Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

I’ve already shared a recipe for buffalo cauliflower wings made in the oven, but we’re taking it to the next level today with an air fryer version! I love how hands off this recipe is and how perfectly crispy every bite of cauliflower turns out! If you love buffalo wings (cauliflower or chicken!), you need to try this recipe.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients Needed
• Buffalo Cauliflower Variations
• How to Air Fry Buffalo Cauliflower
• Brittany’s Tip
• How to Serve Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
• Game Day Appetizers
• How to Store
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Everything You Need to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
• More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
• Want More Cauliflower Recipes?
• Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick & easy – A delicious appetizer or snack that comes together in less than 20 minutes!
• Crispy goodness – Get perfectly crispy bites, every time thanks to the air fryer.
• Vegan-friendly – This is a vegan recipe that can be easily made gluten-free to account for different dietary needs.

Ingredients Needed

• cauliflower – you can use pre-chopped cauliflower florets to save time or 1 large head. You’ll need about 4 cups of florets total.
• all purpose flour – this gives the cauliflower a nice coating, which makes them crisp up. A gluten free 1:1 flour blend will work if you need a gluten-free substitute.
• water – you’ll create a batter with water, flour and spices to coat the cauliflower.
• garlic powder – adds a robust, savory flavor to the breading.
• paprika – another spice to add flavor to the breading! I love adding flavor and depth to this recipe by seasoning each layer.
• sea salt and black pepper – brings the flavors together and seasons the recipe.
• buffalo-style wing sauce – be sure to look for buffalo sauce and not just hot sauce! I like Primal Kitchen’s buffalo sauce!

How to Air Fry Buffalo Cauliflower

Step 1: Prep your cauliflower and whisk flour, water, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper into a large bowl.

Step 2: Add the cauliflower florets to the flour mixture and toss to coat.

Step 3: Add the coated cauliflower to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for about 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is crisp, flipping halfway.

Step 4: Transfer the cauliflower back to the mixing bowl, toss with buffalo sauce, then return to the air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until crisp.

How to Serve Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Buffalo cauliflower can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways. Here are some ways I like to serve them:

• As an appetizer – Serve them like traditional wings with celery sticks, carrot slices, and a dip. My favorite dips are my vegan ranch dressing or avocado ranch dressing; Primal Kitchen Ranch is a great store-bought option, too. For blue cheese, Bolthouse Farms’ chunky blue cheese dressing is delicious!
• Make tacos – Grab some tortillas, add the buffalo cauliflower as a base and top with shredded lettuce, avocado, cilantro and a drizzle of ranch or blue cheese dressing. These are sooo good!
• In a wrap – Similar to tacos, you can make a wrap by adding lettuce, any extra veggies, buffalo cauliflower and ranch or blue cheese dressing into a wrap. Lunch on the go!
• On a salad – Make my buffalo cauliflower salad, but use the air fryer buffalo cauliflower instead of what’s used in the recipe.
• As a side dish – You can serve them up as a side dish. They’d pair great with my easy vegetarian chili or this black bean soup.

Game Day Appetizers

These buffalo cauliflower bites are the perfect appetizer for a game day spread. If you’re looking for more pairing suggestions, here are some of my favorites:

• Healthy Sweet Potato Skins
• Cheesy Cauliflower Nachos
• Healthy 7-Layer Dip
• Zucchini Pizza Bites
• Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Black Bean Dip
• Healthy Guacamole
• Loaded Nachos

Need more ideas? Check out my full collection of healthy game day snacks.

How to Store

You likely won’t have any leftovers, but if you do you can store them in the fridge. After cooling completely, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

To get these cauliflower wings crispy again, pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes. They’ll come out hot and crunchy, just like when they were first made!

Frequently Asked Questions