Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Printable)

Crispy, spicy cauliflower bites with bold Buffalo sauce, perfect for snacks or appetizers.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cauliflower

01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika
05 - ½ teaspoon salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)

→ Buffalo Sauce

08 - ½ cup buffalo hot sauce
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

→ For Serving

11 - Celery sticks
12 - Carrot sticks
13 - Ranch or blue cheese dressing (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Set the air fryer to 400°F and allow it to preheat while preparing the batter.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Gradually add milk while whisking until a smooth batter forms.
03 - Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, ensuring an even coating. Shake off excess batter before cooking.
04 - Arrange battered florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even crispiness.
05 - While cauliflower is cooking, mix buffalo hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup in a large bowl.
06 - Transfer cooked cauliflower immediately into the buffalo sauce and toss thoroughly to coat each piece.
07 - Serve hot with celery sticks, carrot sticks, and optional ranch or blue cheese dressing.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Crispy outside, tender inside, and ready in less time than it takes to argue about the score.
  • The buffalo coating clings perfectly without any weird soggy-bottom situations.
  • You get all the indulgent satisfaction of wings but without the grease under your fingernails.
02 -
  • Don't skip shaking the basket halfway through cooking, or you'll end up with some pieces barely golden while others turn dark.
  • Coating the hot florets in warm sauce is what makes them actually taste like buffalo wings instead of just tasting like spicy fried vegetables.
03 -
  • Make your batter while the air fryer preheats so the flour has time to hydrate slightly, which creates a more tender coating.
  • If your buffalo sauce seems too thin, let it reduce in a small pot for a minute before tossing, or it'll slide right off the florets.
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