Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
I love making these buffalo cauliflower bites as a fun, healthier appetizer. The cauliflower is lightly battered, oven-baked until crispy, then coated in a buttery buffalo sauce. I’ll walk you through the whole process with my easy step-by-step video below.
My family isn’t overly picky, and can enjoy cauliflower in all shapes and forms. However, a surefire way to make it a universal favorite is to make my cauliflower buffalo bites. Inspired by my air fryer buffalo cauliflower, these are oven-baked and super crispy. The trick to making these bites taste like they’ve been deep-fried is to use a light coating of batter, not a heavy one- just enough that each floret is covered. You’ll be rewarded with light, crispy bites that have just the right balance of spice and richness.
Table of Contents
Arman’s recipe highlights
Actually crispy. I tested multiple batter variations until I landed on one that baked up crispy, not soggy. Not only that, but it stays crispy even after the sauce is added.
Healthier. Like my curry cauliflower, baking these cauliflower bites skips the added oil and fat of deep-frying.
Minimal prep and cleanup. I cannot overstate how quickly this dish comes together. And since only one bowl and one baking dish are required, cleanup is a breeze.
Key Ingredients and Tips
- Cauliflower. One large fresh head of cauliflower, chopped into equal-sized pieces. I know cauliflower can be tricky to cut into uniform shapes, but try to chop it into roughly equal bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
- Flour. I used regular all-purpose flour, but I tested these with almond flour, and they turned out pretty well, too. Gluten-free flour blends should work, but make sure the mixture contains xanthan gum; otherwise, your cauliflower bites can turn out gummy.
- Milk. I used unsweetened almond milk. If you don’t have milk, water will work.
- Salt and pepper. To taste.
- Buffalo sauce. The star ingredient. I used Frank’s Buffalo Sauce because it has the richest flavor and balanced heat. If you are a spice fiend, I really enjoy Tabasco buffalo sauce. Just be warned, it is VERY hot. There are tons of options, so use your favorite.
- Butter. A little melted butter will thin the sauce and add a layer of richness. I did test it with olive oil, too. It’s good, but not as good as butter.
How to make
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep work. In a large bowl, whisk the flour with ½ cup milk, salt, and pepper to taste.
Step 2- Dredge. Add the cauliflower florets to the flour mixture and toss to coat.
Step 3- Bake. Place the cauliflower florets in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake until cooked.
Step 4- Coat in sauce. Pour the buffalo sauce mixture over the cauliflower and toss to coat. Bake until crispy.
Recipe variations
- Add seasonings. I sometimes add garlic or onion powder to the flour mixture to enhance the flavor.
- Make vegan buffalo cauliflower wings. All you have to do is swap the butter for vegan butter or oil. When I made it for my vegan friend Kelsie, I used Violife vegan butter, and she raved about it.
- Add more heat. If you’re a spice nut, add a few extra dashes of straight hot sauce. Or try my go-to Tabasco hot sauce.
Frequently asked questions
Because cauliflower holds a lot of moisture, if it’s slightly damp, it steams in the oven instead of crisping. Always pat the cauliflower dry, and also don’t overdo it with the batter. A light coating is sufficient.
If the cauliflower florets have moisture on them, it becomes more difficult for the batter to adhere to each floret. Ensure each piece is thoroughly dried before dipping.
More delicious cauliflower recipes
Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Video
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower approximately 5 cups
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk I used unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220C.450F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper or foil, grease it well, and set aside. Chop your cauliflower into bite sized pieces.
- In a mixing bowl, add the flour, milk, salt, and pepper. Whisk well. Add the cauliflower and toss to coat.
- Place the battered cauliflower on the lined tray and bake for 20 minutes. While the cauliflower bakes, whisk together the buffalo sauce with the butter.
- Remove the cauliflower from the oven and brush each piece with buffalo sauce. Place back in the oven and bake for a further 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
I made this for my daughter and she loved it. I followed the recipe exactly and she said she would like me to make it again! Easy to make, simple ingredients.
Thanks so much for the lovely feedback and review, Jennifer. I’m so glad your daughter enjoyed it too!
I never tried buffalo before. Which meat is similar to this?
Buffalo sauce I never tried actually. Would be so happy if I find it in a shop.
I don’t like buffalo sauce…. Is there any other flavoring that can be used instead??
Sure, use a hot sauce of choice.
Can you use frozen cauliflower to make this?
I haven’t tried but feel free to experiment and see.
The instructions at the top say “In a mixing bowl, combine your milk with spices and whisk together. In another bowl, add your almond flour. Moving quickly, dip your cauliflower in the milk mixture, before dipping in the almond flour”. But the instructions on the recipe card say “In a mixing bowl, add your almond milk, salt, and pepper. Whisk well. Fold through your almond flour until fully incorporated. Dip your cauliflower pieces completely in the batter”. I’m assuming the latter is correct, yes?
Sorry the latter is correct, I’ll amend this now- Thanks for pointing it out, Ira!
Can’t wit to try keto nan bread & broccoĺi wing bites.
Fantastic 🙂