Have I made this buffalo cauliflower twice in the last week? Yes. Did I immediately add the ingredients to my grocery list for next week? You betcha. Have I found the healthy holy grail of vegetarian buffalo recipes? Methinks so. YOU GUYS. These buffalo cauliflower bites are heaven. If you love buffalo flavor, you really have to try these. I should clarify: I really don’t like cauliflower pretending to be something it’s not. Cauliflower rice? Meh. Cauliflower pizza crust? I’ll stick to the real thing. But these are an exception to the rule. The texture and flavor of the cauliflower is so perfect, coated in a batter, dipped in crispy buttery panko crumbs, and baked and tossed with classic buffalo sauce. The cauliflower is firm enough to hold up when it’s cooked and smothered in sauce and not get mushy. And since cauliflower is lighter and healthier than chicken wings, this recipe may make you feel a lot better after eating it instead of slipping gently into a delicious food coma.
What makes buffalo cauliflower healthier than traditional wings?
Chicken wings are usually deep fried, and coated in a really buttery hot sauce mixture. This version has up to 66% fewer calories than some wings you would get at a restaurant. This means you can eat the whole batch in one sitting… right? Since they’re oven-baked, they use less fat to cook them. And the buffalo sauce has less butter than other recipes, with a touch of honey to help sweeten it up a bit and thicken up when cooking. And while chicken may have more protein, cauliflower has more fiber, vitamins, and nutrients. It’s a great way to sneak more vegetables into your diet. If you’re looking for actual chicken buffalo wings, try these slow cooker buffalo wings, which are still a lot healthier than other buffalo wing recipes.
How to make buffalo cauliflower bites
Cauliflower florets are coated in a batter, dipped in buttery panko, baked, tossed with sauce, and baked again. Here are the details.
Tips and tricks
Make sure your cauliflower florets are as dry as possible. If you’re making this from frozen, thaw them and pat them dry. If you’re using fresh cauliflower, make sure you pat them dry after washing them. Speaking of fresh cauliflower, here’s a tutorial on how to cut broccoli and cauliflower into florets. It’s good to let the florets sit in the milk/flour batter for at least 30 seconds, so they get a really good coating. I recommend lining your baking sheet with parchment paper– you don’t need it for sticking, but it makes cleanup much easier.
Can I make this buffalo cauliflower vegan?
Yes! It’s really easy to adapt. In fact, the recipe from which is this inspired is vegan. You can check out the Alamo Drafthouse’s vegan buffalo cauliflower wings for yourself (they’ve also got a vegan ranch recipe for dipping!). Simply substitute a non-dairy milk, such as soy milk, for the regular milk. And use olive oil instead of butter.
Other Buffalo recipes
Buffalo Mushroom Naan Pizza Buffalo Chicken Fingers Crispy Honey Buffalo Chicken Thighs Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells Buffalo Chicken Tacos Slow Cooker Buffalo Wings
Other cauliflower recipes
Mashed Cauliflower with Butter and Herbs Rosemary Infused Potato and Cauliflower Mash Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts and Raisins Curried Cauliflower Soup
Check out all my vegetarian recipe here.
