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With over hundreds of 5-star reviews, you can be sure these air fried buffalo cauliflower bites will be a hit! With just 5 ingredients, they’re incredibly easy to make (and ready in under 20 minutes). They’re perfect as an appetizer or side dish, and pair deliciously with your favorite creamy dip.
save this recipe!I absolutely love making air fryer recipes, and this one is at the top of my list. It’s perfect when you’re looking for something savory and totally satisfying.
Since this cauliflower has no breading and is cooked in an air fryer, it’s a great healthy alternative to fried buffalo wings (and my bet is you’ll like them more than traditional wings – check the reader comment below!).
Reader rating
“Delicious! My husband said he liked it better than Buffalo Wild Wings chicken wings.” —DL
You will love this cauliflower wings recipe
With hundreds of five-star reviews and one reader whose husband declared these better than Buffalo Wild Wings, this is the air fryer recipe I come back to again and again. Here’s why:
- Only 5 ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes
- No breading, no deep frying, no mess
- The air fryer gets the edges crispy without any oil-heavy coating
Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients that together make the best buffalo cauliflower…ever. Jump to the recipe card for all measurements!
- Cauliflower: We tested both whole heads and pre-cut bags. Fresh florets work best, cut to even bite-sized pieces for uniform cooking.
- Buffalo Sauce: We love Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce for its classic tangy heat, but any buffalo-style sauce works.
- Olive Oil: Helps the cauliflower edges caramelize in the air fryer. Avocado oil also tested well.
- Garlic Powder & Salt: Simple pantry seasoning that boosts flavor and balances heat.
How to make air fryer buffalo cauliflower
Three steps and you’re done. For the full recipe with process photos, jump to the recipe card.
- Cut the cauliflower into evenly sized bite-sized florets
- Toss with buffalo sauce, olive oil, garlic powder, and salt until evenly coated
- Arrange in a single layer in a greased air fryer basket and cook at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes until fork tender and slightly browned at the edges
How to serve this buffalo cauliflower recipe
The classic pairing is a creamy dip and celery sticks, and there’s a reason it’s classic. The cool, creamy dip against the hot, tangy cauliflower is the contrast that makes the whole thing work. My vegan ranch dressing is my go-to here and it takes about five minutes to make.
For a game day spread, these work beautifully alongside my buffalo chickpea wraps for a fully buffalo-themed appetizer table. They’re also excellent crumbled over a salad, scattered on top of my roasted cauliflower salad in particular, where they add heat and crunch against the creamier elements.
And if you’ve got the other half head of cauliflower sitting on the counter, my roasted cauliflower tacos use it up perfectly.
Want them breaded?
While these do get crispy in the air fryer, I can understand wanting a breaded wing! To do this, follow this guide to Sticky Orange Cauliflower (without the sticky orange sauce, of course!). The breading works well in the air fryer, then you would just drizzle on buffalo sauce after cooking!
Storing buffalo cauliflower wings
These are best eaten immediately while the edges are still crispy. That said, leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
To reheat and restore the texture, pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for three to four minutes. The microwave works in a pinch but softens the edges significantly. Avoid it if crispiness is your goal.
These don’t freeze well. The cauliflower releases too much moisture when thawing and the texture doesn’t recover.
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Ingredients
- ½ head cauliflower
- ½ cup buffalo sauce, we used Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce, 120 mL
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, 30 mL
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- To serve: creamy dip (like ranch or bleu cheese) and celery stalks
Instructions
- Prep: Cut ½ head cauliflower into bite-sized florets. In a large bowl, gently stir together cauliflower, ½ cup buffalo sauce, 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp salt.
- Cook: Lightly grease your air fryer basket or rack. Arrange cauliflower in a single layer (working in batches if they don't all fit in a single layer). Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, or until fork tender and slightly browned.
- Serve: Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce and celery sticks.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
I wanted this to be great but despite following the recipe almost exactly (added onion powder instead of salt) the resulting dish was very salty. This comes from the concentrated Frank’s buffalo hot sauce and I think it needs to be mixed with something to reduce that overpowering salty taste. Maybe it’s cornstarch is someone suggested or perhaps something else. Anyway, my quest for perfect cauliflower buffalo wings continues.
Hi Sara I love your blog you have such great ideas! So I was wondering is the time/temp your have for your air fryer recipes the same for using a convection oven, which is essentially a giant air fryer? Thanks!
Yes time and temps should be about the same, but just be sure to keep an eye and adjust time as needed!
Delicious! My husband said he liked it better than Buffalo Wild Wings chicken wings. Wonderful alone with blue cheese dressing and would be great on top of a salad also. I used Buffalo Wild Wings Medium sauce which is available to purchase at grocery store. Spicy and delicious. Will make again – thank you!
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit! 😀
This is a great recipe!!! I steamed my cauliflower befor beginning the recipe and it was DELICIOUS!!!!
Yay! So happy to hear it, Deborah! That’s a great idea 😀
My son is 62 years old and he just told me he loves fried cauliflower! We have an air fryer so I will be giving this recipe a try and him a surprise!
Oh what a great gift! So excited for him to get cooking with it! 😀
is it possible to make this in my crockpot
I don’t think that would work well with this one, they won’t get crispy 🙂
Exceptional! Easy, Quick & Delicious! I’ve made in 3 times in the last 2 weeks, it’s THAT GOOD! (One time, since a guest wasn’t fond of spicy food, so I used the mild sauce and added mayonnaise (the kind made w/avocado oil) It was a huge hit, loves by all.
I’m so happy to hear it, Greta! Enjoy! 😀
No Air Fryer…Thank you so much for the Baked in Oven alternative. You Rock
You’re very welcome Jeffrey, thanks for being here!
I made these walnut black bean tacos tonight and honestly I was slightly unsure at first haha but they were sooooo good! Even my meat loving husband loved them. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much Jamie!
I was really excited to try this recipe. But the overpowering taste of salt was too much. This recipe may be okay for a American palate, but if you’re European be warned!
I’m chiming in with the others who said this was too salty. And I’m an American who is not afraid to salt my food. I would also omit the salt. Plus I also had zero crispiness. I would try the cornstarch addition next time, but we did like the flavor!