Oven Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Oven-baked Buffalo Cauliflower is a simple appetizer or a tasty side dish recipe.

Who doesn’t love all things buffalo-style? From buffalo chicken dip to buffalo hot wings and this buffalo cauliflower recipe too! This easy recipe is a family favorite snack (with a side of Blue Cheese Dressing)!

Why We Love This Snack

Fun fact: Of the thousands of recipes on my site, this is one of my Mom’s favorite recipes I’ve posted! She makes it all of the time.

Restaurant fried buffalo cauliflower bites are always a favorite but baking them at home is so much healthier.We love the flavor of these wings (if you don’t like spice, try a mild buffalo sauce).I love buffalo chicken wings and but I love my veggies too! This is the best of both worlds.These can be oven baked or you can air fry them.

Ingredients for Buffalo Cauliflower

Cauliflower – We like fresh cauliflower for this recipe but frozen can be used. Ensure the cauliflower is washed and dried really well, additional moisture will keep the batter from crisping. Prewashed cauliflower florets to make it easy.

Batter – This recipe starts with a light coating of wet batter which is then gently tossed in bread crumbs. It’s made with simple ingredients milk, flour & seasonings.

Bread Crumbs – A sprinkle of bread crumbs gives these a little crunch.

How to Make Buffalo Cauliflower

Prepare cauliflower: Prep the cauliflower by cutting it into bite-sized pieces. Ensure it is dry.Make batter: Stir the wet batter in a bowl or freezer bag. Toss the cauliflower to coat. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.Bake until crispy: Bake the buffalo cauliflower wings until browned and crisp. Toss with buffalo sauce and bake a few minutes more.

Holly’s Tips

Ensure the cauliflower is very dry after washing. You can use a salad spinner or shake it dry. I try to wash it the day before if I can.Toss the cauliflower in the wet batter and let most of the excess drip off, you want just a light coating.Add additional seasonings to your liking including paprika, lemon pepper, smoked paprika.Line the pan with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.Gently add some of the buffalo sauce to the cauliflower, you don’t want them saturated with sauce or they will get soggy.If some of your friends/family don’t like spice, leave a few aside when adding buffalo sauce and season with salt and black pepper instead. Serve them with your favorite dips.

Serving Suggestions

These make a great snack on game day but can also be served in place of roasted cauliflower too.

Buffalo Sauce vs. Hot Sauce

Buffalo sauce is different than hot sauce. Buffalo Wing Sauce is generally 2 parts hot sauce (like Frank’s red hot) to 1 part melted butter (that’s why it tastes so darn good)!

You can use a bottled Buffalo Sauce in this recipe too (I love Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Sauce best).

Buffalo cauliflower bites call for sides of celery and carrots, but, why stop there? Serve with some avocado ranch dressing, or your favorite yogurt or sour cream based dip.

More Buffalo Snacks You Need

You sure can! Be sure the frozen cauliflower is thawed, drained, and dabbed dry or the batter will not crisp. Frozen cauliflower will be softer than fresh.

Yes. Place a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes and 400°F for an additional 5-7 minutes.