Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Printable)

Crispy cauliflower coated in spicy buffalo sauce, air-fried until golden and tender with a flavorful zing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

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

→ Batter

02 - 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
03 - ½ cup (120 ml) milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tsp onion powder
06 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Buffalo Sauce

09 - ½ cup (120 ml) hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot)
10 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (or plant-based alternative)
11 - 1 tbsp honey or agave syrup (optional)

→ For Serving

12 - Celery sticks
13 - Carrot sticks
14 - Ranch or blue cheese dressing (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and lightly grease the basket with oil spray.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Toss the cauliflower florets in the batter until evenly coated.
04 - Shake off excess batter and arrange florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary.
05 - Air fry for 12 to 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the florets are golden brown and crisp.
06 - In a separate bowl, combine hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or agave syrup if using.
07 - Transfer the cooked cauliflower to the buffalo sauce and toss to coat evenly.
08 - Return the coated florets to the air fryer and cook for an additional 4 to 5 minutes to set the sauce.
09 - Serve hot alongside celery and carrot sticks with ranch or blue cheese dressing as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It delivers the same sticky, spicy satisfaction as wings without any guilt or mess.
  • The air fryer gives you that deep-fried crispiness using almost no oil.
  • You can have these ready faster than ordering takeout, and they taste better too.
02 -
  • Don't skip shaking off excess batter or you'll end up with soggy, doughy spots that never crisp up properly.
  • Tossing them in sauce and then air frying again is what makes the coating sticky and caramelized, not just wet.
  • Work in batches if your basket is small, overcrowding ruins the texture every single time.
03 -
  • Use a whisk to make the batter smooth, lumps will create uneven coating and weird textures.
  • Let the florets sit in the batter for a minute before air frying, it helps the coating stick better.
  • Always taste your buffalo sauce before tossing, you might want it saltier, sweeter, or spicier depending on your mood.

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