Crispy Cauliflower Wings

Crispy cauliflower wings are delicious as a snack or a side dish!

Bite-sized cauliflower florets are coated in a simple batter, then tossed in a blend of crispy crumbs before being baked (or air fried) to crunchy perfection.

Toss these cauliflower “wings” in your fave sauces from hot sauce to honey garlic or buffalo sauce.

plated Crispy Cauliflower Wings with buffalo sauce

What are Cauliflower Wings?

Cauliflower wings are not actually wings at all. The name comes from the flavor in the sauce typically used for buffalo wings.

Buffalo cauliflower wings are a healthier, vegetarian alternative to chicken wings.
Baked in the oven or cooked in the air fryer, cauliflower wings can be seasoned any way you like!
Swap up the sauce or keep the sauces separate for dipping. With so many choices, everyone can DIY their snacks!

ingredients to make Crispy Cauliflower Wings

Ingredients and Variations

These cauliflower buffalo wings are both easy and delicious, perfect for game day or as a snack!

FRESH CAULIFLOWER Fresh cauliflower florets are best for this recipe as they have the best texture. Bags of florets make this recipe easy since they’re already cut and washed.

BATTER A batter of flour & milk with seasonings adds a great coating (and helps the breadcrumbs stick).

BREADING Panko breadcrumbs add lots of crunch and seasoned bread crumbs add flavor and ensure everything is evenly coated. Feel free to add spices to the bread crumbs like paprika or onion powder.

SAUCE Buffalo sauce is made with hot sauce and melted butter. You can make it at home or purchase a bottle of prepared buffalo wing sauce.

These cauliflower wings can be enjoyed with or without sauce. We love buffalo sauce but try any variety of sauces or dips.

Anything you’d like on wings (like honey garlic) can go on cauliflower wings or you can leave them plain and dip them instead! Here are a few favorites:

coating cauliflower with breading to make Crispy Cauliflower Wings

How to Make Cauliflower Wings

These little cauliflower bites are as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Make batter & toss prepared cauliflower until all pieces are coated per the recipe below.
Toss in breadcrumbs.
Bake (or air fry) until tender inside and crispy on the outside.

Serve hot with a side of carrots, celery, and blue cheese dressing!

These wings can be cooked in the oven or the air fryer. If cooking in the air fryer ensure they’re in a single layer and use the two-temperature cooking method in the recipe notes. This ensures the cauliflower cooks until tender without burning the outside.

breaded cauliflower to make Crispy Cauliflower Wings

Sauces and Dips for Cauliflower Wings

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These Baked Cauliflower Wings are the healthy version of a crowd favorite!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces, then wash and dry very well.
In a large bowl, mix milk, flour, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. a large bowl and whisk until smooth.
Toss the cauliflower pieces in the batter and then place them in a large strainer. Allow any excess batter to drip off for 5 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine Panko bread crumbs, seasoned bread crumbs, and olive oil. Toss the battered cauliflower in the breadcrumb mixture.
Place the cauliflower on a parchment lined pan and bake for 15 minutes. Flip and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender-crisp and the coating is crispy.
If desired, toss the cooked cauliflower in the sauce before serving. The sauce can also be served on the side for dipping.

To Cook in the Fryer
Preheat to 350°F and cook for 5 minutes. Increase heat to 400°F and air fry for an additional 5-7 minutes or until cauliflower is tender inside and crisp outside. Toss with sauce if desired and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
To keep the cauliflower crisp: Adding sauce can soften the crisp coating. Be sure to lightly toss and not soak the cauliflower. Optionally, cauliflower can be salted and served with dips on the side to keep it nice and crisp.
Sauce options: Cauliflower wings can be tossed in buffalo sauce, honey garlic sauce, parmesan garlic butter, or even served salt & pepper style.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Party Food, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

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