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Home Method Grill
5
/5
20 minutes minutes

Grilled Cauliflower with Jalapeño Lime Butter

Gluten Free Gluten Free Low Carb Low Carb Nut Free Nut Free Vegetarian Vegetarian
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard15 Comments
Posted: 6/15/20 Updated: 11/9/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Grilled cauliflower is the BEST way to cook cauliflower in the summer: grilled until golden with slightly charred, crispy edges, this recipe is slathered in a spicy jalapeno lime butter! 

Cauliflower is the superhero of the vegetables, right?! It can be mashed, roasted, turned into rice, or cooked whole. Here's another fun way to enjoy cauliflower: grilled until it is tender, golden and slightly caramelized. Ready for the next level? Slather it up with a spicy jalapeno lime butter!

bowl of grilled cauliflower with jalapeno lime butter dolloped all over

Just like when it is roasted, grilling cauliflower transforms its flavor in the best way possible: the raw cauliflower flavor mellows and sweetens slightly, and the outside become charred, golden and caramelized.

I love how simple this recipe is to prep: you can skip the jalapeno lime butter if you'd like, and simply season with salt and pepper (and a squeeze of lime at the end), and you will have a simple, tasty, summery side dish!

Reasons you’ll ♡ grilled cauliflower

  • it's super simple to prepare and cook
  • the flavor of the cauliflower is similar to roasted, with a hint of smokiness and char from the grill
  • it's vegan-friendly, gluten-free and low carb

Recipe video

Watch the video below to see exactly how to grill cauliflower. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

ingredients needed to make grilled cauliflower and jalapeno lime butter

Ingredients you'll need

  • cauliflower- one whole head. Save time by purchasing pre-cut florets, but make sure they are similar in size so they cook through evenly.
  • olive oil- to toss the cauliflower florets in. Oil is crucial in getting that golden caramelization on your cauliflower. You can use avocado oil or another high smoke point oil if you'd like.
  • lime juice- to toss the cauliflower florets in. This helps deepen the lime flavors through the cauliflower, but is optional.

Jalapeno Lime Butter

  • butter- salted or unsalted (omit the extra salt if you use salted butter)
  • jalapeno- we are adding a raw jalapeno to get that spicy heat! You could grill the jalapeno before making the butter to mellow out the raw jalapeno flavors, reduce the spiciness a touch, and add a charred flavor to the butter. Make sure the jalapeno is diced before blending as it will blend into the butter much easier that way.
  • lime zest- to add bright, citrussy flavor to the butter without the sourness that lime juice can bring.
  • salt- to be added if you use unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, taste after pureeing and add more salt if you'd like.

collage image of before and after blending up the jalapeno lime butter in a food processor

Start with the jalapeno lime butter

It's a good idea to get your butter over and done with before you start cooking the cauliflower. To prepare the butter, you will need a small food processor. Alternatively, you could try making with an immersion blender or a high powered blender, though I have not tried this myself.

Place the softened butter, diced jalapeno, salt and lime zest into the small food processor and blend until it is completely combined. Taste and add more salt if you'd like.

Prepare the cauliflower

After the butter is prepared, you are ready to move onto the cauliflower. Chop the cauliflower into similar sized pieces so that they cook through evenly.

Place in a large bowl and toss with olive oil and lime juice. Season well with salt and pepper.

A vegetable grilling basket is your best friend

The number one issue with cooking vegetables on the grill is the risk of losing them between the grates. The solution? A vegetable grilling basket! I highly, highly recommend purchasing one for your grill.

Place the cauliflower onto the basket, spreading it out as much as possible. Spreading the cauliflower out ensures that it will roast and not steam while it cooks.

Grill for 8-10 minutes, turning as needed to get nice, golden, and slightly charred on all sides. All barbecues cook slightly differently, so use your best judgment and adjust the cook time according to your preference of cauliflower 'doneness'.

collage image of before and after grilling cauliflower in vegetable grilling basket

Recipe + Storage Tips

  • cut up your cauliflower up to 1 week ahead and store in an air tight container in the fridge
  • prepare your jalapeno lime butter up to 1 week ahead and store in a jar or small meal prep container in the fridge
  • cauliflower can also but cut into large 'steaks' and cooked directly on the grill, (but be warned you will end up with lots of small edge pieces). Find directions for cooking cauliflower steaks here.
  • leftover grilled cauliflower can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
  • skip the jalapeno lime butter and simply serve with a squeeze of lime juice

Serve grilled cauliflower with:

  • Perfect Grilled Chicken Breast
  • Unbelievably Crispy Grilled Potatoes
  • Freaking Amazing Pork Tenderloin Marinade
  • Kale Salad
  • Chili Rubbed Salmon with Avocado Salsa
  • Black Bean and Corn Salad

bowl of grilled cauliflower with jalapeno lime butter dolloped all over

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

Grilled Cauliflower with Jalapeno Lime Butter

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Print Rate
Grilled cauliflower is the BEST way to cook cauliflower in the summer: grilled until golden with slightly charred, crispy edges, this recipe is slathered in a spicy jalapeno lime butter! 
6 -8

Ingredients

Jalapeño-Lime Butter

  • ¼ cup butter (note 1)
  • ½ jalapeno (seeds removed and diced; note 2)
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (see note 1)

Grilled Cauliflower

  • 1 head cauliflower (chopped into 1.5 inch florets)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 lime (juiced; roughly 1.5 tablespoons)
  • salt + pepper to taste

Instructions 

Jalapeño-Lime Butter:

  • Place all ingredients in a small food processor and blend. It is much easier to blend the jalapeño if it is pre-diced. You may need to double the recipe to blend properly in a larger food processor.

Grilled Cauliflower:

  • Pre-heat grill over to high heat with a vegetable grilling basket on the barbecue.
  • Toss the cauliflower in the olive oil and lime juice.
  • Place the cauliflower vegetable grilling basket, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Turn the cauliflower and cook, keeping an eye on it (and stirring/flipping frequently), until it is golden and slightly charred, (3-6 more minutes)
  • Serve cauliflower immediately, topped with the jalpeño-lime butter

Tips:

1- you may use salted or unsalted butter; if using salted butter, omit the salt and taste the butter after blending it up, adding more salt as needed.
2- Make sure to cut your jalapeño up into small pieces before putting it in the food processor as it will make it much easier to get it blended into the butter.
Storage + meal prep tips
  • cauliflower may be chopped up to 1 week ahead and stored in the fridge
  • jalapeno lime butter may be prepared up to 1 week ahead and stored in the fridge
  • after cooking, cauliflower may be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days
 

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/8 batch, Calories: 207kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 185mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g
Author: Annie Holmes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
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Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Ebonic (Ebonique) says

    Posted on 6/28/20 at Posted on 6/28/20

    Hi I am very interested and excited to learn more about making healthy meals to cook and prep for my family and I. I look forward to hearing more 🙂 😉 Your meals looks great !!

    Reply
    • Denise Bustard says

      Posted on 6/29/20 at Posted on 6/29/20

      Hi Ebonic! I hope you give them a try! Let me know if you have any questions 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ariel says

    Posted on 6/15/20 at Posted on 6/15/20

    I can't wait to make this butter- I think I might use it on a bronzino Im planning on grilling...and might add a little fresh cilantro to it too.

    Reply
    • Denise Bustard says

      Posted on 6/22/20 at Posted on 6/22/20

      Yum! That sounds delicious, Ariel! I hope you enjoy.

      Reply
  3. Lamar says

    Posted on 4/5/17 at Posted on 4/5/17

    Wow, that sounds and looks amazing. I am gonna try this in my cast iron grill pan.

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/7/17 at Posted on 4/7/17

      Thanks Lamar, I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  4. Izzy says

    Posted on 7/27/15 at Posted on 7/27/15

    You are right, the weekends never come fast enough! Even with only working part time, the more time I have off, the less I want to go to work! I've never tried grilling cauliflower before! What a great idea! And I really need to get one of those grill pan things. I could see myself putting this butter on so many other delicious things too 🙂

    Reply
  5. Zainab says

    Posted on 7/26/15 at Posted on 7/26/15

    THAT lime butter!! Oh I can see it on everything from grilled corn to this cauliflower. Love it!

    Reply
  6. Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says

    Posted on 7/25/15 at Posted on 7/25/15

    I have all these jalapenos that need using. That jalapeno lime butter sounds divine!

    Reply
  7. Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says

    Posted on 7/25/15 at Posted on 7/25/15

    I love an easy side dish especially one that doesn't require using the oven during the heat. Grilled cauliflower sounds fantastic! Such a great idea especially with the jalapeno lime butter!

    Reply
  8. Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says

    Posted on 7/24/15 at Posted on 7/24/15

    Finally Friday is here right?!! I agree about not being in the kitchen. Who wants to be in there when you only have 48 hours of weekend time. 😉 This sounds delicious and I never thought to grill cauliflower. Gotta make this asap! Pinned!

    Reply
  9. Medha @ Whisk & Shout says

    Posted on 7/24/15 at Posted on 7/24/15

    That jalapeno and lime butter sounds AMAZING! Loving the cauli, too 🙂 Pinning!

    Reply
  10. Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen says

    Posted on 7/24/15 at Posted on 7/24/15

    Oh wow - cauliflower is my favorite veggie - and this just takes it to a whole different level! That butter looks perfect!

    Reply
  11. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    Posted on 7/24/15 at Posted on 7/24/15

    I love the idea of grilled cauliflower, Denise! I've only roasted this veggie before, so I can only imagine how delicious it must taste on the grill. And that jalapeno lime butter sounds delicious! What a great dish for the summer!

    Reply
  12. Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says

    Posted on 7/24/15 at Posted on 7/24/15

    This grilled cauliflower looks divine - loving the sound of that spicy lime butter! Yum. 😀

    Reply

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