Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Printable)

Crispy cauliflower florets air-fried to golden perfection and tossed in tangy buffalo sauce for a spicy vegetarian appetizer.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

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

→ Batter

02 - 1 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 ground black pepper

→ Buffalo Sauce

09 - 1/4 cup hot sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

→ For Serving

12 - Celery sticks
13 - Blue cheese or ranch dressing

# Steps:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
02 - Whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth batter forms.
03 - Add cauliflower florets to batter, tossing until evenly coated. Shake off excess batter.
04 - Arrange florets in single layer in air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, shaking basket halfway through, until golden and crisp. Work in batches if necessary.
05 - Mix hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup in small bowl.
06 - Transfer cooked cauliflower to clean bowl, drizzle with buffalo sauce, and toss to coat evenly.
07 - Return sauced cauliflower to air fryer for 3-5 minutes to set sauce and crisp further.
08 - Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer gives you restaurant-style crunch without all the oil and mess of deep frying
  • Perfect for game days, parties, or when you want comfort food that happens to be vegetarian
02 -
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket is the fastest way to end up with soggy, sad cauliflower
  • Letting the battered florets sit for a minute before air frying helps the coating adhere better
03 -
  • A light spray of oil on battered florets before air frying creates extra crunch without deep frying
  • Room temperature cauliflower fries more evenly than cold from the fridge

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