This air fryer buffalo cauliflower makes a flavorful appetizer, perfect for football watching, or any occasion.
Whether you’re gearing up for game day, seeking the perfect appetizer, or simply in the mood for a tasty side dish, this recipe promises a flavor-packed experience that’s both simple and satisfying. Embrace the kick of buffalo sauce combined with the tender goodness of cauliflower for a dish that’s sure to impress.
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This air fryer buffalo cauliflower recipe is not only a healthier alternative to traditional buffalo wings but also packs a ton of flavor with a crispy coating and spicy sauce.
Whether you’re serving this as a delicious appetizer, a side dish, or a main course with a fresh twist, it’s sure to become one of your favorite cauliflower recipes. For those who love spicy foods but want to keep things simple and healthy, this air fryer version offers the perfect balance of heat, flavor, and ease.
How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
First, gather your ingredients.
Ingredients
For the best taste, always use the highest quality ingredients you have access to.
To make this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
- All purpose flour
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
- Water
- Medium head cauliflower
- Frank’s hot sauce (or any cayenne pepper hot sauce)
- Unsalted butter (or vegan butter)
- Honey (sub maple for vegan recipe)
Feel free to experiment with recipe modifications if you wish – try out almond flour for a low carb alternative, or add a touch of maple syrup instead of honey for a different twist.
Pairing this dish with a creamy dip, like homemade ranch dressing, vegan ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing, and a side of celery sticks can elevate your snack to a whole new level.
Cooking Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is a simple recipe that can be made in just a few simple steps.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, and water.
Add the cauliflower florets to the batter mixture.
Then fold together until cauliflower is fully coated.
Preheat the air fryer if required. Grease the air fryer basket or air fryer pan with cooking spray. Tap off any excess batter from the coated cauliflower pieces and place in an even layer into the air fryer pan or basket.
Note: You may need to cook the cauliflower in a few batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Cook at 400°F until crispy and cooked through, which was about 12 minutes for me.
While the cauliflower cooks, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small pot on the stove and heat over medium-low heat, mixing often, until simmering and a cohesive sauce is formed. Turn off the heat.
Transfer the cooked cauliflower to a large bowl and drizzle with the buffalo sauce.
Toss together and enjoy right away! Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Always use common sense and good judgment when it comes to leftovers, though! If something looks or smells funky, don’t eat it.
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Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
This air fryer buffalo cauliflower makes a flavorful appetizer, perfect for football-watching, or any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Cauliflower:
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 medium head cauliflower cut into medium florets
For the Buffalo Sauce:
- 1/2 cup Frank’s hot sauce or any cayenne pepper hot sauce
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter or vegan butter, if preferred
- 2 teaspoons honey
Instructions
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In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper and water.
-
Add the cauliflower florets to the batter mixture and fold together until cauliflower is fully coated.
-
Preheat the air fryer if desired (not necessary). Grease the air fryer basket or air-fryer pan with cooking spray.
-
Tap off any excess batter from the coated cauliflower pieces and place in an even layer into the air fryer pan or basket. You may need to cook the cauliflower in a few batches, depending on the size of the air fryer. Cook at 400 degrees F until crispy and cooked through, which was about 12 minutes for me.
- While the cauliflower cooks, combine all the sauce ingredients in a small pot on the stove and heat over medium-low heat, mixing often, until simmering and a cohesive sauce is formed. Turn off the heat.
- Transfer the cooked cauliflower to a large bowl and drizzle with the buffalo sauce. Toss together and enjoy right away!
Recipe Notes
- Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
- I’d definitely double this recipe if serving to a group of guests since it will go fast! Just be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer, and use multiple batches to ensure even cooking.
- This recipe is very easy to make vegan – just use vegan butter and maple syrup in place of the honey.
Jacob philips says
I tried this, it turned out to be amazing. My kids loved this recipe. Thanks for the detailed guide