These healthy air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites make an easy and delicious party food appetizer! Whether it’s game day or New Year’s Eve, or you just need a crispy snack, you’re sure to love this healthy take on buffalo wings!
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Cauliflower! It’s a great vegetable to prepare healthy vegetarian or vegan recipes. Cauliflower is hearty and filling and can easily take on the flavor of whatever you decide to season it with. I whipped up this air fryer buffalo cauliflower recipe for our Super Bowl get-together, and they were a big hit!
Preparing cauliflower recipes in the air fryer is more accessible than making it in the oven. The air fryer creates the perfect crispy texture in no time at all!
I served the buffalo cauliflower with vegan ranch dressing for a cool, creamy dip to balance the spice. It makes a great side dish or appetizer!
Give these air fryer cauliflower bites a try! They will become one of your new favorite appetizers or vegan party snacks!
💗 Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
Delicious and Flavorful: Air Fryer Buffalo cauliflower is known for its bold and tangy flavor. The combination of the spicy buffalo sauce and the natural sweetness of the cauliflower creates a delicious taste that is satisfying and enjoyable.
Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly: Buffalo cauliflower is a great option for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet. It provides a similar flavor and texture to buffalo wings without the use of meat or animal products.
Nutrient-Rich: Cauliflower is low in calories and packed with essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins C and K, and antioxidants. It’s a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet while enjoying a flavorful dish.
Fun to Dip: Buffalo cauliflower pairs perfectly with a variety of dipping sauces, such as ranch or blue cheese dressing. The combination of the tangy buffalo flavor and the creamy dip creates a delightful taste experience.
🥣 Ingredients and Notes
Head of Cauliflower: You’ll need one whole head of cauliflower. Depending on the size of your cauliflower, you may need to add more sauce. Some are bigger than others. I recommend opting for organic cauliflower if possible. I’ve found that it’s not that much more expensive than regular. Cut the cauliflower into small bite-sized florets.
Buffalo Sauce: If you’re following a vegan diet, make sure that you buy or make vegan buffalo sauce. Primal Kitchen makes my favorite, but you can also use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce to help spice your cauliflower. Most buffalo sauces are already vegan. However, some buffalo sauces have melted butter, margarine, or honey listed as ingredients. If you’re not vegan, then this is no problem.
Seasoning: Feel free to season to your liking by adding garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, or any other seasoning you desire.
🛠 Tools and Equipment
Air Fryer: The air fryer is really the perfect kitchen tool to make buffalo cauliflower. Why? It perfectly crisps the outside of the cauliflower, while the inside is cooked until tender. See my tips below for choosing the right air fryer for you if you don’t already have this mind-blowing kitchen tool!
Mixing Bowls: You’ll need a good set of mixing bowls to combine the ingredients. One small mixing bowl to whisk together the sauce ingredients, and one large mixing bowl to toss the cauliflower and sauce together.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Cut cauliflower into small florets.
- In a large bowl, combine cauliflower florets, buffalo sauce, oil, salt, and pepper. Toss so that the cauliflower is evenly coated in the sauce.
- Arrange cauliflower in a single layer in your air fryer. You may need to cook in batches if your air fryer is not big enough to fit all the pieces. Set the temperature to 375° Fahrenheit. Cook for 12 minutes, tossing at the 6-minute mark.
- Serve with your favorite creamy vegan ranch dressing and celery sticks.
📝 Expert Tips
- Look for a fresh, firm head of cauliflower without any brown spots or signs of wilting. The cauliflower florets should be evenly sized to ensure even cooking.
- To ensure even cooking, cut the cauliflower into uniform-sized florets. Aim for bite-sized pieces that are roughly the same size so that they cook evenly.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer! If you put too many pieces in at once, your cauliflower will not be evenly cooked. Some parts will turn out soggy!
- Moisture can hinder the crisping process, so it’s essential to dry the cauliflower florets thoroughly before coating them. Use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to pat them dry, removing excess moisture.
- If your air fryer isn’t big enough to place your cauliflower in a single layer, cook it in 2 or more batches.
- If you like your cauliflower even crunchier and browner, increase your temperature to 400° Fahrenheit.
- Cooking times can vary depending on the size and thickness of the cauliflower florets and the desired level of crispiness. Start with the recommended cooking time, then check the cauliflower for doneness and adjust accordingly. Add more time if needed to achieve the desired texture.
- Be sure to toss them at the halfway point of cooking. This will ensure an even crisp on all sides.
🍽 How to Serve
I enjoy serving this spicy air fryer buffalo cauliflower wings with creamy vegan ranch dressing and celery sticks!
For an even crispier texture, you could dust these with almond flour, which keeps this recipe gluten-free.
Serve these at your big game day party, tailgates, New Year’s Eve bash, or casual dinner party! They’re also a great weekend snack!
🫙 How to Store and Keep
These air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites are best when eaten fresh. However, if you have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 3-5 days. When you’re ready to eat them again, transfer them to the air fryer, and bake for 5 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. They should warm and crisp back up nicely!
❓ Recipe FAQS
No, you do not need to precook the cauliflower! It is best not to use pre-cooked cauliflower. You won’t achieve the same crispiness.
No, they do not taste like buffalo chicken wings. The sauce is the same, and cauliflower has a nice meatiness for a vegetable, but chicken has such a different texture and flavor that they do not have the same taste. However, these are still super delicious and MUCH healthier than traditional buffalo chicken wings!
If your cauliflower turns out mushy, it is probably because your air fryer basket is overcrowded. If there is not enough room in the basket for the air to circulate evenly, the cauliflower will not get crispy and instead will become mushy. To avoid this, place your cauliflower in a single layer in the air fry basket.
Prepare the cauliflower by tossing it in the buffalo sauce. Then cover and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. When ready to serve, add the cauliflower to the air fryer. It will be done in 12 minutes!
🎥 Video
😋 More air fryer recipes!
Recipe
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower cut into florets
- 1 cup vegan buffalo sauce see directions and ingredients below
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Serving Suggestions
- ranch dressing
- celery sticks
Instructions
- Cut the cauliflower into small florets.
- In a bowl combine the cauliflower florets with the buffalo sauce, oil, salt and pepper. Toss so that the cauliflower is evenly coated in the sauce.
- Arrange the cauliflower florets in a single layer in your air fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches if your air fryer is not big enough to fit all of the pieces in a single layer. Set the temperature to 375° Fahrenheit. Cook for 12 minutes, tossing at the 6 minute mark.
- Serve with your favorite creamy dipping sauce and celery sticks.
Notes
- Look for a fresh, firm head of cauliflower without any brown spots or signs of wilting. The cauliflower florets should be evenly sized to ensure even cooking.
- To ensure even cooking, cut the cauliflower into uniform-sized florets. Aim for bite-sized pieces that are roughly the same size so that they cook evenly.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer! If you put too many pieces in at once, your cauliflower will not be evenly cooked. Some parts will turn out soggy!
- Moisture can hinder the crisping process, so it’s essential to dry the cauliflower florets thoroughly before coating them. Use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to pat them dry, removing excess moisture.
- If your air fryer isn’t big enough to place your cauliflower in a single layer, cook it in 2 or more batches.
- If you like your cauliflower even crunchier and browner, increase your temperature to 400° Fahrenheit.
- Cooking times can vary depending on the size and thickness of the cauliflower florets and the desired level of crispiness. Start with the recommended cooking time, then check the cauliflower for doneness and adjust accordingly. Add more time if needed to achieve the desired texture.
- Be sure to toss them at the halfway point of cooking. This will ensure an even crisp on all sides.
- Store in the fridge for 3-5 days in an airtight container.
Carrie Robinson
I just love buffalo cauliflower! Genius to make these in the air fryer. 🙂
Suzy
We love our air fryer and are always looking for new recipes to try! This was great!
Genevieve | Fitty Foodlicious
Air fryer buffalo cauliflower sounds amazing and so easy. I’m wondering if I will get an air fryer for Christmas. 🙂
Jen
Easy to follow recipe and I especially appreciate the vegan buffalo sauce recipe. Yum!
Charla
This looks like the perfect healthy appetizer that I need in my life right now.