Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Printable)

Golden cauliflower bites tossed in zesty buffalo sauce, air-fried until irresistibly crispy and perfect for dipping.

# 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 (such as Frank's RedHot)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)

→ For Serving

12 - Celery sticks
13 - Blue cheese or ranch dressing (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes to ensure optimal cooking temperature.
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 each piece is evenly coated with mixture.
04 - Shake off excess batter and arrange florets in single layer in air fryer basket. Work in batches if needed to prevent overcrowding.
05 - Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking basket halfway through cooking time, until cauliflower is golden and crispy.
06 - While cauliflower cooks, mix hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup (if using) in small bowl until combined.
07 - Transfer cooked cauliflower to clean bowl, drizzle with buffalo sauce mixture, and toss gently to coat evenly.
08 - Return sauced cauliflower to air fryer and cook additional 3-5 minutes to set sauce and achieve final crispiness.
09 - Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the spicy tangy comfort of buffalo wings without the meat
  • The air fryer creates restaurant style crispiness with way less oil
02 -
  • Overcrowding the basket leads to soggy spots, so work in batches
  • Letting excess batter drip off is crucial for that crunch
03 -
  • Gluten free flour blend works perfectly here
  • Adjust hot sauce to your heat tolerance

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