Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (Print version)

Crispy cauliflower florets air-fried to golden perfection, then coated in spicy buffalo sauce for a delicious vegetarian snack or appetizer.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

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

→ Batter

02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - ½ cup water
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Buffalo Sauce

09 - ¼ cup hot sauce (such as Franks RedHot)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

→ For Serving

12 - Celery sticks
13 - Blue cheese or ranch dressing (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes before beginning preparation.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth batter forms.
03 - Add cauliflower florets to batter, tossing until evenly coated on all sides.
04 - Shake off excess batter and arrange florets in single layer in air fryer basket. Work in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding.
05 - Air fry for 12-15 minutes, shaking basket halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy.
06 - While cauliflower cooks, mix hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup (if using) in small bowl until combined.
07 - Transfer cooked cauliflower to clean bowl, drizzle with buffalo sauce, and toss gently until evenly coated.
08 - Return sauced cauliflower to air fryer and cook for additional 3-5 minutes to set sauce and achieve extra crispiness.
09 - Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer gives you restaurant style crunch without deep frying mess
  • You can customize the heat level from mild to fire breather territory
02 -
  • Overcrowding the basket leads to soggy spots, so work in batches if needed
  • Let the cooked cauliflower cool slightly before saucing, or the batter can slide off
03 -
  • Lightly spray battered florets with oil before the first fry for extra crunch
  • Let the sauce sit for a minute before tossing so it thickens slightly and coats better

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