Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (2024)

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By Taylor Stinson | 6 Comments | Posted: | Updated:

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This is the easiest ever Buffalo Cauliflower recipe – these delicious baked bites are a healthier vegetarian alternative to buffalo wings.

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (1)

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Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (2)

Ingredients and substitutions

  • Flour – use almond flour or cornstarch to make this appetizer gluten-free.
  • Garlic powder – onion powder would also work here.
  • Salt & black pepper – to taste.
  • Cauliflower – this is crucial to the recipe. Make sure to choose a head of cauliflower that’s firm to the touch and tightly closed.
  • Buffalo sauce – use any bottled variety of your choice or make your own homemade buffalo sauce.
  • Butter – the butter will help cut the buffalo sauce. Feel free to swap it out for your favourite butter substitute or leave it out altogether (although the flavour will be stronger).
Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (3)

How to make Buffalo cauliflower

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (4)

Step 1: Combine the flour, garlic powder and water.

Combine the flour, garlic powder and water in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Toss the cauliflower in the mixture.

Add the cauliflower florets, tossing to combine.

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (5)

Step 3: Add to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake the cauliflower.

Season with salt and pepper, then bake on the sheet pan for 15 mins.

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (6)

Step 5: Toss in the sauce.

Meanwhile, mix buffalo sauce and butter together. When cauliflower is done, pour sauce overtop and gently toss to combine. Bake another 10 mins.

Step 6: Serve and enjoy!

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (7)

What to serve with buffalo cauliflower

If you are making this buffalo cauliflower as an appetizer for a party, you can serve it with more of your favourite game day sides! Here are some side dish and serving ideas:

  • Dipping sauces like vegan ranch dressing, blue cheese, nacho sauce, sauce, Buffalo sauce or hot sauce
  • Crockpot buffalo chicken dip
  • Sliced veggies like carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumbers or radishes
  • Chili cheese fries or loaded In n Out fries
  • Cowboy caviar

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of buffalo sauce is best?

Buffalo sauce is a combination of hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, butter and seasonings. It’s easy to make your own, but there are lots of options on the market for just purchasing a bottle. I personally like using the Frank’s Red Hot buffalo wing sauce as I love the flavor, but you can use any bottled variety of your choice!

Can you make it gluten-free or dairy-free?

You can easily adapt this recipe for a variety of diets. To make the recipe gluten-free, use almond flour or cornstarch instead of flour. To make it dairy-free or vegan, use your favourite butter substitute like margarine instead of regular butter.

How do you make it less spicy?

If you're not a big fan of spice, you can use extra butter to cut the spiciness of the buffalo sauce.

Can you make it in the air fryer?

You can definitely give it a try! I personally haven't tried making buffalo cauliflower in the air fryer, but I would suggest cooking it for about 10 minutes per side at 400° Fahrenheit. Make sure the florets are in a single layer in the air-fryer basket, and air fry in batches if need be.

Can you make them advance?

This buffalo cauliflower recipe is best made fresh, but if you're prepping it for a party or gathering, you can bake the cauliflower and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Stick it back in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes so they get nice and crispy again, then serve!

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (8)

Storing and reheating

Without a doubt, these buffalo cauliflower bites are best straight out of the oven. However, you can store them in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days in an airtight container.

To reheat this buffalo cauliflower recipe, put the florets back in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes to maintain that nice crispy texture. If you reheat them in the microwave, the batter on the cauliflower will get soggy even if they still taste great.

If you have extra buffalo cauliflower, you can use it in lots of other dishes like as a filling for tacos, in a pita, crumbled on a pizza or as a salad topping.

Freezing this recipe

You can definitely freeze this buffalo cauliflower recipe! Let the cauliflower cool completely then place the florets on a baking sheet in the freezer in a single layer without any of the pieces touching to keep them from sticking together. After an hour, you can put them in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to enjoy, reheat your buffalo cauliflower from frozen in the oven for 15 minutes at 375° Fahrenheit.

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (9)
Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (10)

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Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (14)

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!}

This is the easiest ever Buffalo Cauliflower recipe – these delicious baked bites are a healthier vegetarian alternative to buffalo wings.

4.86 from 7 votes

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Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 225kcal

Author: Taylor Stinson

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tsp garlic or onion powder
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 2/3 cup buffalo sauce
  • 3 tbsp melted butter

To serve (optional)

  • Ranch dressing
  • Blue cheese dressing
  • Chives, chopped
  • Carrot sticks and celery

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 500 F. In a large bowl, combine flour, garlic powder and water. Add cauliflower, tossing to combine.

  • Add florets to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper, then bake for 15 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, mix buffalo sauce and butter together. When cauliflower is done, pour sauce overtop and gently toss to combine. Bake another 10 minutes.

  • Remove from oven and serve with dressings and veggies of choice. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Make your own buffalo sauce using hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, butter, cayenne and garlic.

The butter helps cut the buffalo sauce but you can leave it out for a sharper flavour.

Store leftovers in the fridge for 4-5 days then reheat in the oven to maintain that crispy texture.

Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 225kcal (11%)Carbohydrates: 31g (10%)Protein: 6g (12%)Fat: 9g (14%)Saturated Fat: 6g (38%)Cholesterol: 23mg (8%)Sodium: 1348mg (59%)Potassium: 463mg (13%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 262IU (5%)Vitamin C: 69mg (84%)Calcium: 39mg (4%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

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Created by Taylor Stinson

Hey there, my name's Taylor! I’m the founder of The Girl on Bloor, a food blog where I share healthy meal prep recipes for busy people. I'm a busy city girl living in downtown Toronto on (you guessed it!) Bloor Street. I've got 10 years experience meal prepping, along with a Master's degree in journalism, and you can find my work across the internet featured on publications such as Buzzfeed, HuffPost, Women's Health, Reader's Digest and more. I also run the awesome 5-Day Meal Prep Challenge, which is a free email course and Facebook group where I share my meal planning strategies and easy meal prep tips and recipes. Be sure to check out my free beginner’s guide to meal prep and follow me on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to get my latest recipes and meal prep tips!

Reader Interactions

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Did you make this recipe or want to share your thoughts? Make sure to leave your review below and tag me on Instagram #thegirlonbloor so I can check it out!

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Kathy says

    Can you use frozen cauliflower?

    Reply

    • Taylor Stinson says

      I wouldn’t recommend it as it would probably just be soggy and wouldn’t crisp up.

      Reply

  2. Laura says

    Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (15)
    Delicious and easy- mid-day snack with a spicy zing!! I made in the oven but next time I’ll use the air frier. I plan to substitute white flour to reduce carbs!

    Reply

    • Taylor Stinson says

      I’m so glad you enjoyed!

      Reply

  3. Zahra says

    I wonder if these would work in the air fryer! Do you do any air fryer friendly recipes? Recently got one and I’m obsessed! Love all your recipes.

    Reply

    • Taylor Stinson says

      Hi Zahra – I’m sure they could be cooked in an Airfryer! I have a couple other Airfryer recipes on my site that you can search for in the search bar 🙂

      Reply

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor (2024)

FAQs

Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe {5 Ingredients!} - The Girl on Bloor? ›

Cooking Instructions: Oven/Toaster Oven: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Arrange frozen cauliflower into a single layer on a baking sheet. Parchment paper preferred. Bake 23-25 minutes to desired crispness, flipping halfway.

How do you cook wholly veggie buffalo cauliflower? ›

Cooking Instructions: Oven/Toaster Oven: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Arrange frozen cauliflower into a single layer on a baking sheet. Parchment paper preferred. Bake 23-25 minutes to desired crispness, flipping halfway.

Why is it called buffalo cauliflower? ›

My Buffalo Cauliflower Wing Sauce

Named after Buffalo, New York, its city of origin, this rich, tangy, spicy condiment earned its fame as a sauce for regular chicken wings. It's traditionally made with a cayenne pepper hot sauce like Frank's RedHot, melted butter, and vinegar.

How do you reheat cauliflower wings? ›

Reheat the smart way: If you do end up with leftovers (we never have hehe), the best way to reheat these easy buffalo cauliflower wings is where you made them: the oven! Place the wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 8 minutes on each side at 400°F to give them some extra crunch!

What is the nutrition buffalo cauliflower? ›

4 oz of buffalo cauliflower (Tattooed Chef) contains 140 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 46% carbs, 49% fat, and 5% protein. This has a relatively low calorie density, with 124 Calories per 100g.

Why do you boil cauliflower before cooking? ›

Boiling cauliflower makes for a quick side, but boiling it in chicken stock or other soup base is a great way to tenderize the vegetable while you're preparing it for a recipe.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking? ›

The separated florets have to be washed properly under a tap. This removes dirt and large parasites such as worms. The next step is cleaning the cauliflower in mildly warm water in which a little salt was dissolved. This process – which should last 10-20 minutes - destroys several microbes and large parasites.

What's buffalo sauce made of? ›

Buffalo sauce gets its name from its city of origin, Buffalo, New York, where Teressa Bellissimo is said to have invented buffalo chicken wings at the Anchor Bar in 1964. In its simplest form, buffalo wing sauce is a just a combination of cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter.

Is Fried Cauliflower healthier than Fried Chicken? ›

This is a great alternative for fried chicken - like for like, it is cheaper, different-nutritious than chicken: less calories, less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber. The coating is also very thin, so doesn't absorb too much fat. 1 tablespoon each of the following: Salt.

Who invented buffalo cauliflower? ›

Well, a family-owned restaurant, the Anchor Bar, in exotic Buffalo, NY, invented it in 1964. And we are all the beneficiaries of that culinary experiment that tastes delicious on almost anything: in this case, riced cauliflower and florets.

Can you reheat cauliflower twice? ›

In terms of food safety, however, so long as you reheat the food at the correct temperature and for the correct duration of time, it can in fact be safely reheated multiple times.

Why are my cauliflower wings soggy? ›

Why are my cauliflower wings soggy? If your buffalo cauliflower wings are soggy coming out of the oven, it is possible your oven was not hot enough. In order to get these baked cauliflower wings extra crispy, it is important to use high heat. If your oven tends to run on the cool side, turn up the heat to 450°F.

Can you reheat cauliflower the next day? ›

Roasted cauliflower can be reheated in the microwave, on the stove and in the oven. Reheating in microwave: Transfer cauliflower to a microwave-safe plate and top with a damp paper towel or microwave plate cover, then heat on high for 1 to 2 minutes (until cauliflower is heated through).

Is cauliflower better for you than broccoli? ›

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

Is cauliflower better for you than chicken? ›

Unlike chicken wings, cauliflower is free of cholesterol and low in fat and saturated fat. It's also packed with fiber and antioxidants, making it a powerful food for heart health!

Is eating a lot of cauliflower good for you? ›

When it comes to nutrition, cauliflower is a superstar. It's high in vitamins C and K, and is also a good source of folate, which supports cell growth and is essential during pregnancy. Cauliflower is fat-free and cholesterol-free. And it's low in sodium.

Do you put cauliflower in cold or boiling water? ›

Place the cauliflower into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until fork-tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two; chop into bite-size pieces.

Do you need to boil cauliflower before eating? ›

The florets are great used raw in a salad or as part of a crudité selection served with dips. Cooked cauliflower florets keep their shape best when steamed (5-10 mins) – remember to place them upright in the steamer. It can also be boiled (takes 5-10 mins for florets; around 10 mins for a whole cauliflower).

Should you cook cauliflower before eating? ›

Raw or Cooked.

Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed in various ways. Eating raw cauliflower provides maximum vitamin C content, but cooking cauliflower allows your body to absorb more nutrients, such as vitamin K and potassium.

Why is my cauliflower not cooking? ›

Cauliflower has a very high water content, so it won't get crispy if you bake the florets crowded together. "Be sure to give each floret a bit of room so that the they have space for airflow. I'd also recommend baking them on a silicone baking mat," says Blay.

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