These Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings are crispy, delicious and so easy to make in the air fryer! Made with cauliflower florets and a delicious vegan buffalo sauce, this is the perfect healthy low carb side, keto snack or appetizer for game day!
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Updated January 2023
Easy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings Recipe
Looking for a healthy appetizer for game day now that football season is here? These Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings are one of my favorite things to make in the air fryer! You can serve them along with some fresh veggie sticks, guacamole and simple cheese board for your guests.
They come out super crispy, delicious and are the perfect low carb. vegan, gluten-free, vegan, Whole30 or keto friendly snack for game day or the Super Bowl party.
Do air fried cauliflower bites taste good?
Cauliflower wings are not only the best way to enjoy cauliflower, but they are a delicious vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, paleo and low carb alternative to classic buffalo chicken wings.
Plus, they are super simple to make with pantry friendly ingredients and you can easily customize them with any ingredients you like or have on hand!
Ingredients you need to make air fryer cauliflower bites
Classic Buffalo Wings are made with chicken wings, all purpose flour and bread crumbs or panko crumbs. To make our healthy cauliflower wings in the air fryer, you will need:
- Cauliflower: 1 medium head, chopped into florets. Be sure to use fresh cauliflower and not frozen cauliflower otherwise, your vegan cauliflower wings will be soggy.
For the batter:
- Almond meal: Our favorite gluten-free flour option to replace all purpose flour. Be sure to use superfine almond flour and not almond meal to make the cauliflower extra crispy. You can sub with finely crushed grain-free crackers to make them extra crispy or gluten-free breadcrumbs work as well.
- Onion salt: You’ll need 1 teaspoon. We like the one from Trader Joe’s or you can mix onion powder and sea salt if you don’t have onion salt on hand.
- Garlic powder: Just 1/2 teaspoon but adds so much flavor.
- Paprika: You’ll need 1 teaspoon. We like smoked paprika but you can use regular if that’s what you have on hand.
For the sauce
- Buffalo sauce: We like to use a Whole30 friendly version such as Tessamae’s, Primal Kitchen or Frank’s Hot Sauce but feel free to use your favorite hot sauce or BBQ sauce.
- Vegan butter: You can use unsalted butter or ghee if not dairy-free or plant-based.
You can also add other spices you like and coat in an extra layer of crushed grain-free crackers or crushed pork rinds if you are not plant-based.
How to make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Want to learn how to roast cauliflower? Be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions:
- Cut the cauliflower into pieces: To make your baked cauliflower wings in the oven, remove most of stem and chop the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces. If you’re wondering how to cut cauliflower, here is a great tutorial.
- Make the Batter: In a large bowl, combine almond flour, almond milk ,onion salt, garlic powder and paprika in a bowl and mix until smooth. Add the cauliflower florets to the mixture and toss to coat.
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- Arrange the Cauliflower in the Air Fryer: Place the cauliflower florets in a single layer in air fryer basket, you will have to work in batches.
- Air Fry at 375 for 12-14 minutes until golden brown, shaking halfway through.
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- Make the Buffalo Sauce: Meanwhile, mix the hot sauce & melted vegan butter / ghee together in a bowl.Pour the buffalo sauce evenly over the cauliflower & toss to coat.
- Cook again until crispy: Air Fry for an additional 2-3 minutes or until crispy and just starting to brown.
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Can you make them in the oven?
Yes, check out the recipe for my Baked Cauliflower Wings HERE.
Buffalo Cauliflower Bite Variations:
Not a fan of buffalo sauce? You can simply swap it with:
- BBQ Sauce
- Sticky Sesame
- Chipotle Lime
- Sriracha and Maple
Make ahead and Storage
How to make ahead
The great thing about making these low carb cauliflower bites is that you can make them ahead. Simply chop up the cauliflower, make the sauce and prepare the breading the day before and store them in separate containers in the fridge.
Then when you’re ready to serve, all you need to do is toss the cauliflower with the batter and follow the cooking directions.
How to store leftover cauliflower bites
We think these are best enjoyed fresh but you can store your buffalo cauliflower bites in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Can you freeze air fried cauliflower wings?
We don’t recommend freezing these air fryer cauliflower bites as I think they are best enjoyed fresh, but if you’d like to reheat any leftovers you can heat them in an oven at 400 degrees F.
We also don’t recommend reheating Air Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Wings in a microwave since it will make them really soft and soggy.
What to serve with air fried cauliflower wings
These Air Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are delicious alone or you can serve them with the same food you would serve regular buffalo wings with.
Some crunchy vegetables like celery, cucumber spears or carrot sticks along with vegan ranch dressing or blue cheese dip.
More cauliflower recipes to try
Easy Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings
More air fryer recipes to try
These Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings are crispy, delicious and so easy to make in the air fryer! Made with cauliflower florets and a delicious vegan buffalo sauce, this is the perfect healthy low carb side, keto snack or appetizer for game day!
- 1 cup superfine almond flour , can sub with gluten-free oat flour if not grain-free
- 1/4 cup finely crushed grain-free crackers or crushed pork rinds if you are not plant-based. , optional for extra crispy wings
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk , can sub with any milk of choice
- 1 tsp onion salt , we like the one from Trader Joe's
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 4 cups cauliflower florets , about 1 medium cauliflower
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (Tessamae's, Primal Kitchen, OR Frank's)
- 3 Tbs vegan butter , can sub with Ghee if not dairy-free for Whole30
Cut the Cauliflower into pieces: Remove most of stem and chop the cauliflower into even bite-sized pieces.
Make the Batter: In a large bowl, combine almond flour, almond milk ,onion salt, garlic powder and paprika in a bowl and mix until smooth.
Add the cauliflower florets to the mixture and toss to coat.
Place the cauliflower florets into a single layer in air fryer basket, working in batches as needed.
Air Fry at 375 for 12-14 minutes until golden brown, shaking halfway through.
Meanwhile, mix the hot sauce & melted vegan butter / ghee together in a bowl.Pour the buffalo sauce evenly over the cauliflower & toss to coat. Air Fry for an additional 2-3 minutes or until crispy and just starting to brown.
Air Fry for an additional 2-3 minutes or until crispy and just starting to brown.
Serve and garnish with fresh chopped herbs, if desired and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Place florets in a single layer on baking sheet.
BAKE for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, flipping halfway through.
Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together.
Take the cauliflower out of the oven and dip each wing into the sauce, or coat with a pastry brush or you can pour the sauce evenly over the cauliflower & toss to coat.
Place the pan back into the oven for 5-7 minutes or until crispy and just starting to brown.
Serve and garnish with fresh chopped herbs, if desired and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
*Feel free to add other spices you like.
Nellie -
These were fantastic and a big hit! Making them again for my boyfriend! Thanks!
Jerome -
Yum! We just got an air fryer and this came out SO good! Making them again for game day! Thanks!