Why Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Work
Takes about 25 minutes total and you’re not standing over a deep fryer. The batter crisps up without needing a ton of oil.
Costs maybe $4 to make versus $12 at a sports bar. Same crunch, way less grease on your hands.
✅ Crispy coating without deep frying
✅ Buffalo cauliflower bites air fryer calories under 200 per serving
✅ Ready in 25 minutes start to finish
✅ Works as party appetizer or weeknight side
✅ Lily approved (she dips hers in ranch)
First batch at 380°F came out pale. Bumped it to 400°F and the edges turned golden like they should.
Here’s what you need from Hornbacher’s.
Core Ingredients for Buffalo Cauliflower
Air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites need a solid coating that won’t slide off. The flour and cornstarch combo creates that crispy shell you want.
✔ Cauliflower : one large head, broken into bite-sized florets, look for tight white heads with no brown spots
✔ All-purpose flour : spooned and leveled, creates the base batter structure
✔ Cornstarch : mixed with garlic powder and onion powder, this is what makes it extra crispy
✔ Buffalo sauce : Frank’s RedHot is standard but any vinegar-based hot sauce works
The cornstarch is critical. Without it, the coating stays soft instead of getting that crunch.
Steps to Make Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Breaking down buffalo cauliflower in the air fryer takes maybe five steps. The batter needs to be thick enough to coat but not clumpy.
- Mix flour, paprika, salt, and water in a bowl until smooth
- Toss cauliflower florets in the batter until fully coated
- Preheat 400F for 3 minutes in your basket style air fryer
- Arrange florets in a single layer with space between each piece
- Cook 12 minutes, shake the basket halfway through
- Brush with buffalo sauce using silicone tongs
- Return to air fryer for 3 more minutes to set the sauce
Don’t skip the second cook after adding sauce. That’s when the coating really sets and gets sticky.
Keeping Buffalo Cauliflower Fresh
Air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites are best straight out of the basket, but leftovers happen during Sunday meal prep. Store them right and they’ll reheat decently.
Storage
- At room temperature: 2 hours max if you’re serving them at a party
- In the fridge: 3 days in an airtight container, they lose some crispness but flavor stays
- In the freezer: Not recommended, cauliflower gets mushy when thawed
Reheating
Air fryer at 375°F for 5 minutes works best. Arrange in a single layer and don’t crowd them.
Oven works too at 400°F for 8 minutes if your air fryer is full. Skip the microwave unless you’re okay with soft coating.
Anti-waste tip
Chop up leftover bites and toss them into a salad with ranch dressing. The buffalo flavor still hits and you’re not throwing out food.
Got some questions about the coating? Here’s what I figured out.
Common Questions About Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Tested this recipe maybe four times before I got the timing right. Here’s what people usually ask.
How long to cook buffalo cauliflower bites in air fryer?
12 minutes at 400°F before adding sauce, then 3 more minutes after brushing with buffalo sauce. Total cook time is 15 minutes.
Can you make air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites no breading?
You can skip the batter and just toss raw florets with olive oil spray, but they won’t have the crispy coating. Cook at 400°F for 15 minutes.
Do buffalo cauliflower bites air fryer with almond flour work?
Almond flour makes them crispier but they brown faster. Drop temp to 375°F and check at 10 minutes to avoid burning.
Why is my coating falling off the cauliflower?
Batter was too thin or florets were wet. Pat cauliflower dry before coating and make sure batter coats thickly without dripping off.
Full Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe
Crispy buffalo cauliflower with tangy sauce and crunchy coating. Works as a party appetizer or lighter alternative to wings. Lily dips hers in ranch and Jessica likes them with celery sticks on the side.
Better than bar food and you’re not spending $12 on an appetizer that’s mostly filler.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Equipment
- Air Fryer (basket style)
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Silicone tongs
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 head cauliflower about 2 pounds, broken into large florets
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce for brushing; Frank’s RedHot or other vinegar-based hot sauce
- vegan ranch for dipping, optional
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, paprika, salt, and water in a large bowl until smooth with no lumps.
- In a separate small bowl, mix the cornstarch with garlic powder and onion powder.
- Toss the cauliflower florets in the flour batter until completely coated.
- Sprinkle the cornstarch mixture over the coated florets and toss again to coat evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
- Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer in the air fryer basket with space between pieces. Cook in batches if needed.
- Cook for 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through at the 6-minute mark.
- Remove the basket and brush each floret with buffalo sauce using a pastry brush.
- Return to the air fryer and cook for 3 more minutes until the sauce sets and edges are crispy.
- Serve immediately with vegan ranch (optional) and celery sticks if desired.
Notes
- Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne to the batter for extra heat.
- For a panko version, press battered florets into panko before air frying; watch closely as panko browns faster.
- Do not crowd the basket; cook in batches for best crisping.
- Reheat leftovers at 375°F in the air fryer for about 5 minutes.
- Store in the fridge up to 3 days; freezing not recommended.
Try These Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Buffalo cauliflower in the air fryer works for game days or weeknight dinners. Costs way less than ordering wings and you control the spice level.
Rate this if you make it. Let me know in the comments if you adjusted the buffalo sauce amount or tried different coatings.
Tag #AirFryerPlates or @AirFryerPlates with your photos. Always good to see how they turn out in different air fryer models.
