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.
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:
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.
🥘 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.
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.
💭 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.
- 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, but not mushy.
- 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.
📋 Recipe
Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings
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.
Video
Notes
- 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.
Hilary
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
Alexandra Toland
I am trying this tonight! What is good to serve with this? Thank you!
Natalie
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???
Amanda Wilson
Amazing!!! So delicious and easy! Will definitely be making these again!!