• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Splash of Taste - Vegetarian Recipes
  • Home
  • Food
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipe
    • Appetizers
    • Easy Casseroles
    • Desserts
      • Desserts
      • Cheesecake
      • Cookies
      • Crumble
      • Pies
    • Dips, dressings, & sauces
    • Main Courses
    • Pasta
    • Pizza
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Under 30 Mins
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegetarian curries
    • Vegan
  • Drinks
    • Cocktails
    • Gin Cocktails
    • Tequila Cocktails
    • Vodka Cocktails
    • Mocktails
  • About Us
Splash of Taste – Vegetarian Recipes

Splash of Taste - Vegetarian Recipes

Easy veggie recipes

  • Home
  • Food
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipe
    • Appetizers
    • Easy Casseroles
    • Desserts
      • Desserts
      • Cheesecake
      • Cookies
      • Crumble
      • Pies
    • Dips, dressings, & sauces
    • Main Courses
    • Pasta
    • Pizza
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Under 30 Mins
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegetarian curries
    • Vegan
  • Drinks
    • Cocktails
    • Gin Cocktails
    • Tequila Cocktails
    • Vodka Cocktails
    • Mocktails
  • About Us
Home / Vegetarian

Air fryer buffalo cauliflower

Published April 15, 2022 | Updated November 11, 2022 | By Mandy & Jane

  • Facebook
Jump to Recipe

Deliciously spicy and perfectly crispy, our buffalo cauliflower air fryer recipe is ALWAYS a huge hit with everyone, young and old. Since we’ve been making these tasty snacks in our air fryer, people can’t get enough of them.

Someone dipping a buffalo cauliflower bite into ranch dressing.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission. Thank you!

Why you’ll love this easy air fryer cauliflower recipe

  • They are a great way to get the kids to eat veggies!
  • Quick, easy, and tasty, they’ll be ready in 20 minutes.
  • If you’re looking for healthy snacks, then these are perfect!
  • They are 100% vegetarian.

Our advice? Make twice as much as you need, people WILL want more, and get the dipping sauces ready!

Ingredients you’ll need to make air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites

You’ll need all the ingredients shown below in the photograph.

Ingredients needed, garlic powder, paprika, buffalo sauce, cauliflower, cornstarch, olive oil, black pepper, and salt.

What are buffalo cauliflower bites?

Buffalo cauliflower bites or buffalo cauliflower wings are the vegetarian and vegan versions of buffalo wings.

They have the same crunchy hot taste to them, just without the meat.

What do I serve with air fryer cauliflower wings or bites?

Buffalo cauliflower is very versatile, eat it on its own as a tasty snack, serve with a bowl of air fryer French fries, alongside a veggie burger, add it to a taco, stuff it in pitta bread – you can eat it however you like!

What’s the best buffalo sauce to use?

The best buffalo sauce to coat your cauliflower florets is your favorite buffalo sauce.

If you’ve never used a hot sauce before, then we recommend Frank’s red hot sauce, it’s got a perfect fiery taste to it and we think it’s delicious.

Just go with what you prefer.

Delicious dips and sauces to dip your air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites into

As your cauliflower florets are cooked in buffalo sauce and that’s a hot sauce, then you’ll want a delicious creamy dip or sauce to dip them into.

Try ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, garlic dipping sauce, sour cream and chives, cucumber raita, or even tzatziki.

If you are serving them with dipping sauce, then why not also serve carrot sticks and celery sticks?

These are perfect crunchy accompaniments for cauliflower bites.

Cauliflower florets with buffalo sauce.

Which air fryer is best to use for this recipe?

Everyone has their own favorite air fryer to use.

So we can only tell you what we’ve tried.

We use two brands, the ninja air fryers, and the instant pot air fryers, and at the moment, our favorite air fryer is the instant pot vortex.

Instant Pot Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer 5.7L 

Our favorite air fryer is the Instant pot Vortex and we like this for its intuitive display, the filter stops lasting food smells, and you can see your food cooking through the glass panel and light function.

Reduce the mess

Luckily air fryers don’t make half the mess that traditional cooking would make, but we believe in making things as simple as possible.

We use air fryer parchment paper, which not only makes cleaning up a lot simpler, but it helps to prevent your food from sticking, which has got to be a good thing – right?

Do you eat them hot or cold?

This is purely personal taste and preference, personally, I can eat air-fried cauliflower either hot or cold.

It tastes good either way, meaning that you can tuck into any leftovers quickly and easily.

Can I use frozen cauliflower florets?

We don’t recommend using frozen cauliflower for this recipe.

Frozen cauliflower tends to have a lot of moisture in them and can make the cauliflower bites rather soggy.

Freshly made buffalo cauliflower with carrot batons and ranch dressing.

How do I store them?

Our buffalo cauliflower stores well in the fridge when placed in an airtight container.

It will keep for up to 4 days.

We don’t recommend freezing them as when they defrost, they retain moisture which means they don’t crisp up nicely.

Recipe notes and expert tips

  • Don’t overcrowd
    Don’t put too many cauliflower florets in your air fryer basket, overcrowd them and they will turn out soggy.
  • Not crispy enough for you?
    Place them under the broiler or grill for a few more minutes until they are perfectly crispy for you.
  • Can’t get hold of Frank’s red hot sauces?
    Just use your favorite buffalo sauce.
  • Substitute corn starch
    You could use almond flour.
  • Use butter instead
    For a slightly different flavor use melted butter instead of olive oil.
  • Out of garlic powder?
    Use onion powder instead.
  • Less mess
    Use air fryer parchment paper liners.
  • Storage
    Store in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container, not suitable for freezing.

More air fryer recipes for you to try

If you love our air fryer buffalo cauliflower, then why not try our other easy recipes?

  • Air fryer zucchini fries
  • Air fryer buffalo cauliflower
  • Air fryer Brussels sprouts
  • Air fryer cheesy carrots
  • Air fryer zucchini

Why not try some Nashville hot cauliflower bites?

Caramelized air fryer carrots ready to eat.

Easy cheesy air fryer carrots

Air fryer zucchini ready to eat.

Air fryer zucchini

Close up of air fryer Brussels sprouts.

Air fryer Brussels sprouts

Buffalo cauliflower air fryer style.

Air fryer buffalo cauliflower

Air fryer zucchini fries.

Air fryer zucchini fries

How to make air fryer buffalo cauliflower

Making our air fryer buffalo cauliflower recipe is easy if you follow our simple instructions.

A full printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F/190°C.

Add your florets to a large bowl, then add Buffalo sauce, paprika, garlic powder, corn starch, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Process shots, photo one cauliflower mixed with ingredients, photo two preheat air fryer place florets, photo three fry for 15 minutes.

Mix so that the cauliflower florets are well coated with the buffalo flour mixture.

Lightly grease your air fryer basket and then add the florets, ensuring you don’t crowd them, and they are in a single layer.

You may have to cook in batches.

Air fry for 12 – 15 minutes, until they are fork-tender, you’ll notice that they look slightly brown.

Everybody enjoys their food at different levels of ‘doneness’, so keep an eye on them and cook more or less time, depending on how you like them.

Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as bleu cheese dressing, ranch dressing, or cucumber raita!

A plate of buffalo cauliflower air fryer, with carrot batons, celery sticks, and ranch dressing.

We hope you enjoy making and eating our air-fried buffalo cauliflower bites and would love to hear how you got on with making them.

Please leave a comment below and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Buffalo cauliflower air fryer style.
Print Share on Facebook Pin Recipe

Air fryer buffalo cauliflower

Insanely delicious, perfectly crispy & spicy, our air fryer buffalo cauliflower is sensational & such a big hit with the whole family! Perfect for getting kids eating veggies! They make the perfect snack or appetizer and are great for getting the kids to eat veggies. Make twice as much – they don't last long!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time20 mins
Servings4
Calories148
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste
Prevent your screen from going dark

Utensils

Air fryer
Mixing bowl set.
Mixing bowl
Air fryer liners
Air fryer liners (optional)

Ingredients

  • 1 Whole cauliflower
  • 1 cup Buffalo sauce
  • 2 tsp Paprika
  • 2 tsp Garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp Cornstarch (cornflour)
  • 4 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer to 375°F/190°C
  • Add your florets to a large bowl, then add Buffalo sauce, paprika, garlic powder, cornstarch, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix so that the cauliflower florets are well coated with the buffalo flour mixture
    1 Whole cauliflower, 2 tsp Paprika, 2 tsp Garlic powder, 2 tbsp Cornstarch (cornflour), 4 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil, Salt and pepper, 1 cup Buffalo sauce
    Process shots, photo one cauliflower mixed with ingredients, photo two preheat air fryer place florets, photo three fry for 15 minutes.
  • Lightly grease your air fryer basket and then add the florets, ensuring you don’t crowd them and they are in a single layer. You may have to cook in batches. Cook for 12 – 15 minutes, until they are fork-tender, you’ll notice that they look slightly brown. Everybody enjoys their food at different levels of ‘doneness’, so keep an eye on them and cook more or less, depending on how you like them
  • Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as bleu cheese dressing, ranch dressing, or cucumber raita!

Notes

  • Don’t overcrowd
    Don’t put too many cauliflower florets in your air fryer basket, overcrowd them and they will turn out soggy
  • Not crispy enough for you?
    Place them under the broiler or grill for a few more minutes until they are perfectly crispy for you
  • Can’t get hold of Frank’s red hot sauces?
    Just use your favorite buffalo sauce
  • Substitute corn starch
    You could use almond flour
  • Use butter instead
    For a slightly different flavor use melted butter instead of olive oil.
  • Out of garlic powder?
    Use onion powder instead.
  • Less mess
    Use air fryer parchment paper liners
  • Storage
    Store in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container, not suitable for freezing

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 1842mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 78IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

Follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, for more tasty inspiration!

Instragram Icon

Did you make this recipe?

We love hearing how you went with ours recipes! Tag us on Instagram at @splash_of_taste_uk

You may also like…

Crispy air fryer mozzarella sticks freshly cooked.

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Recipe

Craving delicious mozzarella sticks but don’t want the added guilt from deep frying them? Try our air fryer mozzarella sticks recipe! This easy version of…

Homemade BBQ sauce with a spoon of it dripping into the jar.

Homemade BBQ sauce recipe

Experience the bold, smoky flavor of our homemade BBQ sauce recipe. Carefully crafted with a blend of spices, our sauce will take your BBQ to…

  • Facebook
mandy and jane

About Mandy

A vegetarian for over 35 years, Mandy has taught herself to be creative in the kitchen. Traveling extensively, Mandy loves learning and adapting vegetarian recipes from across the world. Read more...

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Shelby says

    April 21, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    5 stars
    This came out beautifully and hubby loved it for our Friday night movie snack!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 29, 2022 at 4:12 pm

      We’re so pleased you both enjoyed them!

  2. Glenda says

    April 21, 2022 at 5:14 pm

    5 stars
    These completely satisfied my, “crunchy” cravings. I can’t believe how crisp they got. We love buffalo anything at our house and now these are being added to the collection. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 29, 2022 at 4:12 pm

      Oh the crunch is great isn’t it! So pleased you enjoyed them!

  3. Crystal says

    April 21, 2022 at 7:24 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a delicious way to prepare cauliflower – thank you so much for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      April 29, 2022 at 4:13 pm

      You are more than welcome – glad you liked them!

  4. Allyssa says

    April 25, 2022 at 12:28 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this amazing buffalo cauliflower recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

    Reply
  5. Jenn says

    April 25, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    5 stars
    This is a delish recipe! I loved all the flavors in it and your tips were very helpful!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

We’re Mandy and Jane!

We love sharing our vegetarian food and drink recipes with you. If you’re cutting down on meat, going vegetarian or vegan, there’s something delicious to eat and drink for you here
Read More…

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

What’s Popular

Homemade Reese's peanut butter pie slice on a cake slice.

Reese’s pie

A collage of r photos of vegetarian thanksgiving food.

120+ Vegetarian thanksgiving recipes

A slice of lemon pie and a partially eaten pie in a pie dish.

Lemon pie recipe

Someone dishing up a cheesy potato casserole.

Potato casserole

Footer

Splash of Taste

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

SEARCH THIS SITE

Categories

  • Air Fryer Recipe
  • Appetizers
  • Baking
  • Bread
  • Breakfast
  • Cakes
  • Cheesecake
  • Christmas
  • Cocktails
  • Cookies
  • Crumble
  • Desserts
  • Dips
  • Dips, dressings, & sauces
  • Dressing
  • Drinks
  • Easy Casseroles
  • Featured Recipes
  • Food
  • Gin Cocktails
  • Gluten Free
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Ingredient substitutions
  • Lunch
  • Main Courses
  • Mocktails
  • Mousse
  • Nibbles
  • Outdoor cooking
  • Pasta
  • Pies
  • Pizza
  • Quick Recipes
  • Recipe collections
  • Sauce
  • Seasoning
  • Side Dishes
  • Soup
  • Tequila Cocktails
  • Thanksgiving
  • Thanksgiving Desserts
  • Thanksgiving Side Dishes
  • Under 30 Minutes
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegetarian curries
  • Vodka Cocktails
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Food
  • Drinks
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Story Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Splash of Taste · Privacy Policy