Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Name: Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: Serves 3
Cuisine: Air Fryer
Ingredients: 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets; ¾ cup (94 g) all-purpose flour; ¾ cup (180 g) milk (or plant milk); 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp smoked paprika; ½ tsp fine salt; ½ cup buffalo hot sauce; 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Crispy battered cauliflower in a sticky buffalo glaze.

Prep Time15 mins

Air Fry20 mins

Temp200°C / 400°F

YieldServes 3

Before You Start

A vegetarian take on buffalo wings that actually crisps up. A thin flour batter gives the cauliflower something for the sauce to cling to, and the air fryer keeps it crisp where a wet oven bake goes soggy. Toss in buffalo sauce, then a final blast sets the glaze.

Instructions

1
Whisk the flour, milk, garlic powder, paprika and salt into a smooth, pourable batter.
2
Dip each floret in the batter, letting the excess drip off, and set on a rack.
3
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C / 400°F. Air fry the florets in a single layer for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking halfway, until crisp and set.
4
Stir the buffalo sauce and melted butter together. Toss the hot cauliflower in the sauce until coated.
5
Return to the basket and air fry another 4 to 5 minutes so the glaze sets and turns sticky, not wet.
6
Serve straight away with a blue cheese or ranch dip and celery sticks.

Ingredients

1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
¾ cup (94 g) all-purpose flour
¾ cup (180 g) milk (or plant milk)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp fine salt
½ cup buffalo hot sauce
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Air fryer tip

Cook at 200°C / 400°F and keep everything in a single layer so it crisps instead of steams. Tap any pantry ingredient above to convert between cups and grams.

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♨️ Air fryer notes

Cook at 200°C / 400°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.

💡 Cook's tips

Let the excess batter drip off before air frying, or it pools and stays gluey.
The second cook after saucing is what stops them going soggy. Don't skip it.

🔀 Make it your own

Swap buffalo sauce for BBQ or a honey-sriracha glaze.
Use a gluten-free flour blend to make it fully gluten-free.

📦 Storing & reheating

Best fresh. They soften as they sit; re-crisp at 190°C for 4 to 5 minutes.

❓ Frequently asked

How do you keep buffalo cauliflower crispy?

Let the batter drip off before cooking, do not overcrowd the basket, and air fry again for a few minutes after tossing in sauce to set the glaze.

Can I make it dairy-free?

Yes, use plant milk in the batter and a plant butter or a splash of oil with the buffalo sauce.

Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.