Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is the spicy vegetarian finger food that you've been waiting for. Tender Cauliflower florets, lightly breaded and tossed with buffalo sauce are an amazing appetizer that everyone will enjoy.
AIR FRYER BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER RECIPE
Buffalo style has come to mean anything you can enjoy with hot sauce and some ranch or blue cheese for dipping, and this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower fits the bill perfectly.
You may be interested in buffalo cauliflower wings because you don't eat meat, or because you're looking to enjoy something healthier than traditional chicken wings. Whatever your reasons, now is the time to make your own buffalo cauliflower in the air fryer.
We'll air fry cauliflower florets after tossing them with wing sauce, butter, seasonings, and some flour to get them nice and crunchy. These bite sized veggie snacks are so flavorful and completely addicting.
We love these cauliflower bites all year long, but they are especially perfect for a New Years Eve appetizer! So grab a cute New Years Eve Outfit, this recipe and get ready to celebrate NYE!
INGREDIENTS IN AIR FRYER BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER
Cauliflower - Cut into small to medium florets (about the size of a chicken wing). You'll need 4-5 cups.
Unsalted Butter - Mixed with hot Buffalo sauce, this gives our cauliflower amazing flavor.
Buffalo Sauce -You can use whatever kind of hot sauce you prefer, but for an authentic buffalo flavor, try this one.
Flour - I've done this recipe with all-purpose flour, gluten free AP flour, and Almond four. All work well.
Paprika - Gives color and flavor to the cauliflower.
Garlic Powder - You can't go wrong adding garlic to vegetables. Garlic powder complements the heat of the hot sauce.
Salt - I like kosher salt in this recipe.
Black Pepper - Just a bit, adds more depth to the heat.
Carrot and Celery - Cut into sticks, for serving.
Ranch or Blue Cheese - You'll want to dip these cauliflower wings in something cool and creamy.
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER
- Place cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter, then whisk in the hot sauce until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the mixture over the cauliflower and toss until well coated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over the cauliflower and mix gently until everything is coated. Repeat with remaining flour mixture.
- Cook half of the cauliflower in the air fryer as directed in the recipe below. Cook until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower.
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH AIR FRYER BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER
Any "buffalo" appetizer needs a cool, creamy dipping sauce. Some like blue cheese, others like ranch. I'm not here to judge, have what you like!
Some fresh veggies to dip in that sauce will also be delicious. Celery and carrots are traditional.
To make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower into a meal, serve it with a protein, like Air Fryer Tofu or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
TIPS FOR MAKING BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER IN THE AIR FRYER
Don't overcrowd your air fryer basket or tray. If there is too much in the air fryer, you won't get crispy, crunch, delicious food. Instead you'll get mushy cauliflower because there will be too much steam around your food. Do at least two batches. You may need to do more if your air fryer is smaller.
Adjust the spice to your liking. This recipe makes what I think is a perfectly spicy buffalo cauliflower. If you like the flavor of buffalo sauce, but not the heat, you can always adjust the butter to hot sauce ratio. Reduce the hot sauce and add extra butter for a milder flavor. For hotter buffalo cauliflower, drizzle some extra hot sauce on the cauliflower when it's done cooking.
CAN I MAKE BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER WITH ALMOND FLOUR?
Yes, you can. Any type of all-purpose flour, or almond flour will work in this recipe. Using almond flour makes this a gluten-free, grain-free, and low carb buffalo cauliflower recipe.
MORE DELICIOUS AIR FRYER APPETIZERS TO MAKE
The air fryer is so good for making all sorts of appetizers.
Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms are another veggie appetizer that everyone raves about.
Try making these Air Fryer Meatballs to serve as an appetizer at your next get together.
Air Fryer Potato Skins are cheesy, crispy, salty, and everything you want out of a hearty appetizer.
Pro Tips
- Use Any Air Fryer: This recipe can be made in an air fryer unit with a basket or an air fryer oven. If you're using an air fryer oven, place your food on the middle rack and select the "air fry" function.
- Check your food as it cooks! Since each air fryer runs differently, sometimes air frying is a trial and error process. When cooking a new recipe, be sure to check on your food often. This will help you avoid over or undercooking, and help you learn your air fryer's specific ways!
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Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 head Cauliflower cut into florets, about 4-5 cups
- 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- ½ cup Buffalo Sauce
- ½ cup Flour
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ¼ tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- Carrot and Celery Sticks for serving
- Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing for serving
Instructions
- Place cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter, then whisk in the hot sauce until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the mixture over the cauliflower and toss until well coated.
- In a separate bowl whisk together flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over the cauliflower and mix gently until everything is coated. Repeat with remaining flour mixture.
- Transfer half of the prepared cauliflower to the air fryer and cook at 370F/187C for 12-15 minutes, shaking a couple times during the cooking process, until the florets are golden brown but not mushy.
- Repeat the process with the remaining cauliflower. Serve with carrot and celery sticks and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
Michelle
Such a delicious and flavourful way to make cauliflower in the air fryer! Thanks for sharing!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
My family is going to love this, thank you for the recipe!
Dannii
I love doing cauliflower in the air fryer. So deliciously crispy.
Toni
We really can't stop eating this! It is totally addicitive!
Cindy
So glad you loved them! My husband gobbled them too!