Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings – Oven or Air Fryer

Cauliflower buffalo wings are a little spicy, immensely flavourful and incredibly delicious. Crispy on the outside, tender in the middle, for the perfect game day snack and party platters. Bonus, make them in your oven OR air fryer. They’re not only vegan, but gluten free and oil free too.

This recipe was originally published in November 2018. It has been updated for content and photos.

Reader Feedback:

“I have tried a LOT of buffalo cauliflower recipes and this one is by far, the best I’ve ever had! Thank you!!” – Cheryl

Why you’ll love these

1. They’re so close to the real deal! You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how good they are, I mean, truly, they are super tasty! Now to be clear, these are cauliflower buffalo wings, and no, cauliflower is not meat and does not taste like meat. You probably can’t fool your friends into thinking these are chicken wings. BUT, these “wings” are so so flavourful of their own accord.
2. The calorie and fat content is MUCH lower than traditional wings. Plus, they’re baked (or air fried) and not deep fried, so they’re so much healthier. So they’re completely guilt free, even if you devour the tray all by yourself.
3. It’s truly a recipe that everyone can enjoy. Whether you’re whole food plant based, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, omnivore, or carnivore, you will love these. I’ve made them multiple times for meat eaters, and they are always a HUGE HIT!

How to make them in your oven

(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Start by washing and cutting your cauliflower into small, bite sized florets. You want the size to be about the same as traditional wings.

Place the cut up cauliflower in a large bowl. (photo 1)

Combine the seasoning, brown rice flour and cashew milk (or plant milk of choice) and mix well in another bowl. (photos 2-3)

NOTE: If you’re not avoiding gluten, you may use white or whole wheat all purpose flour instead.

Pour the batter over your cauliflower bites and mix well until evenly coated. (photos 4-5)

Then place the coated cauliflower “wings” in a single layer on a large baking tray, lined with parchment paper. (photo 6)

NOTE: Don’t dump your cauliflower on the baking tray. If there is extra batter at the bottom of your bowl, you don’t want a pool of that batter on your tray. Place them on your tray one at a time, with plenty of space in between to prevent them from sticking to one another.

Bake for 20 minutes in your preheated oven, flipping once at the halfway point, and while baking, prepare your vegan buffalo sauce in a small pot. (photo 7)

Remove the cauliflower from the oven and coat your “wings” with the buffalo sauce. Use a silicone brush to evenly coat them with the sauce. (photo 8)

Return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes, flipping once around the halfway point. (photo 9)

NOTE: Although tedious, flip each of your cauliflower buffalo wings individually, for a crispier coating.

Serve your vegan buffalo cauliflower with carrots, celery and ranch dressing for dipping. Enjoy!

How to make them in the air fryer

(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)

I’ve tested these in a Ninja® Foodi™ 8-qt and Cosori brand air fryer (see video below).

Prepare the same as you would for the oven method by making your batter and coating the cauliflower.

Then add your coated cauliflower into your air fryer basket. Set to 390 degrees F for 20 minutes, flipping once at the halfway point.

Give the basket a gentle shake to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom, and then coat them in the buffalo sauce.

Now air fry for an additional 15 minutes, but start checking around the 10 minute mark. You want them crispy, but not burned.

The size of your florets will determine the final cook time.

Serve your cauliflower Buffalo wings with ranch and enjoy!

Common Questions

Substitutions

• If you don’t require gluten free buffalo wings, you may use all purpose whole wheat or white flour, instead of brown rice flour.
• Use any plant milk of choice, avoiding cashew milk if you need these nut free. Soy, oat or rice milk also work. However, stay away from canned coconut milk, as that will be too sweet for this recipe.
• You may use store bought buffalo sauce to save time, if needed. Or you may also this this no cook, oil free buffalo sauce to change things up.

Expert Tips for the BEST results, every time!

1. After coating your Buffalo cauliflower wings in the batter, do not dump them onto your baking tray. Excess batter at the bottom of the bowl will pool on your tray, causing the bites to stick together, and stick to the parchment paper. This will make them less crispy.
2. I know it’s tedious, but for best results, place your vegan buffalo wings on your baking tray, one piece at a time.
3. Make sure your vegan buffalo wings are in a single layer, with space in between each one. This will help crisp them up more.
4. Flip your cauliflower at the halfway point of the first AND second round (after coating in the Buffalo sauce) of baking. This helps get the most crispiness out of these delicious buffalo bites.

More favourite “snacky” recipes!

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Buon appetito

Rosa

Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings [Oven or Air Fryer]

Cauliflower buffalo wings are spicy, delicious and flavourful. Crispy on the outside, tender in the middle for the perfect game day snack!

4.99 from 88 votes

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Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Canadian

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 118kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  Ninja Foodi Air Fryer

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 small cauliflower cut into small bite sized florets
• ▢ ½ cup brown rice flour or flour of choice if not avoiding gluten
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1.5 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ ½ teaspoon cumin
• ▢ ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ ¾ cup unsweetened cashew milk or milk of choice

Buffalo Wing Sauce Ingredients

• ▢ ½ cup water
• ▢ ¼ cup white vinegar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ 3 tablespoon tomato paste

Optional Dipping Sauce (highly recommended)

• ▢ 1 recipe dairy free ranch dressing

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Instructions

• If making the ranch dipping sauce, start by putting your cashews to soak before you begin prepping your cauliflower. Once soaked, prepare the ranch according to its directions and refrigerate until needed.
• Line a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place your cut up cauliflower in a large bowl. Then in a separate bowl, combine your flour and all the seasonings and mix to combine. Then add the milk and mix well to make your batter. Now pour the batter into your bowl with the cauliflower and mix well to evenly coat each piece.
• Place your coated cauliflower on your prepared baking tray, one at a time, in a single layer and bake for 20 minutes. Flip once at the halfway point.
• Meanwhile, prepare your buffalo wing sauce by adding all its ingredients to a small sauce pan. Whisk to combine and simmer over medium heat 3-5 minutes, allowing the flavours to combine.
• Remove the cauliflower from the oven, and coat the bites in your buffalo sauce. I use a silicone brush to brush each piece of cauliflower with a generous amount of the sauce. Then return to the oven for 10-15 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
• Serve with ranch and dunk away.

Air Fryer Instructions

• Place your cut up cauliflower in a large bowl. Then in a separate bowl, combine your flour and all the seasonings and mix to combine. Then add the milk and mix well to make your batter. Now pour the batter into your bowl with the cauliflower and mix well to evenly coat each piece.
• Place your coated cauliflower into your crisp basket, inside the Ninja Foodi appliance. Then set it to 390 degrees F and air fry for 20 minutes, shaking your basket every 5 minutes or so.
• Meanwhile, prepare your buffalo wing sauce by adding all its ingredients to a small sauce pan. Whisk to combine and simmer over medium heat 3-5 minutes, allowing the flavours to combine.
• Then use a silicone brush to evenly coat your florets in the buffalo sauce. Continue air frying for another 10-15 minutes, shaking or flipping your florets at the halfway point. Cook time will vary according to the air fryer model you're using and floret size.
• Serve with ranch and dunk away.

Video

Notes

If using the ranch dressing, prepare first and refrigerate until needed.

For nut free, use soy or oat milk instead of cashew.

Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and reheat in your air fryer, oven or toaster oven.

Expert Tips for the BEST results, every time!

1. After coating your Buffalo cauliflower wings in the batter, do not dump them onto your baking tray. Excess batter at the bottom of the bowl will pool on your tray, causing the bites to stick together, and stick to the parchment paper. This will make them less crispy.
2. I know it’s tedious, but for best results, place your vegan buffalo wings on your baking tray, one piece at a time.
3. Make sure your vegan buffalo wings are in a single layer, with space in between each one. This will help crisp them up more.
4. Flip your cauliflower at the halfway point of the first AND second round (after coating in the Buffalo sauce) of baking. This helps get the most crispiness out of these delicious buffalo bites.

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 732mg | Potassium: 440mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 907IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg

Environmental Information

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*Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.