These Buffalo Cauliflower bites are baked bite-size pieces of crispy cauliflower that are slathered with buttery buffalo sauce and broiled to golden crispy perfection. These delectable vegan and vegetarian bite-size morsels are just as tasty as buffalo chicken wings, with a lot less fat and calories. This recipe makes a healthy and tasty appetizer, side dish, or salad ingredient.
Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
I love buffalo sauce! I mean, honestly, who doesn’t? This unique Buffalo Cauliflower bites recipe has a little bit of a twist from the standard buffalo chicken recipe as it is made with cauliflower florets. This is a snack I can feel good about eating and feeding to my family. Buffalo Cauliflower bites are perfect for game day, movie night, or just because you want the taste of something spicy. I love to serve these at my shindigs with Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, Bacon Wrapped Pineapple, Lettuce Wraps, and Southern Pimento Cheese.
Ingredients for Buffalo Cauliflower
How to make Buffalo Cauliflower
Start by cutting your cauliflower into florets. Then mix the flour, cornstarch, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and a little bit of the hot sauce together. Next, dunk the florets into the batter and place the battered cauliflower in a single layer on a baking sheet that has been covered with parchment. Now bake for around 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
When the cauliflower is almost ready, add the butter and remaining buffalo wing sauce to a microwaveable large bowl. Microwave for a few minutes at reduced power until the butter is melted and the sauce is hot. Now remove the cauliflower from the oven and toss it into the bowl of buffalo sauce to coat. Then place the florets back on the sheet pan and under the broiler for a few minutes until golden brown. Finally, serve promptly with blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing for dipping sauce and carrot or celery sticks.
Helpful tips for making Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Don’t purchase too large a head of cauliflower if you want your florets to be bite-size. With the larger cauliflower, you will have to cut some of the florets into bite-size pieces, and they will inevitably break up some.
- Preheat your oven to get it really hot. These must cook at a high temp. Resist the urge to peek at them.
- To coat the cauliflower florets with the buffalo sauce, gently toss in a bowl with the hot sauce ad butter heated in the microwave.
- For optimum flavor, I use Franks Red Hot Sauce best for this recipe, but if you have a favorite brand, by all means, use it!
- Broilers are very unpredictable, so stay close and monitor well.
How to cut cauliflower into florets
Start by removing the leaves from the base of the cauliflower. Then cut on the underside of the cauliflower, removing almost all of the core. They will then naturally separate into florets. You can then either break the larger ones into sections or cut them with a knife.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To restore crispiness, reheat in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 1-2 minutes or in the oven on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes.
More buffalo recipes to try
Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower separated into florets
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2/3 cup hot sauce I like Frank's Hot Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Whisk together flour, cornstarch, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of hot sauce. Dunk the florets into the mixture and place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
- When the cauliflower is almost ready, add the butter and remaining hot sauce to a microwaveable bowl. Melt butter in the microwave at 50% power.
- Remove cauliflower from the oven, place it in a bowl, and toss gently with buffalo sauce to coat. Place the florets back on the baking sheet and under the broiler for 3-5 minutes. Serve promptly with blue cheese or ranch dressing.
Notes
- Don't purchase too large a head of cauliflower if you want your florets to be bite-size. With the larger cauliflower, you will have to cut some of the florets into bite-size pieces, and they will inevitably break up some.
- Preheat your oven to get it really hot. These must cook at a high temp. Resist the urge to peek at them.
- To coat the cauliflower florets with the buffalo sauce, gently toss in a bowl with the hot sauce ad butter heated in the microwave.
- For optimum flavor, I use Franks Red Hot Sauce best for this recipe, but if you have a favorite brand, by all means, use it!
- Broilers are very unpredictable, so stay close and monitor well.
Nutrition
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Melissa Cushing
Loving this recipe and definitely making these! I love cauliflower and these sound so good!
Anonymous
Such a great recipe, these are lovely and crispy and they taste really good too. Will be making these again!
Tammy
Ooh I love buffalo sauce and ranch but this is a nice lightened up way to enjoy those flavors for game day. Looks so, so delicious!
Lasonia
I have been looking for more meatless options. Think I’ll try this for Super Bowl Sunday.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lasonia! Enjoy!
MELANIE E
This was delicious. I love that it’s a tasty alternative to chicken and so much healthier. Thanks for the great recipe.
Chad
This looks so so good!!! I love cauliflower and it is very healthy! I can’t wait to try out your recipe.
Catalina
This is a great idea! I love buffalo flavor and I will love this cauliflower dish!
Samantha Donnelly
I do love cauliflower, and really should cook with it more, apart from cauliflower cheese or cauliflower rice. Thiis recipe sounds amazing
Sandra
A classic favorite at my house for game day!! Always a hit!
Anonymous
Everyone at my house loved this!! I couldn’t wait to make it again!
Beth Pierce
So glad that everyone loves it!
Luna S
What a great way to have the taste of wings without actually eating wings! This looks so good.
Allyson Zea
I love me some buffalo anything so this is right up my alley!
Erin
No doubt, this is really amazing! Definitely a must make!
Beth
This recipe is just in time for upcoming Super Bowl parties! Quick, easy and so tasty!
Jess
Totally making this for the Super Bowl! Can’t wait!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, enjoy!
Ella English
Wow, these cauliflower bites were extra yummy and perfect for the Superbowl. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda
A great little appetizer for the party tray. It was a hit.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Rhonda! So glad that everyone enjoyed the buffalo cauliflower!