Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Printable)

Spicy, crispy cauliflower florets coated in tangy buffalo sauce. Perfect for game day snacks and appetizers.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

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

→ Batter

02 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 cup water
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Sauce

09 - 1/2 cup buffalo hot sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

→ Optional for Serving

11 - 1/4 cup blue cheese or ranch dressing
12 - Celery sticks
13 - Carrot sticks

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Add cauliflower florets to the batter and toss to coat evenly.
04 - Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil and arrange battered cauliflower in a single layer, working in batches if necessary.
05 - Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crisp.
06 - In a separate bowl, mix buffalo sauce and melted butter together.
07 - Transfer crispy cauliflower to a large bowl and toss with buffalo sauce mixture until well coated.
08 - Return coated cauliflower to air fryer for an additional 3 to 5 minutes for extra crispiness.
09 - Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately with dressing, celery sticks, and carrot sticks if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cauliflower gets this incredible crispy exterior while staying tender inside, something I never thought possible without deep frying.
  • You can adjust the heat level to suit anyone from spice-shy beginners to heat-seeking veterans without compromising that authentic buffalo flavor.
02 -
  • If your cauliflower turns out soggy, your air fryer was likely overcrowded, a mistake I made repeatedly until spacing the florets properly.
  • Letting the batter rest for 5 minutes before dipping your cauliflower creates a thicker coating that crisps up beautifully, something I discovered purely by accident when I got distracted by a phone call.
03 -
  • For the absolute crispiest results, lightly spray the battered cauliflower with oil just before air frying, a technique I discovered after three batches of good-but-not-great attempts.
  • Adding a tablespoon of cornstarch to your batter creates an extra layer of crunchiness that stands up beautifully to the buffalo sauce.

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