Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
on Jun 12, 2024, Updated Jun 24, 2024
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These breaded Buffalo Cauliflower Wings are just as chewy, spicy, flavorful, and filling as traditional wings! This plant-based dish can be served as an appetizer or entrée and is delightfully addictive.
Even if you’re not a huge fan of cauliflower, you’re sure to like these roasted buffalo cauliflower bites! The breaded cauliflower florets act as little sponges to soak up all the tangy and spicy flavors of your favorite buffalo sauce. The resulting dish is crispy, chewy, zesty, and so satisfying. You can serve these buffalo cauliflower bites as an appetizer or entrée and even your meat-loving friends will be begging you for the recipe! Don’t forget to dip your finished buffalo cauliflower in some homemade buttermilk ranch—it gives this dish that sense of je ne sais quoi!
My buffalo cauliflower recipe is a great way to use up any leftover cauliflower you may have sitting in your fridge. It’s also a great way to get some extra veggies into your diet! Turns out that even my pickiest eaters gobble up cauliflower when it’s breaded and tossed in buffalo sauce. Even if you or your kids don’t like buffalo sauce, you can whip up these battered cauliflower bites and toss them in your favorite sauce. Barbecue, garlic parmesan, and sweet and sour sauce are all popular options!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A great way to use up extra cauliflower.
- Made with just a handful of common ingredients.
- Spicy, tangy, chewy, and filling.
- Easy to roast in the oven or crisp up in the air fryer.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cauliflower—Broken down into bite-sized chunks. This mild veggie acts like a sponge to soak up all the other flavors and spices in this dish.
- Buffalo Sauce—Your favorite store bought brand or homemade recipe will be used to give your finished cauliflower a tangy kick.
- All-Purpose Flour—Is mixed with water to create a batter that will evenly coat the cauliflower.
- Spices—A blend of paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder will give this dish tons of smokey and spicy flavor.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower
Step #1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the water, flour, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder until a thick and smooth batter forms.
Step #2. Add the chopped cauliflower and gently fold until each floret is coated in the batter.
Step #3. Remove the cauliflower bites from the batter and space them evenly across the surface of a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the cauliflower bites until they’re golden brown and can be easily pierced with a fork.
Step #4. Allow the cauliflower to cool slightly before tossing them in your favorite buffalo sauce. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
This totally depends on your flavor and texture preferences! I’m a huge fan of chicken wings and also love these breaded buffalo cauliflower bites. They’re chewy, spicy, and filling just like traditional wings are. Since the cauliflower doesn’t have much of a flavor on its own, the tangy spice of the buffalo sauce really pops to create a dish that is bursting with zesty buffalo flavor!
I like to serve my buffalo cauliflower as an appetizer, but you can also pair it with side dishes and serve it as an entrée. I find that these rich and chewy cauliflower wings pair nicely with a crisp salad, sweet potato fries, or baked macaroni and cheese.
Because these buffalo cauliflower bites are baked instead of fried, they aren’t as crispy as a traditional chicken buffalo wing. The baked breading instead adds a hearty chew to this vegetarian dish. If you’d rather make some crispy buffalo cauliflower, I recommend spraying them with oil before frying them in a 400°F air fryer for 10-15 minutes.
What to Serve Buffalo Cauliflower Wings With
Serve these breaded Buffalo Cauliflower Wings with my homemade blue cheese dressing for dipping, alongside crispy air fryer fries, sweet cornbread, and a refreshing coleslaw for a complete and satisfying meal.
How to Store Leftover Buffalo Cauliflower
This buffalo cauliflower is best served straight out of the oven. However, if you do have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I highly recommend reheating your leftover cauliflower wings in a 400°F air fryer for 3-5 minutes. This will help to keep your buffalo cauliflower crispy.
Expert Tips
- If you prefer a lighter, crispy breading, try adding some cornstarch to the flour and water mixture. This will give your finished buffalo cauliflower some extra crunch.
- Do your best to cut your cauliflower into even-sized pieces. This will allow your buffalo bites to bake evenly.
- I love dipping these buffalo cauliflower bites in homemade buttermilk ranch! The cool creaminess of the ranch perfectly balances the sharp spice of the buffalo sauce.
- Not a huge fan of buffalo sauce? You can toss these breaded cauliflower bites in any sauce you have on hand! Barbecue, parmesan garlic, and sweet and sour sauce are some of my other favorites.
More Appetizer Recipes To Consider
Vegetable Sides
Zucchini Fritters
Salads
Caprese Salad
Sandwich Recipes
Hawaiian Roll Sliders
Seafood Recipes
Butterfly Shrimp
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Ingredients
- 1 pound cauliflower, diced
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups Buffalo sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F..
- In a small bowl, whisk together the water, flour, and spices until homogenous.
- Add the batter to a large bowl along with the cauliflower and fold to combine.
- Use a fork to remove the cauliflower pieces and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake your cauliflower for 20 minutes.
- Transfer the baked cauliflower to a bowl with the Buffalo sauce and toss to combine.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- 1 pound of cauliflower should give you about 4 cups of florets, or enough to cover the surface of a half-sheet baking pan.
- If you are not a big fan of buffalo sauce then you can toss these bites in any other sauce you have available.
- For a lighter, more crispy breading, add cornstarch to the flour mixture. The cornstarch will give your buffalo bites an extra crunch.
