Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Without Oil)
on May 06, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is a healthy and low-carb appetizer and snack made with NO OIL! These spicy vegan cauliflower bites don’t taste like Buffalo wings, but they’re definitely healthier with an even better flavor. This is a really easy recipe and takes less than 20 minutes in the air fryer.
It didn’t seem possible to make vegetables taste as good as a big plate of wings, until buffalo cauliflower bites started popping up. The dish has everything you crave from pub fare. It’s crunchy, it’s flavorful, and you can eat it with your hands.
But it’s also a great way to get your kids to eat vegetables (when you make it non-spicy), and maybe even trick yourself if you’re not a cauliflower fan, and this cooking method cuts the grease out entirely. It’s one of my favorite weight watchers’ recipes along with Air Fryer Asparagus and Air Fryer Tortilla Chips.
This air fryer recipe makes cooking Buffalo cauliflower even simpler. But don’t worry if you haven’t hopped on the Air Fryer frenzy just yet, it works well in the oven too. It uses a quick coating that won’t have you dipping every individual cauliflower floret to get it just right. Seriously, the most work you’ll do is cut the cauliflower, and you can skip that by using a frozen bag too!
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- No deep-frying need: You’ll get all the crunch of deep-fried bites, without the extra oil or the hassle of having to deep-fry them. No more using the pot lid as a shield while oil flies out, this recipe doesn’t use any.
- Easy batter (No breading): All you need to do is to mix the ingredients together then toss the cauliflower in it. You don’t have to worry about dipping each individual floret, especially not in any sticky egg mixture.
- Low Carb: Cauliflower is high in fiber and low in carbs. It’s packed with vitamins and nutrients too. A single serving of Cauliflower (1 cup) actually has 100% of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- Cauliflower: It says so right in the name, the main ingredient of this recipe is Cauliflower. It’s up to you whether you use the fresh or frozen kind. If you use fresh, you’ll want to cut it into florets.
- All-purpose Flour: Flour is going to help the sauce stick onto the cauliflower.
- Garlic Powder: This recipe calls for garlic powder instead of fresh garlic because we want to avoid adding any more moisture to the recipe, so those bites can get really crispy when cooking.
- Paprika: Adds a nice mild heat to this recipe. You may choose to add less or more depending on your heat preferences.
- Salt & Pepper: For seasoning.
- Buffalo Sauce: They wouldn’t be Buffalo Bites without the sauce. You can use a store-bought sauce like the classic Frank’s RedHot, or make your own at home.
How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
1. A flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, water, and buffalo sauce in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the cauliflower florets to the batter.
3. Toss to coat. Make sure to coat cauliflower florets evenly.
4. Spread cauliflower onto the air fryer basket.
5. Air fry at 375°F for 15 minutes. Shake twice during the process, and cook until they just start to brown.
6. Serve hot with blue cheese dressing, celery, and carrots if desired.
Pro Tips for the Best Buffalo Cauliflower Air Fryer
- Cut the cauliflower into LARGE florets which should be half the size of chicken wings.
- Drain the batter properly before adding the cauliflower into the basket. This will help make the florets extra crispy.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Use the optional cooking spray for an extra crispy texture.
- Make sure to shake the cauliflower twice during the cooking for even texture, brush with more sauce if needed.
- Cook right before serving as they’ll become soft once cooled down.
How Long Does It Take to Cook Buffalo Cauliflower in An Air Fryer?
You’ll want to preheat your air fryer for about 2-3 minutes at 375 degrees, just to get the basket warmed up evenly. Then, it takes about 15 minutes to cook your Buffalo Cauliflower. You’ll have to shake the basket every five minutes to make sure they cook evenly, but otherwise, you can focus completely on the rest of your meal.
How to Make Buffalo Cauliflower in the Oven?
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can still make this recipe easily in the oven. You’ll actually want to heat your oven much higher, and preheat it to 450 F degrees. Add oil to your seasoning, and spread your Buffalo Cauliflower Bites evenly across a baking sheet either greased or lined with parchment paper. Cook them for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
How to Serve Buffalo Cauliflower Bites?
These crunchy Cauliflower Bites go great with a creamy dip, the same way you would serve wings! Ranch will always be a crowd favorite, but try Blue Cheese or Sriracha Aioli if you’re looking for more of a kick. Add celery and carrot sticks as well for a refreshing side.
If You Like This Recipe Try Out These Air Fryer Recipes
If you tried this recipe, let me know how your Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites turn out in the comments below!
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 head cauliflower, (cut into florets)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce, (such as Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce)
- optional cooking spray
For Serving
- blue cheese dressing or ranch
- celery and carrots sticks
Instructions
- Clean the cauliflower and slice the florets into 2-inch pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and, buffalo sauce, and water.
- Add the cauliflower florets to the batter. Toss to coat.
- Spread cauliflower onto the air fryer basket. (Spray with optional cooking spray)
- Air fry at 375°F for 15 minutes. Shake twice during the process, and cook until they just start to brown. Brush with more sauce if needed.
- Serve hot with blue cheese dressing, celery, and carrots if desired.
Notes
- Cut the cauliflower into LARGE florets which should be half the size of chicken wings. I used half of a cauliflower head, which fits my 4-quart air fryer perfectly.
- Drain the batter properly before adding the cauliflower into the basket. This will help make the florets extra crispy.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Make sure to shake the cauliflower twice during the cooking for even texture.
- Cook right before serving as they’ll become soft once cooled down.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
This doesn’t tell you when to add the hot sauce 🙂
Hi Amy, thanks for pointing that out. The buffalo sauce should be added together with the rest of the seasonings. Izzy
My air fryer only 200, would 25mins be OK?