Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Printable)

Crispy cauliflower florets coated in tangy buffalo sauce, air-fried to golden perfection. A spicy vegetarian appetizer ready in 35 minutes.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables

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

→ Batter

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - ½ cup water
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tsp onion powder
06 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper

→ Buffalo Sauce

09 - ¼ cup hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot)
10 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)

→ For Serving

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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
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.
03 - Add the cauliflower florets to the batter, tossing until evenly coated.
04 - Shake off excess batter and arrange florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.
05 - Air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until golden and crisp.
06 - Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup if using.
07 - Transfer cooked cauliflower to a clean bowl, drizzle with buffalo sauce, and toss to coat evenly.
08 - Return sauced cauliflower to the air fryer for another 3–5 minutes to set the sauce and crisp further.
09 - Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The batter creates this incredible crunch that somehow survives the sauce, unlike baked versions that get soggy the second you dress them
  • You get all that classic buffalo wing experience with actual vegetables, making them perfect for game day when you want something lighter
02 -
  • Overcrowding is the enemy of crispy cauliflower, work in batches if needed and let each piece get proper air circulation
  • The second air fry after saucing is crucial, it creates that sticky, caramelized coating instead of just wet sauce
03 -
  • A light spray of oil on battered florets before the first air fry creates extra crunch without adding much fat
  • Cut your cauliflower into slightly larger pieces than you think, they shrink during cooking and stay meatier

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