Easy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe (No Breading)
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Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is the perfect appetizer or side dish for hot sauce lovers! This simple recipe requires just four ingredients and a few minutes of a prep time. Everyone will go nuts for this roasted buffalo cauliflower, including those who are living a meatless, keto or low carb lifestyle!
Buffalo cauliflower is often offered as a meatless substitute for traditional buffalo wings or buffalo chicken tenders. In some recipes, cauliflower florets are dipped in a flour, spice, and milk (or plant-based milk) batter and baked or fried before being tossed in a spicy sauce made from buffalo sauce and melted butter (or plant-based butter). But in this version I’ve skipped the flour altogether, making it a low carb, keto friendly, gluten free alternative. It also cuts down on the prep time, so if you love easy appetizers, this one is for you!
If you love cauliflower, try this creamy Cauliflower Chicken Casserole for a gluten-free low carb dinner or this Instant Pot Purple Cauliflower. It is a keto cauliflower mash with a very bold color!
Roasted cauliflower with buffalo sauce has gained in popularity in recent years as a vegan and vegetarian choice as well as a healthier substitute for traditional buffalo wings. But I don’t think it requires anyone to feel like they are missing out on the real thing, just like this recipe for Baked General Tso’s Cauliflower. For me, it is just another way to get enjoy hot sauce in a new and interesting way,
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Ingredients
To make this easy buffalo cauliflower, you’ll need the following simple ingredients:
- fresh cauliflower: One large head of cauliflower or two smaller heads.
- buffalo sauce: I think Frank’s Buffalo Sauce is the best buffalo sauce, but you can use your favorite brand! You can also use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.
- butter: You can also use a butter substitute if preferred or to make this vegan.
- blue cheese or ranch dressing: Not required but I highly recommend. The flavor combination can’t be beat! Alternatively, you could make this ranch dip for dunking!
The buffalo sauce does make this a bit spicy so I like to serve this recipe with celery sticks and dressing to cool some of the heat. Carrot sticks are another great choice.
This is a very quick recipe but you can cut the prep down even further by use fresh cauliflower florets instead of a full head of cauliflower.
This is a buffalo cauliflower without breading so it is gluten free. My husband has a gluten sensitivity and periodically does a keto diet so I wanted to make a recipe that he could enjoy anytime!
How to Make Buffalo Cauliflower
You can make this buffalo cauliflower in the air fryer with just a few easy steps. To start, wash your whole head of cauliflower and cut it down into florets.
Place the cauliflower into a large bowl. Melt the butter and add to a small bowl. Whisk in your favorite buffalo sauce. Pour over your cauliflower and toss to fully coat.
Place your cauliflower in a preheated air fryer basket that has been brushed with a little oil. Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes. Shake the basket and cook for 6 minutes. Shake again and cook until tender and starting to get brown in spots, approximately 5 additional minutes. I like to shake the basket pretty often for best results. Note: Exact cooking time will vary depending upon the brand and size of your air fryer and size of the cauliflower florets.
Dipping sauces like ranch or blue cheese dressing are common accompaniments to buffalo cauliflower and in this case, I’ve drizzled it over the top of my air fried buffalo cauliflower. But you can serve it on the side instead. Offer a side celery sticks, carrot sticks or both.
This roasted buffalo cauliflower is amazing. My husband especially loved it and we both felt it had a ton of flavor and a great texture. While buffalo cauliflower is typically served as an appetizer, this makes a great side dish. With just a few ingredients, this roasted cauliflower is really elevated. I want to make it for our next game day celebration.
How to Make Buffalo Cauliflower in the Oven
No air fryer? No problem! Skip the air fryer version of instructions and instead preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your buffalo sauce coated cauliflower florets in a single layer on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender and golden brown at the edges. (Exact cooking time will vary, depending upon your oven and cauliflower size.)
Does buffalo cauliflower taste like hot wings?
No, it is impossible to make a vegetable taste like chicken wings. But it is a great alternative for those who enjoy spicy foods, especially those on a low carb diet or don’t eat meat. Cauliflower is a popular vegetable for the keto diet and I love its versatility as a side dish for everything from cauliflower rice to cauliflower pumpkin puree. Blue cheese dressing is naturally low in carbs.
Is buffalo cauliflower vegan?
This recipe is also vegan friendly. Frank’s Buffalo Sauce is vegan so if you use a vegan ranch dressing or vegan blue cheese dressing (or skip the dressing altogether) and vegan butter, this recipe becomes vegan.
Buffalo Cauliflower with Breading
Can I make this buffalo cauliflower with breading? Sure. There are plenty of recipes that include flour or breadcrumb coating. However, I have tried to develop a breaded cauliflower recipe and I’m never 100% pleased with the results. I found my cauliflower florets were prone to fall apart and there was flour residue left over after air frying. It was still good, but not great. I much preferred the method shared in this post. Can’t beat the simplicity! If I am able to perfect an air fryer cauliflower with breading recipe, I’ll be sure to share.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 large head fresh cauliflower approximately 6 cups of florets
- 1/2 cup Frank’s Buffalo Sauce or your favorite brand
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1/4 cup blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing
- oil
- sliced green onion optional
- celery sticks or carrots optional
Instructions
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Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Wash cauliflower and trim into medium to large sized florets. Place in a large bowl and set aside.
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In small bowl, whisk butter and buffalo sauce until fully combined. Pour over cauliflower. Toss to coat.
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Brush oil lightly over air fryer basket. Add cauliflower.
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Cook 8 minutes and shake.
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Cook 6 minutes and shake.
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Cook additional 5 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender and edges start to brown.
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Place in serving dish and drizzle with dressing and chopped green onion if desired. Serve immediately with celery sticks and/or carrot sticks on the side.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Can substitute Frank’s Hot Sauce for buffalo sauce. To make this recipe vegan, use vegan butter and vegan blue cheese dressing or vegan ranch dressing.
Oven instructions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your buffalo sauce coated cauliflower florets in a single layer on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender and golden brown at the edges.
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you love cooking with an air fryer as much as I do, please check out some of these other great air fryer vegetable recipes!
- Crispy Red Potatoes in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Baby Carrots
- Roasted Broccoli Air Fryer Recipe
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips with Parmesan
- Air Fryer Frozen Corn on the Cob
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