Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Print Version)
Crispy cauliflower florets tossed in tangy buffalo sauce for a spicy vegetarian appetizer.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
→ Batter
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 cup water
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Buffalo Sauce
09 - 1/4 cup hot sauce (such as Franks RedHot)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)
→ For Serving
12 - Celery sticks
13 - Blue cheese or ranch dressing (optional)
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes to ensure proper cooking temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth batter forms.
03 - Add cauliflower florets to batter, tossing until evenly coated. Shake off excess batter.
04 - Arrange coated florets in single layer in air fryer basket. Cook in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking basket halfway through, until golden and crispy.
05 - While cauliflower cooks, combine hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup (if using) in small bowl, mixing until fully incorporated.
06 - Transfer cooked cauliflower to clean bowl. Drizzle with buffalo sauce mixture and toss until evenly coated.
07 - Return sauced cauliflower to air fryer and cook for additional 3-5 minutes to set sauce and achieve final crispiness.
08 - Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The crispy exterior gives way to tender cauliflower inside, creating that perfect wing experience without any meat
- They come together in under 40 minutes but taste like you spent way more effort on them
02 -
- Overcrowding the basket makes everything steam instead of crisp, so do multiple batches if you have to
- Letting the sauced cauliflower sit too long before the final crisping step makes them soggy
03 -
- Cut your cauliflower into similar sizes so they all finish cooking at the same time
- Double the sauce recipe if you like your wings heavily coated