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How to Make Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Steaks – Step-by-Step

Step 1: Preheat the Oven to 375°F (190°C)

Before anything else, it’s important to preheat your oven. Set it to 375°F (190°C) to ensure that the cauliflower bakes evenly, with a golden crust on the edges and a tender interior. This temperature is perfect for creating the crispy texture while still maintaining a soft bite in the center of each steak.

Step 2: Slice the Cauliflower into Steaks

To get started, grab your large head of cauliflower. Remove the outer leaves and trim the stem, but leave the core intact. This helps hold the steaks together as you slice them.

Next, slice the cauliflower into 1-inch thick steaks. Try to slice through the middle of the cauliflower to get steaks that are evenly sized. Be gentle when slicing, as the cauliflower can fall apart if you’re too rough. You should end up with around 4-5 large cauliflower steaks, depending on the size of your cauliflower head. These steaks are what will serve as the base for your cheesy creation.

Step 3: Season the Cauliflower Steaks

Now that you have your cauliflower steaks, it’s time to season them for maximum flavor. Place the steaks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle olive oil over each steak, making sure it’s well-coated. This will help the cauliflower bake to a perfect golden crisp.

Next, season with salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, and garlic powder. These spices will add depth of flavor to the cauliflower. Feel free to adjust the amount to your personal taste preferences. If you love a little extra kick, you can even add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.

Step 4: Bake and Add Parmesan Cheese

Place the cauliflower steaks in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes. During this time, the edges will start to turn golden brown, and the cauliflower will become tender.

After 20 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Now, it’s time to add the grated Parmesan cheese on top of each steak. The Parmesan will melt into the cauliflower and create a savory, cheesy crust that will be hard to resist.

Place the steaks back into the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the Parmesan is melted and slightly browned. You want the cheese to form a crispy, golden layer on top of each steak.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

Once your cheesy cauliflower steaks are fully baked, remove them from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Not only does the parsley add a burst of color, but it also brings a fresh, herbaceous flavor that contrasts beautifully with the rich, cheesy