Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Printable)

Spicy cauliflower florets coated in a crunchy batter with tangy buffalo sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets

→ Batter

02 - 3/4 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 black pepper

→ Coating

09 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

→ Buffalo Sauce

10 - 1/3 cup hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot)
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F or oven to 425°F. If using oven, line baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Add cauliflower florets to batter and toss until evenly coated.
04 - Dredge each battered floret in panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
05 - Place coated florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the prepared baking tray.
06 - Air fry for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking halfway through, or bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping once, until golden and crispy.
07 - Combine hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup in a small bowl.
08 - Transfer cooked florets to a large bowl, pour buffalo sauce over, and toss to coat evenly.
09 - Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The panko gives you that deep-fried crunch without a single drop of oil in a messy pan.
  • Buffalo sauce hits just right when you balance the heat with a drizzle of honey.
  • Even die-hard meat eaters grab these first at parties and never realize theyre eating vegetables.
02 -
  • Shaking the basket or flipping the tray halfway through is non-negotiable or youll get one golden side and one pale side.
  • Dont drown the florets in sauce before they cool even a little or the coating will turn soggy instead of staying crisp.
03 -
  • Press the panko onto each floret with your palm instead of just rolling it around so the coating actually sticks during cooking.
  • Let the battered florets sit for a minute before breading them and the batter will set slightly and hold the crumbs better.
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