Description
Crispy, tangy, and perfectly spicy vegetarian cauliflower bites coated in a homemade buffalo sauce, cooked to perfection in an air fryer for a guilt-free game day snack.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head cauliflower (about 2–2.5 lbs / 900-1100g), cut into bite-sized florets
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free flour blend)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cold sparkling water or beer
- Cooking spray (olive oil or avocado oil)
- ½ cup Frank’s RedHot Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing for serving
- Celery sticks for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Wash and thoroughly pat dry the cauliflower florets to ensure crispiness.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Pour in the cold sparkling water (or beer) and whisk until smooth. The batter should resemble thin pancake batter.
- Pour the batter over the cauliflower florets and toss gently to coat. Let sit for 2 minutes to help the batter adhere.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Arrange cauliflower in a single layer, ensuring pieces do not touch. Spray tops lightly with oil.
- Air fry for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway through, until cauliflower is tender inside and golden brown/crispy outside.
- While cauliflower cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl.
- Whisk in Frank’s RedHot Sauce, white vinegar, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper to make the buffalo sauce.
- Transfer cooked cauliflower to a large bowl, pour buffalo sauce over, and toss gently to coat.
- Serve immediately with blue cheese or ranch dressing and celery sticks.
Notes
Ensure cauliflower is completely dry before battering to prevent sliding. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary for maximum crispiness. Serve immediately as sauced cauliflower can become soggy if stored.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 4
Keywords: air fryer, buffalo cauliflower, game day snack, vegetarian appetizer, healthy wings alternative, spicy snack, cauliflower recipe