Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Aug 28, 2019, Updated Dec 13, 2023
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Experience the bold and zesty flavors of Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, a tasty vegetarian alternative to classic buffalo wings. These bites are not only delicious and light but also boast the perfect kick of spice. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to make, even in the oven.
Let’s bring some zing into our kitchens with the vibrant flavors of buffalo cauliflower prepared in the trusty air fryer. 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 incredible! 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.
Why You’ll Enjoy These Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Nutritious: It’s a lighter 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.
- Customizable: 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.
- Versatile: 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.
Recipe Tips And Variations
- 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: Don’t cram the air fryer basket so to prevent your cauliflower bites from turning soggy. Cook in two batches to ensure adequate airflow around each piece.
- Crunch: 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.
Proper Storage
While cauliflower bites taste best when served immediately, you can still refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or air fryer to bring back their crispness. They make a great addition to salads or wraps!
More Cauliflower Recipes
- Cauliflower Tots
- Lemon Paprika Roasted Cauliflower
- Instant Pot Loaded Mashed Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Cheese Soup
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
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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.
Oven Method
- 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.
I’ve been looking for a cauliflower recipe like this and finally found this one! So delicious! I didnt even want to give any to my family just so I could eat them all LOL
😀 I am very glad you enjoyed them! Thank YOU! 🙂
Turned out great! Didn’t have parsley so used about a tablespoon of dried basil instead. Thanks for the recipe. I’m glad to be the only keto person in my household so that I could have these all to myself. (The other half of the batch is in the fridge waiting for me.)
For the blue cheese dip, I used 1/4 cup sour cream mixed with about 3 oz of blue cheese, a tablespoon or two of mayo, a bit of fresh lemon juice and a dash of garlic powder, with salt and pepper to taste. Delicious.
Thank YOU! I am very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Lovvvved it! It was really delicious! We both said we’d prefer this over wings!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Honestly I had lower expectations on the air fryer cauliflower wings, but wow they were great. I did use regular flour and I added a bit of onion powder and paprika. These bad boys are amazing. I’m not a cauliflower lover by any means , I usually avoid it, but we will be making this as a dish for New Years. Best recipe I’ve tried this COVID year.
Thanks
Good flavor but extremely salty
I just want to say that these are THE most PERFECT buffalo cauliflower wings on the planet. I used regular flour and it came out perfect. Just the right amount of crispy. I have eaten them for lunch for the last 4 days (tossed all of the florets in the sauce mixture but only coated with flour the portion I was going to eat that day, saving the rest of the flour mixture for future portions). Thank you, thank you!
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much! 🙂
Outstanding made this today. This is definitely a game day appetizer for the crowd.
Thanks so goooood 🤗
CJ
That’s great! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Hi! How many pieces is the 7 net carbs for?
Hi!
Cauliflower florets come in all sizes so I can’t say exactly how many, but it’s roughly around 1 cup to 1-1/4 cups of cauliflower florets. I hope that helps. 😊
Can you use regular flour instead of almond flour? My son is allergic to tree nuts.
Hi!
Yes, regular flour will work. 😊
Too salty
These turned out delicious but yours look way more sauced than mine! Did you add extra once they were done?
These were delicious! I used regular flour this time and will try almond flour next time. Recipe is a keeper tho!
That’s great! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for chiming in! 🙂
Fabulous! This recipe is excellent.
Thank YOU! 🙂 I am very happy you enjoyed it!
These were probably the best cauliflower bites I’ve ever done!
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thank YOU! 🙂