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    You are here: Home / Appetizer / Cauliflower Buffalo Wings - Air Fryer

    Cauliflower Buffalo Wings - Air Fryer

    Published: May 17, 2020. Last Updated: April 25, 2022 by: Ginny McMeans

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    Jump to Recipe -
    Two photos with one above the other showing a wooden board filled with cauliflower 'fried wings' and stirring them in the sauce.
    Two photos one above the other with baked and coated cauliflower on a wooden board. Text in the center on orange.
    Close up photo of many golden red fried buffalo wings.
    Fried golden buffalo wings and two air fryer process shots.
    Crispy air fryer cauliflower bites in spicy sauce on a wooden cutting board.

    Cauliflower Buffalo Wings are easy to make and they have a buffalo wings sauce flavor kick that is just the best. A vegan air fryer appetizer that's so nice and crispy on the outside while the inside is tender.

    Close up square photo of multiple cauliflower buffalo bites strewn across a wooden cutting board.

    It's so exciting to have a favorfully potent appetizer that is easy to make and is actually even healthy.

    Cauliflower and a spicy sauce is all it takes. You can use a store-bought buffalo sauce or make your own from scratch. Both ways are included in this post.

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 📖 Homemade buffalo sauce
    • 💭 Fun cauliflower facts
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 📖 Air fryer recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    Front tilted angle of vegan cauliflower buffalo wings laid out on a wooden board with hot sauce and french dip sitting in the back.

    I have another buffalo wings recipe on the blog but that one is made with tofu. It's not an air fryer appetizer but it goes over big at get-together's. It's actually out of Veganosity's cookbook and she let me share Boneless BBQ Buffalo Wings to help introduce her cookbook.

    You'll have to go over and check out the ingredients. They are mighty tasty.

    Perfect bite size air fryed cauliflower bites covered in a spicy mix. All are on a wooden cutting board.

    🥘 Ingredients

    • Cauliflower florets - the main event!
    • Dairy-free butter - adds a buttery flavor.
    • Olive oil - for the air fryer to brown the bites.
    • Buffalo sauce - is a hot sauce that is all ready to go for air frying and dipping.
    • Bread crumbs - is the main ingredient for coating the cauliflower.
    • Garlic powder - seasons the bread crumbs for more flavor.
    • Salt and pepper - finishing seasonings.
    Overhead view of 8 ingredients in their own bowl on a wooden cutting board.

    If you choose to take the homemade sauce route check out how easy it is to make.

    📖 Homemade buffalo sauce

    • Franks Hot Sauce really is the best for the hot sauce that you need for the coating.
    • Dairy-free butter
    • White vinegar can be regular white vinegar or tarragon vinegar.
    • Vegan Worcestershire sauce is easy to find nowadays.
    • Cayenne pepperadds more of that lovey spicy heat.
    • Garlic powder is a necessity for the extra flavor.
    • Salt
    • Franks' Red Hot Wings Sauce is also the recommended bottled sauce if you'd like to forgo making it from scratch.
    • This is so easy. Place all of the ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan and heat over medium-high heat.
    • Bring to a simmer and stir occasionally. As soon as the liquid begins to bubble on the sides of the pot remove it from heat.
    • Let it cool and it's all ready to use.

    Let me tell you a little bit about cauliflower before we jump to the instructions for the Cauliflower Buffalo Wings.

    Side angle of a wood cutting board holding the finished Cauliflower appetizers with dipping sauce behind.

    💭 Fun cauliflower facts

    • Cauliflower comes in three different colors. White, purple, orange, and green.
    • You have to have moderate weather where you live to grow cauliflower. It is a winter crop but cauliflower still needs sun and it can't be too cold.
    • You can eat the stem and the leaves. Just peel the stem, chop it up and steam with the florets. The leaves go great in salad.
    • It's low in calories and high in nutrition.
    • I think we might all know that it's a great rice replacement and cauliflower can even be made into a pizza crust.

    🔪 Instructions

    • In a large bowl whisk together butter and buffalo sauce. Add in the cauliflower florets and toss until well coated.
    Overhead view of two process photos one with cauliflower being dipped into the sauce and the other with the cauliflower being completely covered with sauce.
    • Combine bread crumbs and seasonings in a separate large bowl. Transfer the cauliflower to the bread crumb mixture and toss again to coat well.
    An Overhead view of two photos showing the process of covering the dry ingredients coating and then a photo showing the cauliflower being coated.
    • Set the air fryer to 350 F and spread olive oil on to the basket, put half of the cauliflower in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until cauliflower is golden brown and cooked through, but not mushy.
    Two photos showing placing coated buffalo wings in an air fryer and then showing them when they are still in the fryer but done.
    • Cook the rest of the prepped cauliflower the same way and serve with ranch and celery sticks.

    📖 Air fryer recipes

    • These Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes are unique and delicious.
    • Flavorful rice in the air fryer is certainly possible with this Sticky Mushroom Rice recipe.
    • Spicy Sweet Potato Chips is one of the best air fryer appetizers.
    Close up of crispy air fried cauliflower wings with dipping sauces behind.

    📋 Recipe

    Close up square photo of multiple cauliflower buffalo bites strewn across a wooden cutting board.

    Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

    Ginny McMeans
    Cauliflower Buffalo Wings are easy to make and they have a buffalo wings sauce flavor kick that is just the best.
    4.57 from 99 votes
    Print Save Saved
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Vegan
    Servings 5 Servings
    Calories 202 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups cauliflower florets - one head 4-5 cups florets
    • ¼ cup dairy-free butter - melted
    • ¾ cup buffalo sauce - Frank's has one and it is vegan - you can use the homemade sauce in the notes.
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil - for the air fryer

    Crumbs mixture

    • 1 cup bread crumbs
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    Instructions
     

    • In a large bowl whisk together butter and buffalo sauce.
    • Add in the cauliflower florets and toss until well coated.

    Crumbs coating

    • Combine bread crumbs and seasonings in a separate large bowl.
    • Transfer the cauliflower to the bread crumb mixture and toss again to coat well.
    • Set the air fryer to 350 F and spread olive oil on to the basket, put half of the cauliflower in the air fryer basket.
    • Cook for 12-15 minutes or until cauliflower is golden brown and cooked through.
    • Cook the rest of the prepped cauliflower the same way and serve with ranch and celery sticks.

    Notes

    Homemade buffalo sauce
    • ⅔ rd's cup Franks Hot Sauce (it's really the best)
    • 2 tablespoons dairy-free butter
    • 1 ½ tablespoons white vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • Franks' Red Hot Wings Sauce is also the recommended bottled sauce if you'd like to forgo making it from scratch.
    • Place all of the ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan and heat over medium-high heat.
    • Bring to a simmer while stirring occasionally. As soon as the liquid begins to bubble on the sides of the pot remove it from heat.
    • Let it cool and it's ready to use.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 5gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 928mgPotassium: 301mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 432IUVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Hilary

      April 04, 2021 at 12:09 pm

      5 stars
      I am new to air fryers but I loved this recipe. I made the sauce from scratch which was great. I did add a little oil to the sauce instead of into the basket and it worked really well. Thank you

    2. Alexandra Toland

      March 14, 2022 at 9:46 am

      I am trying this tonight! What is good to serve with this? Thank you!

    3. Natalie

      June 28, 2022 at 4:03 pm

      I changed the recipe by dregged the cauliflower in butter, arrowroot powder and spices. I'm wondering can the cooked (unsauced) wings be frozen and reheated???

    4. Amanda Wilson

      February 22, 2023 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing!!! So delicious and easy! Will definitely be making these again!!

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    For years I dabbled in cooking vegan food, but since I became a mom it has become more important for me than ever. What I’m after is a great collection of healthy and not time-consuming vegan recipes that make the whole family look forward to meals together.

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