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Cauliflower Popcorn is our family’s favorite popcorn topping on top of roasted cauliflower. It’s a delicious snack/appetizer that you won’t be able to stop eating.

Cauliflower popcorn in a glass bowl with a little sriracha over the top.

I’ve officially turned cauliflower into popcorn—and I’m fully on board with it. While it doesn’t have the exact crunch of traditional popcorn, the flavor more than makes up for it. The seasoning tastes just like the spicy, buttery popcorn I always make, so calling it cauliflower popcorn feels completely fair to me.

What makes these little bites so good is the sauce. It’s buttery and spicy, thanks to a combo of sriracha and a vinegary hot sauce like Frank’s or Tapatio. A sprinkle of nutritional yeast adds a savory, cheese-like flavor, and the cauliflower is cut into perfect bite-sized niblets ideal for snacking. Whether I’m watching a movie, hosting friends, or just in the mood to munch, these cauliflower popcorn bites really hit the spot.

A hand holding a piece of popcorn cauliflower.

Favorite party appetizers

This faux popcorn is great to serve at a party. You may want to have some toothpicks beside them so people don’t end up with ‘popcorn fingers’.

Here are a few other great recipes that are party-approved:

Cauliflower Popcorn Recipe

Prep: 10

Cook: 30

Total: 40

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Cauliflower Popcorn is our family's favorite popcorn topping on top of roasted cauliflower. It's a delicious snack/side dish that you won't be able to stop eating.

Ingredients

▢ 1 large head of cauliflower (cut into bite-sized pieces)
▢ 2 tablespoons butter
▢ ½ teaspoon EACH: sriracha and hot sauce (see notes)
▢ ½ teaspoon paprika and salt
▢ ⅓ cup nutritional yeast

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the cauliflower on a large baking sheet.
1 large head of cauliflower
Melt the butter then stir in the sriracha, hot sauce, paprika, and salt. Pour this over the cauliflower and mix to coat.
2 tablespoons butter, ½ teaspoon EACH: sriracha and hot sauce, ½ teaspoon paprika and salt
Roast for 30 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Sprinkle the nutritional yeast over the roasted cauliflower and toss to coat. Serve right away.
⅓ cup nutritional yeast

Notes

We like the flavor best when we mix sriracha with a vinegar-based hot sauce such as Tapatio or Frank’s.

If you like it spicy, serve the cauliflower popcorn with a little extra sriracha drizzled over the top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving = ¼ of the recipe, Calories: 116kcal (6%), Carbohydrates: 12g (4%), Protein: 6g (12%), Fat: 6g (9%), Saturated Fat: 4g (25%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 15mg (5%), Sodium: 417mg (18%), Potassium: 704mg (20%), Fiber: 5g (21%), Sugar: 4g (4%), Vitamin A: 176IU (4%), Vitamin C: 102mg (124%), Calcium: 48mg (5%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.