Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Printable version)
Crispy cauliflower florets coated in seasoned batter, air-fried to golden perfection and tossed in tangy 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 - 1/2 cup water
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Buffalo Sauce
09 - 1/4 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 - Meanwhile, 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 another 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 -
- You get that perfect restaurant-style crunch without the heavy oil of deep frying
- The batter creates this incredible seasoned coating that actually sticks to the cauliflower
- Ready in under 40 minutes but tastes like you spent all day on them
02 -
- Overcrowding the air fryer basket will give you soggy, steamed cauliflower instead of crispy bites
- Letting the battered florets sit for a minute before air frying helps the coating adhere better
- That final sauce-setting step is what makes restaurant-style buffalo cauliflower possible at home
03 -
- Cut florets to the same size so some don't burn while others are still raw
- Pat cauliflower dry before battering, excess water makes the coating slide right off