These Buffalo Cauliflower Wings are the perfect savory appetizer for your next game night or party! These spicy, succulent cauliflower wings will leave your guests begging for more!
These savory spicy vegan “wings” are the perfect addition to any game night or party! A vegan appetizer or side dish that can be enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike. It’s the best way to get in some veggies while enjoying the delicious finger-licking buffalo sauce!
Are buffalo cauliflower wings spicy?
The short answer is yes, cauliflower buffalo wings can be quite spicy. They are fully coated in a medium to mild hot sauce. The spice level can build over time because a lot of hot sauce is used in this recipe. If your guests find buffalo sauce too spicy, try coating some wings for them in BBQ sauce instead.
Why are my Buffalo Cauliflower Wings soggy?
There are a few reasons cauliflower wings can become soggy.
- The cauliflower wasn’t properly dried before baking or frying. Of course, washing your vegetable is a step that can’t be skipped. That being said, you’ll need to allow your cauliflower time to dry before cooking it.
- Too much sauce was used. First, the cauliflower wings are air fried or baked in batter. Then, the buffalo sauce is added to the wings before they are fried/baked again. If too much sauce is used, this can result in a “soggy” texture.
- They sat out for too long. Cauliflower wings are best served immediately. If they sit out for too long and begin to cool this can alter the texture.
Is buffalo sauce vegan?
Buffalo sauce is not always safe for vegans. It often has butter in it, which is a no-no on a vegan diet. Buffalo sauce can easily be made vegan by substituting in vegan butter. If you’re looking for a delicious, vegan sauce try Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo sauce. It is accidentally vegan and has amazing flavour! (This is not a sponsored post, just my personal recommendation.)
Cauliflower wings are one of the best ways to eat your veggies without even realizing it. If you love the buffalo wing flavour, check out our tofu buffalo tenders!
Vegan Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- 3/4 cup soy milk (or other unsweetened, neutral plant milk)
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour (can be subbed for GF flour)
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
Buffalo Sauce
- 1 cup buffalo sauce (I used Frank's)
- 1 tbsp vegan butter
Optional Garnishes
- 1 tbsp agave to drizzle on top
- fresh parsley
Instructions
- Wash the cauliflower and cut into bite-sized florets. Remove the stems. (they can be frozen and saved for soup!)
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the flour, paprika, pepper and garlic powder.
- Next, add in the olive oil and plant milk and whisk together until smooth.
- Add the cauliflower florets into the batter and gently mix together until they are thoroughly coated. Add the panko bread crumbs and toss gently.
- Working in batches, place the cauliflower in the air fryer leaving space between each peice. Cook at 390 degrees for 5 minutes. Flip the cauliflower halfway and cook for another 3-5 minutes. Smaller pieces will take less time than larger florets. (See the notes below for baking in the oven instead of using an air fryer.)
- While the cauliflower is in the air fryer, prepare the buffalo sauce. Melt the vegan butter and whisk well with the frank's buffalo sauce.
- Toss the cauliflower in a mixing bowl with the buffalo sauce.
- Add cauliflower back into the air fryer for 2 minutes with the sauce on so it slightly caramelizes. Drizzle with a little agave, serve with vegan ranch or bleu cheese dressing and enjoy!
Notes
- The cauliflower wasn’t properly dried before baking or frying. Of course, washing your vegetable is a step that can’t be skipped. That being said, you’ll need to allow your cauliflower time to dry before cooking it.
- Too much sauce was used. First, the cauliflower wings are air fried or baked in batter. Then, the buffalo sauce is added to the wings before they are fried/baked again. If too much sauce is used, this can result in a “soggy” texture.
- They sat out for too long. Cauliflower wings are best served immediately. If they sit out for too long, and begin to cool this can alter the texture.
Yum! These vegan wings were so good 😊 thanks so much for sharing! I can’t handle as much spice so I used a little extra vegan butter and less Frank’s. But the flavour was still amazing 🤩
Thanks so much for trying it out and so happy you enjoyed it 😀