Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Printable)
Golden cauliflower florets air-fried to perfection, coated in zesty buffalo sauce for a satisfying vegetarian bite.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
→ Batter
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - ½ cup water
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Buffalo Sauce
09 - ¼ cup hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
→ For Serving
12 - Celery sticks
13 - Blue cheese or ranch dressing (optional)
# How-To:
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 pepper until smooth batter forms.
03 - Add cauliflower florets to batter, tossing until evenly coated.
04 - Shake off excess batter and arrange florets in single layer in air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
05 - Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking basket halfway through, until golden and crisp.
06 - In small bowl, mix hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup if using.
07 - Transfer cooked cauliflower to clean bowl, drizzle with buffalo sauce, and toss to coat evenly.
08 - Return sauced cauliflower to air fryer for 3-5 minutes to set sauce and crisp further.
09 - Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The air fryer gives you restaurant style crunch without the mess of deep frying
- Perfect for game day or when you need something impressive but ridiculously simple
02 -
- Crowding the basket is the fastest way to sad soggy cauliflower so work in batches
- The second air fry after saucing is crucial for that sticky finger licking coating
03 -
- Pat cauliflower dry before battering for better adhesion
- Room temperature cauliflower cooks more evenly than cold from the fridge