This Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is spicy and delicious. It has the perfect level of crispness and just begs to be dipped into some homemade ranch dressing.
If you love air fryer veggies, then you should try this Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli and Air fryer Asparagus.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I love how healthy this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is while still being utterly scrumptious. The flavor and texture make me forget I’m actually eating vegetables!
- TASTE: Just as spicy as you like, this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is full of flavor.
- TEXTURE: They are dredged in flour and corn starch for a breaded crust that gets extra crispy in the air fryer.
- TIME: This recipe takes 25 minutes.
- EASE: It’s really so easy to make and uses just a handful of ingredients. Air frying the cauliflower is so much simpler than deep frying.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Cauliflower- Fresh cauliflower florets with the stems cut off is what you need. You can trim them from a head of cauliflower or buy the florets separately.
- Flour + Corn starch- These two make up the breading on the Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower. They make it extra crispy.
- Hot sauce- I used Frank’s Red Hot, but you can use any brand you like, or make your own.
- Seasonings- We’re using Garlic powder, Salt, and Black pepper for extra flavor.
- Olive oil- To help the cauliflower crisp up.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Substitute other seasonings- Make this extra spicy with the addition of cayenne pepper, chili powder, curry powder. Or you can add paprika or cumin.
- Make it gluten-free- Substitute gluten-free all-purpose flour for the flour in this recipe to make it allergen-friendly.
- Substitute other vegetables- Besides cauliflower, you can also make this with zucchini, eggplant, broccoli, or yellow squash.
- Use butter- Instead of the oil, you could also use melted butter for more flavor.
How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
- Make the seasoned breading. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Then set aside.
- Sauce the cauliflower. Now combine the cauliflower with the olive oil and buffalo sauce in a large bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients. Then toss the dry ingredient mixture over the cauliflower and thoroughly mix.
- Preheat. Preheat your basket air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Air fry. Place the coated cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer for 15 minutes. Then toss them in a bowl with extra Buffalo sauce and serve with ranch.
Pro Tip: Keep the cauliflower to a single layer so they get thoroughly cooked. Otherwise, they will end up mushy instead of crispy.
Recipe Tips
- Pre-mix the seasonings- Mix the seasonings into the flour before adding them to the cauliflower so they are evenly distributed.
- Preheat the air fryer- When you preheat the air fryer, it helps the buffalo cauliflower to start cooking at a high temperature so it gets crispy, not mushy.
- Cook them in a single layer- Don’t overfill the air fryer basket or there won’t be room for the hot air to circulate, leaving some cauliflower mushy and underdone. Cook them in batches.
- Toss them in more sauce- The sauce will absorb into the breading while it cooks so toss the Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower in some extra sauce before serving.
FAQs
Yes, air fried cauliflower is much healthier than deep-fried wings because an air fryer circulates hot air quickly to get a crisp on your food with very little oil. Cauliflower is low in fat and cholesterol, so it’s a healthier option than using chicken wings for an appetizer.
This Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower has only 69 calories per serving. It’s a healthier option than deep-fried appetizers and chicken wings.
Serving Suggestions
This Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is a versatile side and appetizer. You can serve it with meats, fries, and other appetizers for a buffet.
- Appetizers: Serve this dish alongside Loaded Chicken Nachos, Easy BLT Dip, Hot Artichoke Dip, and Zucchini Fritters.
- Meats: Pair this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower with Juicy Air Fryer Steak Bites, Smoked Chicken Thighs, Smoked Beef Brisket, or Beer Battered Cod.
- Fries: Serve some Crispy Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, or Air Fryer Potato Wedges with this veggie dish.
- Sides: Enjoy it alongside Air Fryer Kale Chips, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, or Sauteed Garlic Asparagus.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: You can prep these ahead of time and store them in the fridge. Just reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes and toss with extra sauce before serving.
Storing: Store any leftovers of this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: You can freeze this dish in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 4 months. Just thaw in the fridge or put directly into the air fryer to reheat.
More Delicious Air Fryer Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 head medium cauliflower cut into florets
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup Frank’s red hot Buffalo sauce plus extra for dipping
Instructions
- In a bowl combine 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Then set aside.
- Now combine the cauliflower with 1 tsp olive oil and 1/2 cup buffalo sauce.
- Then toss in the dry ingredients over the cauliflower and thoroughly mix.
- Preheat your basket air fryer to 350 degrees Fº.
- Place the coated cauliflower in a single layer and air fryer for 15 minutes.
- After they’re done, toss them in a bowl with 1/4 cup extra Buffalo sauce and serve with ranch.
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer- When you preheat the air fryer, it helps the buffalo cauliflower to start cooking at a high temperature so it gets crispy, not mushy.
- Cook them in a single layer- Don’t overfill the air fryer basket or there won’t be room for the hot air to circulate, leaving some cauliflower mushy and underdone. Cook them in batches.
- Toss them in more sauce- The sauce will absorb into the breading while it cooks so toss the Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower in some extra sauce before serving.
Nutrition
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