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My air fryer buffalo cauliflower recipe features CRISPY florets drenched in a spicy and buttery sauce! Ready in under 15 minutes, it’s the perfect appetizer or veggie side dish.
Love air fryer appetizers? Try my air fryer potstickers, air fryer pizza rolls, air fryer bagel bites, and air fryer biscuits next.
Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables to cook with and one that my family unanimously agree on as a dinnertime side.
Inspired by my baked buffalo cauliflower bites and air fryer cauliflower, I wanted to see if there was a quicker and just as delicious way to cook them.
With a few tweaks, you can enjoy crispy and delicious air fryer buffalo cauliflower wings! Perfect for a snack, game day appetizer, or a veggie side dish (or any occasion you’d serve chicken wings!).
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Extra crispy. I reckon buffalo cauliflower NEEDS to be crispy (seriously, no soggy batter here, please), and the air fryer guarantees it! It’s crispy and crunchy on the inside but perfectly smooth on the inside.
- Healthier than deep frying. While a small amount of butter is used for the sauce, there is no actual oil or butter needed for the ‘frying’ part of it! Compare that to deep frying, which requires at least a full cup of oil!
- No mess or cleanup is required. Honestly, this is my biggest perk of using an air fryer- There is ALMOST zero cleanup. Once it’s been used, I place it in my dishwasher, and Voila- it’s clean.
- FAST. From prep to plate, this takes under 20 minutes.
Ingredients needed
- Cauliflower. Fresh cauliflower chopped into bite-sized pieces.
- Flour. I used white whole wheat flour, but white flour or gluten-free flour can be used.
- Milk of choice. Unsweetened almond, soy, or any milk of choice (provided it is not flavored!).
- Salt and pepper. To taste.
- Hot sauce. I like Frank’s Buffalo sauce, but for a spicier kick, you can use classic hot sauce.
- Butter. dairy free butter or traditional butter. This will be melted and whisked with the hot sauce to coat the crispy buffalo wings.
How to air fryer buffalo cauliflower
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. Whisk together the flour, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
Step 2- Dredge. Dip the raw cauliflower florets in the batter until completely coated.
Step 3- Air fry. Place the battered cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 200C/400F until golden and crispy around the edges.
Step 4- Prepare the sauce. While the battered cauliflower is cooking, prepare the sauce. Once the cauliflower has cooked, remove it from the air fryer basket, toss it in the sauce, and serve immediately.
Can I bake this in the oven?
Yes! You can skip the air fryer and bake the buffalo cauliflower in the oven. Simply place the battered cauliflower on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 220C/440F for 25-27 minutes in a preheated oven until the cauliflower is golden brown. Once cooked, pour the buffalo sauce over and serve immediately.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Chop the cauliflower into equal bite-sized pieces. This ensures the cauliflower all cooks evenly! Also, pat the cauliflower dry completely.
- Cook in batches. If I’m making a big batch of this cauliflower, I cook it in batches so each floret can achieve maximum crispiness.
- Use a good quality buffalo sauce. Not all buffalo sauce is created equal! Some brands are very thin and watery, which can affect the recipe. I love using Frank’s Buffalo Sauce, as it is thicker than others and has a comfortably spicy flavor!
- Serve with plenty of condiments! While the buffalo cauliflower tastes delicious on its own, it goes up a notch when served with a variety of sauces, carrots, and celery sticks! I love enjoying it with ranch dressing, cheese sauce, blue cheese dressing, and even guacamole.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep well for up to 5 days.
To freeze: Place the cauliflower in a shallow container and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let it thaw completely before reheating.
Reheating: Place a single layer of the thawed/chilled cauliflower in the air fryer and cook at 200C/400F for 5 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
Frequently asked questions
I have a few surefire tips to ensure crispy cauliflower every time. First, make sure you pat the cauliflower completely dry before coating it with the batter. Also, it’s really important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure each floret has enough room to breath.
Absolutely! I often make it without buffalo sauce and either add more seasonings to the batter or toss it with another sauce, like hot honey sauce or BBQ sauce.
More delicious ways to enjoy cauliflower
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Video
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower chopped into equal sized florets
- 1 cup all purpose flour use gluten free, if needed
- 1 cup milk I used soy milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup hot sauce I used Frank's Buffalo hot sauce
- 1/4 cup butter melted * See notes
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add your flour, milk, salt, and pepper, and whisk until a smooth batter remains.
- Moving quickly, dip the cauliflower into the batter until completely covered. Place the battered cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 13-15 minutes at 200C/400F, or until crispy and golden brown.
- While the cauliflower is cooking, prepare the sauce. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the buffalo hot sauce and melted butter until smooth.
- Remove the crispy cauliflower from the air fryer and drench them in the buffalo sauce. Place them on a plate and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally updated December 2023, updated and republished October 2024
U very nice. I never put caulflower in air fryer.
They all look delicious and easy to make. Always looking for something with crunch keto & low carb friendly.
I just made these and they’re delicious. I was a little skeptical because they don’t get super brown in the air fryer, but once tossed in buffalo sauce–fantastic! They took about 25 minutes, shaking once, because I was using both baskets of my dual air fryer.
Honestly, I like these just as much as the chicken version. Thanks!