Description
These Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are a tasty vegetarian alternative to traditional buffalo wings. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a tangy buffalo sauce, they make a perfect appetizer or game day snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower Bites:
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk or water
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Buffalo Sauce:
- ½ cup hot sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot)
- 3 tablespoons melted butter or vegan butter
For Serving:
- Optional celery sticks
- Optional carrot sticks
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare Batter: In a large bowl, whisk flour, plant-based milk, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add cauliflower florets and toss to coat evenly.
- Bake Cauliflower: Arrange coated florets on the baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 20–25 minutes until lightly browned.
- Make Buffalo Sauce: In a small bowl, stir together hot sauce and melted butter.
- Coat Cauliflower: Remove cauliflower from the oven, toss in buffalo sauce, then return to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes until crisp and caramelized.
- Serve: Serve hot with celery, carrots, and dressing on the side.
Notes
- For an air-fryer version, cook battered cauliflower at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes, toss with sauce, then air-fry for an additional 5 minutes.
- For extra crunch, replace half of the flour with cornstarch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: about 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 960 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6.4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
