with basically everything, thanks to their neutral flavor. But what should you plate them with? Read on to find out what to serve with cauliflower steaks, whether you have vegans, carnivores or picky kids at the dinner table.
The 50+ Best Cauliflower Recipes of All Time
1. Kale and Brussels Sprout Caesar Slaw
Ana Cuba/The Modern Cook’s Year
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, no cook, make ahead
When in doubt, a side salad never hurts. This one stars a vegan take on Caesar dressing, made with soaked sunflower seeds and blanched almonds.
2. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
You know what would taste divine on cauliflower steak? Homemade tzatziki. Might we suggest serving the skewers and cauli with a big, toasty pita and making yourself a gyro?
3. Marinated White Bean and Tomato Salad
Chelsea Kyle/For the Table
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, crowd-pleaser
This juicy side and grilled cauliflower steaks are a match made in summer heaven. We’re betting you have nearly all the ingredients you need in your kitchen right now.
4. Roasted Poblano and Corn Guacamole
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Don’t mind us, we’re just slathering this smoky, spicy guac all over our cauli steak like it’s our job. Try a lime-cilantro vinaigrette on the veggie to match or opt for a chipotle marinade instead.
5. Grilled Sweet Potatoes with a Dilly Dip
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
The simple herb sauce pairs as well with cauliflower as it does these stunning spuds. Use a grill pan to prepare them in the off season—you won’t want to miss out on those char marks.
6. Salami, Artichoke and Ricotta Pasta Salad
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
This pasta salad is equal parts spicy, savory and briny, the ultimate combo to liven up mild cauliflower. Up the creaminess by substituting burrata for ricotta.
7. Roasted Broccoli and Aged White Cheddar Soup
Photo/Styling: Katie Wayne
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, high protein
Better than Panera Bread’s, down to the garlicky breadcrumb topping. We wouldn’t blame you for pan-frying your cauli steak until crispy, then dipping it into the rich, salty soup.
8. Pearl Couscous with Chickpeas, Eggplant and Peaches
Eleisa Johnson/The Peach Truck Cookbook
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, special occasion-worthy
Admit it: We had you at “peaches.” Here, they’re roasted alongside veggies, herbs and seasonings until jammy and sweet.
9. Carrot-Ricotta Tart with Pesto and Pine Nuts
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients
Store-bought puff pastry makes this stunner a breeze to assemble, even though it looks like you ordered it from a fancy bakery. Reserve some pesto, sumac and flaky salt for your cauliflower steak.
10. Summer Vegetable Steak Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
Eva Kolenko/The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Consider the honey-sweetened dressing a magical elixir that can make any meal a million times tastier. Plate the zucchini and yellow squash atop the cauliflower, then serve the steak and greens on the side.
11. Jalapeño-Avocado Mac and Cheese
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Spicy, buttery and oh so cheesy—yup, this mac will last about 30 seconds on your picnic table. (If you don’t drag your cauliflower steak through the white cheddar sauce, you’re doing it wrong.)
12. Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Nisha Vora
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, vegan, special occasion-worthy
Forget waiting a whole hour for the oven to work its magic. With the help of a pressure cooker, butternut squash turns soft and tender in mere minutes.
13. Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard-Peach Salad
Eleisa Johnson/The Peach Truck Cookbook
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly
This dish is peak delicious when devoured outdoors with a glass of white wine. Be sure to massage the collards to break down the fibers and tenderize them.
14. Ranch Potato Salad
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, vegetarian, kid-friendly
We’d be remiss to not suggest prepping a second batch of ranch dressing, exclusively for the cauliflower steak. (The potato salad is the perfect pairing for Buffalo cauli, BTW.)
15. Any-Green Pesto
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Sure, you could toil over an impressive side…or you could douse the cauliflower steak in the easiest from-scratch pesto of all time and call it a night. The choice is yours—just know the only nonnegotiable is that you toast the nuts before blitzing them.
*Are* We Asking Too Much of Cauliflower?
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
