A vegetarian twist on the classic buffalo wings, these delicious, healthy, perfectly spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are prepared in the Air Fryer or the oven!
Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe
Ready to spice up your appetizer repertoire? Let’s bring some zing into our kitchens with the vibrant flavors of buffalo cauliflower prepared in the trusty air fryer. This wholesome yet irresistibly delicious dish has it all – it’s packed with flavor, easy on the waistline, and surprisingly simple to create.
Thanks to their delicious similarity to traditional buffalo chicken wings, I’d like to introduce you to these buffalo cauliflower bites, often dubbed buffalo cauliflower wings. They’re a fantastic alternative to the beloved buffalo essence, secretly incorporating veggies and bypassing the need for deep-frying. Prepared with a flour breading and a buttery hot sauce, these cauliflower bites are low-carb, Keto-friendly, and truly delicious!!
I’m going to guide you through two preparation methods, air-fried buffalo cauliflower, and oven-baked buffalo cauliflower, to serve up a versatile snack or side dish, perfect for game day or whenever your veggie routine needs a spicy twist.
Why You’ll Enjoy These Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- It’s a healthier take on a fan-favorite – the buffalo chicken wing. You’re getting all the tantalizing flavors of the classic dish but with a hefty dose of veggies and fewer calories.
- Secondly, the recipe is versatile. Whether you’re catering to a vegan, vegetarian, or keto-friendly, this dish fits the bill. The fact that it can be prepared in the air fryer or baked in the oven only adds to the love.
- Lastly, each bite offers a crispy, tangy flavor that can be enjoyed as a snack, appetizer, or side dish.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cauliflower: Separate a head of cauliflower into florets, or grab some pre-cut florets, about 5 cups.
- For the buffalo sauce, you’ll need butter, olive oil, and hot sauce.
- If using the crunchy breading, you will need flour, seasoning salt, garlic powder, and dried parsley.
How To Make Buffalo Cauliflower
- Start with cutting up a head of cauliflower into florets and put those in a large mixing bowl.
- Next, melt some butter and mix in a good dose of hot sauce into it. I use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.
- Pour the hot sauce mixture over the cauliflower florets and mix them around.
- Then, prepare the breading and whisk together all-purpose flour or almond flour with seasoning salt, garlic powder, and dried parsley.
- Sprinkle the flour mixture over the cauliflower florets and gently stir them around so that all florets are coated.
- To cook in the Air Fryer: Air Fry half of the cauliflower bites at 350˚F for 15 minutes, shaking the florets a couple of times during the cooking process. If you want them crispier, try cooking for 2 minutes longer.
- To cook in the Oven: Place prepared cauliflower florets on a foil-lined pan and bake for 15 minutes at 450˚F. Gently stir the cauliflower halfway through cooking.
- Serve immediately with a side of celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing. And more hot sauce. ?
Handy Tips For Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Size Matters: When cutting your cauliflower into florets, try to keep them about the same size for even cooking.
- Spice It Up: You can easily adjust the spiciness of your buffalo sauce to match your preference. Feel free to add extra hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or even a touch of Sriracha.
- Toss, Don’t Drown: When coating the cauliflower in sauce, make sure every piece gets a bit of flavor, but avoid drenching them. Too much sauce will make the florets mushy and soggy.
- Prep Ahead: You can prepare your cauliflower and sauce ahead of time. Store them separately in the fridge and toss them just before cooking to keep everything fresh. You will need to heat up the hot sauce and give it a good stir before using
- Avoid crowding or cramming the air fryer basket so to prevent your cauliflower bites from turning soggy. Cook in two batches to ensure adequate airflow around each piece.
- If the crunch factor isn’t meeting your expectation, a quick 2-minute re-run in the air fryer should do the trick. Alternatively, a couple of minutes under the broiler works too.
How To Store Leftovers
- While Cauliflower Bites taste best when served immediately, you can still refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Leftover buffalo cauliflower can be reheated in the oven or air fryer to bring back its crispness. They make a great addition to salads or wraps!
Now, let’s stuff our faces with cauliflower that pretends it’s chicken and really LOVE IT! I think you will. This delicious hot mess doesn’t even taste like cauliflower. If you’re looking for some classics, though, click over to this creamy Stovetop Buffalo Chicken Dip. And while you’re here, grab this similar recipe for Sticky Sesame Cauliflower Bites – it’s a GOOD one.
More Cauliflower Recipes
- Cauliflower Tots
- Lemon Paprika Roasted Cauliflower
- Instant Pot Loaded Mashed Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Cheese Soup
ENJOY!
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets (you'll need about 4 to 5 cups)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- ½ cup all-purpose flour, or almond flour
- 3 tablespoons dried parsley
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoning Salt
Instructions
- Place cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Melt butter; stir in olive oil and hot sauce until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the hot sauce mixture over the cauliflower; mix around until all cauliflower florets are coated.
- In a separate bowl whisk together almond flour, dried parsley, garlic powder, and seasoning salt.
- Sprinkle about a handful at a time of almond flour mixture over the cauliflower; gently mix until everything is coated.
- Transfer half of the prepared cauliflower to the air fryer.
- Air fry at 350˚F for 15 minutes, shaking a couple times during the cooking process. Cauliflower is done when the florets are a bit browned, but not mushy.
- Remove cauliflower from the Air Fryer; set aside and keep covered.
- Repeat the same process with the remaining cauliflower florets.
- Serve with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing.
- Toss the cauliflower florets in the hot sauce mixture and the breading. Arrange the cauliflower florets on a foil-lined pan and bake for 15 minutes at 450˚F. Gently stir the cauliflower halfway through cooking.
Notes
- Florets: When cutting your cauliflower into florets, try to keep them about the same size for even cooking.
- Spice: You can adjust the seasonings and spices of your buffalo sauce. Feel free to add extra hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or even a touch of Sriracha.
- Sauce: When coating the cauliflower in sauce, make sure every piece gets a bit of flavor, but avoid drenching them. Too much sauce can make the florets soggy.
- Prep Ahead: You can prepare your cauliflower and sauce ahead of time. Store them separately in the fridge and toss them just before cooking to keep everything fresh.
- Serving Ideas: Buffalo cauliflower pairs perfectly with classic dipping sauces like ranch or blue cheese dressing. For a fun twist, try serving it with a yogurt-based dip or hummus.
- Oven Method: Place prepared cauliflower florets on a foil-lined pan and bake for 15 minutes at 450˚F. Gently stir the cauliflower halfway through cooking.
- Leftovers: While these cauliflower bites taste best when served immediately, you can still refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Leftover buffalo cauliflower can be reheated in the oven or air fryer to bring back its crispness.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
