Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe

Recipe Details

I adore the healthiness of this Spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower while still being incredibly delectable. The taste and consistency make me overlook the fact that I’m actually consuming vegetables!

• FLAVOR: Packed with just the right amount of heat, this Spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is bursting with taste.
• CRISPINESS: Coated with a mixture of flour and corn starch, this dish gets an extra crispy texture when air-fried.
• TIME: This recipe can be prepared in just 25 minutes.
• SIMPLICITY: It’s incredibly easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. Air frying the cauliflower is far simpler than deep frying.

Necessary Ingredients

Notes on Ingredients

• Cauliflower- Fresh cauliflower florets with the stems removed are required. You can either trim them from a whole cauliflower or purchase pre-cut florets.
• Flour + Corn starch- These two components create the crispy coating on the Spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower.
• Hot sauce- I opted for Frank’s Red Hot, although any brand or homemade sauce can be used.
• Seasonings- Garlic powder, salt, and black pepper are used for added flavor.
• Olive oil- Helps in crisping up the cauliflower.

Additions and Alternative Options

• Swap out different seasonings- Amp up the spiciness by adding cayenne pepper, chili powder, or curry powder. Alternatively, include paprika or cumin.
• Go gluten-free- Use gluten-free all-purpose flour instead of regular flour to cater to allergies.
• Experiment with other vegetables- Besides cauliflower, this recipe works well with zucchini, eggplant, broccoli, or yellow squash.
• Opt for butter- Instead of oil, melted butter can also be used for more flavor.

Cooking Instructions

• Prepare the seasoned breading. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Set aside.

• Coat the cauliflower in sauce. Combine the cauliflower with olive oil and buffalo sauce in a large bowl.
• Incorporate the dry ingredients. Sprinkle the dry mixture over the cauliflower and mix thoroughly.

• Heat up. Preheat your basket-style air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Air-fry. Arrange the coated cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes. Toss in extra Buffalo sauce before serving with ranch dressing.

Special Tip: Ensure the cauliflower is in a single layer to ensure thorough cooking. Overcrowding may lead to a mushy texture instead of a crispy one.

Cooking Tips

• Pre-mix the seasonings- Blend the seasonings with the flour before adding them to the cauliflower for even distribution.
• Preheat the air fryer- Preheating the air fryer helps kickstart the cooking process at a high temperature, leading to a crispy texture rather than a mushy one.
• Cook in a single layer- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket so that hot air can circulate properly, preventing some cauliflower pieces from being undercooked. Cook them in batches if needed.
• Coat with additional sauce- As the cauliflower cooks, the sauce will soak into the breading, so toss the Spicy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower in extra sauce before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ways to Serve

This Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is a flexible accompaniment and starter. You can present it with meats, chips, and other appetizers for a spread.

• Appetizers: Accompany this dish with Loaded Chicken Nachos, Easy BLT Dip, Hot Artichoke Dip, and Zucchini Fritters.
• Meats: Match this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower with Juicy Air Fryer Steak Bites, Smoked Chicken Thighs, Smoked Beef Brisket, or Beer Battered Cod.
• Chips: Offer some Crispy Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, or Air Fryer Potato Wedges with this vegetable dish.
• Side dishes: Enjoy it with Air Fryer Kale Chips, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, or Sauteed Garlic Asparagus.

Prepare This Recipe Ahead of Time

Preparation in advance: You can prearrange these beforehand and keep them in the fridge. Just warm in the air fryer for a few minutes and toss with additional sauce before serving.

Storage: Keep any remaining portion of this Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezing: You can freeze this meal in a freezer ziplock bag for up to 4 months. Just defrost in the fridge or put directly into the air fryer to reheat.

Additional Scrumptious Air Fryer Dishes!

Detailed Recipe Steps

• In one bowl, mix 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Then, set it aside.

• Now blend the cauliflower with 1 tsp olive oil and 1/2 cup buffalo sauce.

• Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the cauliflower and mix thoroughly.

• Preheat your air fryer basket to 350 degrees Fº.

• Arrange the coated cauliflower in a single layer and air fry for 15 minutes.

• Once they’re ready, toss them in a bowl with 1/4 cup extra Buffalo sauce and serve with ranch dressing.

• Preheat the air fryer- Initiating the air fryer preheating assists in the buffalo cauliflower cooking at a high temperature, ensuring crispiness rather than sogginess.
• Cook them in a single layer- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket, or there won’t be sufficient room for the hot air to circulate, leading to some cauliflower being mushy and undercooked. Cook them in batches.
• Toss them in more sauce- The sauce seeps into the breading while cooking, so coat the Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower in additional sauce before serving.

Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gram | Monounsaturated Lipid: 1g | Salt: 1212mg | Potassium: 15mg | Dietary Fiber: 0.3g | Sugars: 0.03g | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.4mg