Sticky Honey Garlic Cauliflower (Printable)

Crispy baked cauliflower florets glazed with sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, topped with sesame seeds and green onions.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Cauliflower

01 - 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 cup water
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs

→ For the Honey Garlic Sauce

08 - 1/3 cup honey
09 - 1/4 cup soy sauce
10 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

→ For Garnish

13 - 2 green onions, sliced
14 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk flour, water, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to form a smooth batter.
03 - Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, letting excess drip off, then coat with panko breadcrumbs.
04 - Arrange on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
05 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, soy sauce, garlic, and rice vinegar. Bring to a simmer.
06 - Stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook, stirring, until thickened (1-2 minutes). Remove from heat.
07 - Toss baked cauliflower in the honey garlic sauce until evenly coated.
08 - Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cauliflower gets impossibly crispy while staying tender inside, creating that perfect texture contrast everyone craves
  • This sauce strikes that magical balance where sweet meets savory meets garlicky perfection
02 -
  • Don't crowd the baking sheet or your cauliflower will steam instead of crisp, which defeats the entire purpose
  • The sauce thickens fast once you add the cornstarch, so have your cauliflower ready to toss immediately
03 -
  • Pat your cauliflower florets dry before battering them, because excess moisture prevents proper crisping
  • Let the baked cauliflower sit for just a minute after tossing in sauce, so it has time to set up slightly

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