It doesn’t matter which team you’re rooting for — once these Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower bites hit the table, I promise the game won’t be the main event. Seriously, these crispy, spicy snacks are a total touchdown!
Depending on the sport or the team playing, I'll admit, sometimes I'm more focused on what snacks we are eating than the entertainment. Super Bowl snacks and game day foods are so good—small bites of different textures and tastes. It’s no wonder my attention is pulled away from the screen.
These Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower bites are spicy and flavorful, minus the extra grease and fat. So, you can indulge in these and not feel as guilty about it.
I used Frank's RedHot sauce for this particular recipe, but feel free to use whichever hot sauce brand and level of heat you prefer. When preparing these, be sure to allow time to chop up the florets and marinate them in the fridge for an hour or two. I find that by marinating them first, it allows the cauliflower to really soak up the flavors, in addition to the flavor the breading will provide.
As a vegetarian alternative to Buffalo chicken wings, cauliflower truly holds its own. While it’s not quite the same as wings, it provides the perfect canvas to soak up that spicy breading and deliver all the bold flavor you crave. It’s a light, healthy twist on game-day favorites, so you can enjoy your Buffalo spice without the heaviness—and still feel like you’re in the game!
Ingredients
These Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower bites come together with simple ingredients that deliver big flavor.
- Cauliflower
- Flour
- Milk
- Franks RedHot Sauce
- Spices
Ready to spice up your snack game? Try this crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower recipe, perfect for game day, weeknight bites, or anytime you want a little kick. Don’t forget to drop a comment and tell me how you made it your own!
Storage
Leftovers (without the blue cheese dressing) can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. To keep them crispy, it's best to reheat them in the air fryer or oven rather than the microwave. Just be sure to store the blue cheese dressing separately so it doesn’t affect the cauliflower’s texture.
More Super Bowl & Game Day Snack Ideas
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 Head of Cauliflower
- 1 ½ Cups of Milk
- 2 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
- ½ Cup of Frank’s Hot Sauce
- ¾ Cups Flour
- Vegetable Oil Cooking Spray
Dry Flour Mix
- 2 Cups of AP Flour
- 2 tablespoon of Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon of Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt or to your preference
Toppings & Garnish
- ¼ cup Butter, melted
- ¼ cup Franks RedHot Sauce
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Celery
- Carrots
Instructions
Please read each step carefully as some of the flour and milk are used in varying amounts throughout the recipe.
- Prep the head of cauliflower, rinse, and cut into equally sized Florets.
- Put the Cauliflower to the side and mix the marinade for the cauliflower. Mix 1 cup of Milk, cider vinegar, and hot sauce until combined.
- Put all of your cauliflower florets into a casserole dish or bowl with the marinade, cover, and refrigerate. Let that refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- During the last 20-30 minutes of the marinade time, preheat your air fryer to 375°F.
- Mix your dry Flour mix in a medium bowl by combining all of the dry ingredients listed.
- In another medium bowl, mix 1 cup of milk with ¾ cup of flour.
- Once the Cauliflower is finished marinating, take the cauliflower florets out of the fridge.
- Set up a Baking sheet with parchment paper, this is just to prep and hold the dredged cauliflower before we air-fry it.
- Shake off the excess marinade from the Cauliflower pieces and place the cauliflower onto the sheet tray.
- Line up the two bowls of the wet and dry mixes. Take pieces of the cauliflower florets and place them inside the wet mix, then into the dry flour mix. Repeat this a second time for each piece.
- When you have finished coating all of the cauliflower florets, spray the florets with vegetable oil and place them onto the cooking sheet inside your air fryer.
- Cook the Cauliflower for 15 minutes, turning it over halfway.
- When the cauliflower is done, remove and let the pieces cool.
- Mix together the melted butter and hot sauce until combined. Using a pair of tongs put pieces of the cauliflower inside the butter/hot sauce mixture to coat each of the pieces. Remove and leave on parchment or a drying rack. Repeat with all of the cauliflower pieces.
- Garnish over a bed of carrot and celery ribbons. Drizzle with blue cheese dressing, ranch, or some more hot sauce. 🌶️ 😉
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