Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Craving wings but want a lighter, vegetarian-friendly option? These Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower bites are the perfect answer! Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in tangy, spicy buffalo sauce, they’re a must-have for game day, parties, or even a weeknight snack.

Thanks to the air fryer, you get all the crunch without deep frying. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing, and you’ve got a crowd-pleasing appetizer that even meat lovers will devour.

Ingredients

• 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• ½ cup water (plus more if needed)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, spices, and water until smooth batter forms.
3. Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, letting excess drip off.
4. Place battered florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
5. Cook for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway, until crispy and golden.
6. Meanwhile, whisk together hot sauce and melted butter.
7. Transfer cooked cauliflower to a bowl and toss with buffalo sauce until well coated.
8. Garnish with parsley and serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dip.

🔥 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crispy without frying – all thanks to the air fryer.
• Perfect for parties – everyone loves spicy finger food.
• Vegetarian game day option – a lighter alternative to wings.
• Customizable heat level – adjust with more or less hot sauce.

🌱 Variations

• Gluten-Free: Use rice flour or gluten-free flour blend.
• Extra Crispy: Add panko breadcrumbs before air frying.
• Milder Version: Use honey BBQ sauce instead of buffalo.
• Low-Cal Option: Skip the batter and just air fry seasoned cauliflower, then toss with sauce.

🥡 Storage & Reheating

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes to crisp them up again.

Nutrition (Per Serving – 4 servings)

• Calories: 160
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Protein: 4g
• Fat: 6g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Cholesterol: 10mg
• Sodium: 820mg
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 2g
• Calcium: 3%
• Iron: 5%

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Crispy air-fried cauliflower bites tossed in spicy buffalo sauce. A lighter, vegetarian alternative to wings that’s perfect for game day or snacking.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Calories: 160

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 1 medium cauliflower cut into florets
• 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.5 cup cornstarch
• 0.5 cup water plus more if needed
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 0.5 tsp onion powder
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 cup hot sauce like Frank’s RedHot
• 2 tbsp butter melted
• fresh parsley optional garnish
• ranch or blue cheese dressing for serving

Equipment

• Air fryer
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk

Method

 

1. Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
2. Whisk flour, cornstarch, spices, and water into a smooth batter.
3. Dip cauliflower florets in batter, letting excess drip off.
4. Air fry in a single layer for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway.
5. Whisk hot sauce and melted butter together.
6. Toss cooked cauliflower with buffalo sauce until coated.
7. Garnish with parsley and serve with ranch or blue cheese dip.

Notes

For extra crunch, sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs before air frying.