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Make these buffalo cauliflower bites for your next party! No one will even notice they are healthier or even made with cauliflower. They’re our new go-to appetizer!
We have always loved appetizers of every kind (and all things buffalo like our Buffalo Chicken Dip and Buffalo French Bread) and we are especially excited for a healthier recipe to add to the list.
just as good as chicken!
Who here loves cauliflower?
I’ve become obsessed recently and ordered some Buffalo Cauliflower at California Pizza Kitchen. It was so good I knew I wanted to try and re-create it at home.
Since trying the recipe, I’ve now made it at least 10 more times because it’s that good.
I decided to use our basic Fried Zucchini recipe with these cauliflower pieces and used Panko instead. We also baked the cauliflower to make it healthier, and it turned out AWESOME!
Of course we love our classic boneless buffalo wings, but these bites are so good, you’ll love them just as much as the chicken!
How to Make Cauliflower Buffalo Bites
- PREP. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray it heavily with cooking spray. Pour the milk into a bowl and set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.
- CHOP. Begin by chopping up two heads of cauliflower into bite sized pieces.
- DRY MIX. Grab a gallon sized ziplock bag and mix together the flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add the Panko bread crumbs to a separate baggie. Now you’re ready to start coating each cauliflower piece.
- DIP. Dip each cauliflower piece into the bowl of milk and then into the flour mixture. Then dip it back into the milk and then into the Panko bread crumb mixture.
- BAKE. Set each bite onto the greased baking sheet lined with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- TOSS + BAKE AGAIN. Remove the cauliflower from the oven and toss the bites into the buffalo wing sauce. Return to the pan and bake an additional 10 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and cook for 2 more minutes.
- BROIL. Broiling it for the last few minutes will make sure it’s a little more crispy. 😉
Recipe FAQ + Tips
Can you make buffalo cauliflower without the flour and Panko? We think using them makes them more crispy, but you can always just roast the cauliflower and then drizzle some buffalo sauce on it, baking it for a bit longer.
How to make buffalo cauliflower in air fryer? This recipe can also be made in the air fryer. To make it, just follow directions as directed, but before frying, spread the cauliflower in the air fryer in an even layer making sure the florets aren’t touching and cook at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Then toss them in the buffalo sauce.
Can you reheat buffalo cauliflower? Reheating fried food isn’t always easy because it’s definitely best fresh, but you can reheat by placing the cauliflower on a greased baking sheet and baking at 375 for 12-14 minutes. Broil for the last minute to make crispy.
Can I change up the sauce? This cauliflower does not have to be tossed in a buffalo sauce. We love it with this sauce, but we also cannot wait to try using the sauce in our Teriyaki Wings or even in our Honey BBQ wings.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH?
Definitely serve these tasty baked buffalo cauliflower bites with your favorite dipping sauces – we prefer homemade ranch.
You could try them with this Nacho Cheese sauce that is sooo yummy. Or even this Chipotle Ranch sauce that is super delicious. Possibilities are endless with this fun appetizer idea.
Again – you can fry these if you want, but baking them is the best option. It’s healthier and they still get that crisp-ness when you broil for the last bit of the baking.
We hope you can agree that this Baked Buffalo Cauliflower tastes just like chicken and is super tasty. 😉
For more delicious appetizers:
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Boneless Honey BBQ Wings
- Parmesan Crusted Potato Skins
- Buffalo Wings
- Fried Cauliflower
Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients
- olive oil cooking spray
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups Panko
- 2 heads cauliflower cut to bite size
- 1 cup mild buffalo wing sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- Pour 1 cup milk in a bowl, set aside. In a ziploc gallon bag, mix together flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add Panko to a separate baggie.
- Coat cauliflower by dipping each piece in milk then tossing in flour mixture. Place back in milk, and then toss in Panko. Set on a heavily greased, foil lined, baking sheet and bake for 20-25.
- Remove from oven and toss baked cauliflower pieces in buffalo sauce. Return cauliflower back to greased baking sheet and cook for an additional 10 minutes, broiling for the last 2 minutes. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These taste SO good!!! I’m trying to eat less meat and these did not disappoint. It’s a flavorful way to cut out meat and add more veggies into your diet. And who doesn’t love Buffalo sauce??
these were so delicious we definitely ate more than we should’ve in one sitting! some of ours came out with a little more char than some may prefer but we did bake the full 25 minutes first followed by 10 minutes. it was so crispy with the regular baking we didn’t have to broil it at the end. we had 1 medium-large head of cauliflower which ended up requiring the full, and in some cases more, of the coating ingredients to bake all of it. maybe the pieces were cut smaller requiring more batter to cover it all? nonetheless, they were crunchy outside and tender inside with great flavor! will definitely make again but maybe put away the leftovers before we sit down to eat so we don’t keep going back for seconds, or thirds, or fourths………….
Aren’t they addicting!? Thank you for trying them & for letting me know what you thought 🙂
these bites are incredibly good! Taste so much like the real thing and much more healthier.
Super tasty and healthy too!
Great way to get your veggies in. CAULIFLOWER isnt my favorite, but this is a yummy recipe!
Made these for a family Party and they were gone in Minutes! Wish I had made more. I will know for next time though!
Ok, why haven’t I made these sooner! You seriously couldn’t tell it was cauliflower. It tasted just like buffalo chicken. I am so excited to make them again!!
Oh my gosh, these are FANTASTIC!! I made these using almond milk and cooked them in an air fryer. 10/10!
Great idea!! Thank you for sharing that! Glad you liked them!
DO you think these would work in the air fryer?
I am sure they would 🙂 They’d be great!
great way to make cauliflower actually have some taste! also a nice vegetable swap, thank you
Thank you & I agree!! It’s pretty tasteless, but love adding ingredients to give it some taste!