Description
Crispy, spicy, and totally addictive—this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is a bold, meatless twist on traditional wings! Cauliflower florets are battered, air-fried to golden perfection, and then tossed in buttery buffalo sauce. Perfect as a game day snack, party appetizer, or meatless main dish, this recipe is everything you love about buffalo wings—without the meat or the mess!
Ingredients
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1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
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1/2 cup all-purpose flour
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1/2 cup water
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1/2 tsp garlic powder
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1/2 tsp onion powder
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1/4 tsp smoked paprika
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1/4 tsp salt
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1/4 tsp black pepper
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3/4 cup buffalo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
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1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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Cooking spray
Instructions
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Prep the Cauliflower: Cut your cauliflower into uniform, bite-sized florets for even cooking.
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Make the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
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Coat the Florets: Toss the cauliflower in the batter until well coated. Shake off any excess before air frying.
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Air Fry: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes. Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray. Arrange the battered florets in a single layer. Air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway through, until crispy and golden.
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Buffalo Sauce Time: While the cauliflower cooks, mix the buffalo sauce with the melted butter.
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Toss to Coat: Transfer the crispy florets to a bowl, pour the buffalo sauce over them, and toss gently to coat every piece.
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Serve: Enjoy immediately with your favorite dipping sauce and celery sticks!
Notes
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Crisp Factor: For extra crunch, air fry an additional 2–3 minutes before adding the sauce.
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Mild Version: Mix buffalo sauce with more butter or a touch of honey to mellow the heat.
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Vegan-Friendly: Use vegan butter and ensure your buffalo sauce is dairy-free.
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Batch Cooking: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer—cook in batches for best texture.
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Storage Tip: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated in the air fryer for best results.
Equipment
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Air fryer
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Mixing bowls
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Whisk
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Cutting board & knife
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Tongs or spatula
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Small bowl (for buffalo sauce)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer / Snack
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: air fryer buffalo cauliflower, spicy cauliflower bites, vegan buffalo wings, meatless appetizer, buffalo snack