Air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites are crispy, delicious and taste just like buffalo wings! They are the best way to get your vegetables in, or trick your friends/family into eating them!
Little fun fact - my sister and one of my closest friends are basically total vegetarians. I am with them all the time, and as a food blogger, I am cooking for them all the time. This means that I am constantly trying to find vegetarian friendly appetizers, that will also please a crowd.
This is where I started making air fryer buffalo cauliflower wings. I love how they can look like real buffalo chicken wings; however, are obviously not. This tricks people into trying a new item and they always end up loving it!
These air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites are super spicy; therefore, I serve them with my homemade yogurt ranch to cool them down a little.
Quick Tips from Allie Carte
- Use pre-cut cauliflower, it is so much easier!
- Choose a different sauce if you do not like things too spicy
- Make these in the oven if you do not have an air fryer
- Serve ASAP for best results
What You Need for Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
First off, you will need an air fryer, you can use a basket type air fryer; but, I really like a rack type air fryer as well.
Next, a couple ingredients, super simple, basic stuff.
- Cauliflower
- Egg
- Breadcrumbs
- Flour
- Seasonings
- Buffalo sauce
- Cooking spray
For the cauliflower, I highly suggest getting pre-cut cauliflower pieces. I love these Eat Smart ones that come in a bag; however, any brand should work. Some pieces are big; therefore, I suggest cutting up some of the large pieces.
For the eggs, I do prefer liquid egg whites as it is a smoother, less clumpy consistency; however, regular eggs do work. Whisk the eggs before beginning.
As for the buffalo sauce, use your favorite! I did a buffalo wing sauce; however, there are tons of options. You can also try a BBQ sauce or another sauce if you do not like things too spicy.
How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Cut up any large cauliflower florets into smaller pieces.
Grab two small, shallow bowls. One will be used for the egg and one will be used for the flour mixture.
In one bowl, pour the egg whites. In the other bowl, whisk together the flour, breadcrumbs and seasonings.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Grab the air fryer rack and grease it with cooking spray.
One by one, dredge each cauliflower floret into the egg mixture. Then, coat with the flour mixture. Place on the greased air fryer rack being careful not to let the pieces touch. I like to do two batches, one of larger pieces and one of smaller pieces so the smaller ones do not burn.
Air fry for 3 minutes. Then, spray with cooking spray. Air fry for another 2-7 minutes, depending on how big the pieces are.
Remove the rack from the air fryer and spray the cauliflower florets again. Flip them over and then grease again with cooking spray. Air fry for another 3-5 minutes, until golden.
Pour the buffalo sauce into a bowl.
Keeping the air fryer preheated, remove the rack from the air fryer. Dunk each cauliflower floret into the buffalo sauce then return it to the air fryer rack. Repeat this for each piece.
Once all the cauliflower are coated in buffalo sauce, air fry again for another 1-2 minutes per side, until crispy.
Oven Way
You can also bake these in the oven, at 425 degrees, for 15-20 minutes, flipping and spraying halfway. They do not get as crispy. However, I suggest placing them on an oven safe cooling rack to cook, then, placing that on a baking sheet. Then the air circulation will get to the bottom of the cauliflower, making them crispier.
Make sure to serve your air fryer buffalo cauliflower wings with my homemade ranch. It provides a cool touch to the super spicy cauliflower. To heat it back up, I suggest popping it back in the air fryer.
More Wing Recipes
If you want some chicken wings to pair with your cauliflower wings, don't worry, I have you covered! Try out my boneless wings, crispy cornstarch wings or my sweet fried wings.
There are also a couple more vegetarian air fryer appetizer recipes found after th
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites are crispy, delicious and taste just like buffalo wings! They are the best way to get your vegetables in, or trick your friends/family into eating them!
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 ounces cauliflower pre-cut florets
- ¼ cup liquid egg whites
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Ranch seasoning
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Cut up any large cauliflower florets into smaller pieces.
- Grab two small, shallow bowls. One will be used for the egg and one will be used for the flour mixture.
- In one bowl, pour the egg whites. In the other bowl, whisk together the flour, breadcrumbs and seasonings.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Grab the air fryer rack and grease it with cooking spray.
- One by one, dredge each cauliflower floret into the egg mixture. Then, coat with the flour mixture. Place on the greased air fryer rack being careful not to let the pieces touch. I like to do two batches, one of larger pieces and one of smaller pieces so the smaller ones do not burn.
- Air fry for 3 minutes. Then, spray with cooking spray. Air fry for another 2-7 minutes, depending on how big the pieces are.
- Remove the rack from the air fryer and spray the cauliflower florets again. Flip them over and then grease again with cooking spray. Air fry for another 3-5 minutes, until golden.
- Pour the buffalo sauce into a bowl.
- Keeping the air fryer preheated, remove the rack from the air fryer. Dunk each cauliflower floret into the buffalo sauce then return it to the air fryer rack. Repeat this for each piece.
- Once all the cauliflower are coated in buffalo sauce, air fry again for another 1-2 minutes per side, until crispy.
Nutrition
On Weight Watchers and looking for a points value? Then, click this link and your points will automatically calculate for you.
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