Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Printer-friendly)

Crispy cauliflower florets air-fried to golden perfection, coated in tangy spicy buffalo sauce for a satisfying vegetarian bite.

# 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
10 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup

→ For Serving

12 - Celery sticks
13 - Blue cheese or ranch dressing

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
02 - 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 - Mix hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup if using in small bowl.
07 - Transfer cooked cauliflower to clean bowl, drizzle with buffalo sauce, and toss to coat evenly.
08 - Return sauced cauliflower to air fryer for 3-5 minutes to set sauce and crisp further.
09 - Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The air fryer creates that perfect crunchy exterior without the mess of deep frying
  • You get all the bold buffalo wing flavor in a lighter vegetarian package
02 -
  • Crowding the air fryer basket is the fastest way to soggy cauliflower. Work in batches for restaurant-worthy crunch.
  • The second air fry after saucing is nonnegotiable for achieving that sticky, caramelized exterior that makes these irresistible.
03 -
  • A quick spray of cooking oil on battered florets before the first fry makes a noticeable difference in final crunch
  • Room temperature cauliflower crisps better than cold from the fridge, so let it sit out while you prep the batter

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