Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Printable Version)

Crispy cauliflower florets air-fried with spicy buffalo sauce coating. Easy vegetarian appetizer.

# What You’ll 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 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tsp onion powder
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

→ Buffalo Sauce

09 - 1/4 cup hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot)
10 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)

→ For Serving

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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes to ensure proper cooking temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until you have a smooth batter with no lumps.
03 - Add the cauliflower florets to the batter, tossing until evenly coated. Shake off excess batter to prevent sogginess.
04 - Arrange florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crisp.
05 - Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup if using until well combined.
06 - Transfer cooked cauliflower to a clean bowl, drizzle with buffalo sauce, and toss to coat evenly.
07 - Return sauced cauliflower to the air fryer for another 3–5 minutes to set the sauce and crisp further.
08 - Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing if desired.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • The batter creates this incredibly light, crunchy shell that actually holds up under the sauce
  • You get all that spicy, tangy buffalo satisfaction with zero guilt involved
  • These disappear faster than traditional wings every single time I serve them
02 -
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket will make everything soggy instead of crispy
  • The second air fry after saucing is what makes the coating stick and stay crunchy
  • Room temperature cauliflower coats more evenly than cold from the fridge
03 -
  • Use a gluten-free flour blend for the same crispy results without the wheat
  • A light spray of oil on battered florets before the first fry adds extra crunch
  • Double the sauce recipe if you like yours heavily coated

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