Buffalo Cauliflower Wings (2024)

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These buffalo cauliflower wings are baked instead of fried! They’re perfectly crunchy and delicious dipped in ranch dressing.

Fall is knocking on our door and that means football season is right around the corner. I’m not a big football watcher but I am all about game day parties and snacks galore.

Some of my favorite game day snacks are chips and guac (my healthy guacamole is the best), cheesy cauliflower nachos, sweet potato skins and black bean dip, but everyone else seems to love wings.

I’ve honestly never been a huge fan of chicken wings, but as soon as I saw the idea for buffalo cauliflower “wings” I knew I had to try them. Anything that involves cauliflower? Count me in!

They’re just as good as I imagined and way more appealing to me than regular chicken wings. I loved them but had to make a batch for Isaac and his brother to taste test too. Rest assured, the guys ate these without hesitation and gave them a solid two thumbs up!

Are Buffalo Cauliflower Wings Healthy?

Definitely! These cauliflower wings are a healthy vegan alternative to traditional buffalo wings. They’re baked instead of fried, low-carb and there’s no added sugar. To keep them vegan I used a clean buffalo sauce from Primal Kitchen, which is dairy-free, sugar-free, gluten-free and Whole30 approved. I also have an air fryer buffalo cauliflower recipe if you want to use your air fryer!

I hope you love these clean eating buffalo cauliflower wings as much as we do!

Ingredients Needed

• cauliflower – a large head of cauliflower cut into small-to-medium sized florets. Think of cutting them into pieces that are half the size of regular chicken wings. I like to buy a whole head of cauliflower and chop it into florets, but you can buy pre-chopped if you’re running short on time.
• all purpose flour –for the crispy breading. You can also use gluten-free all purpose flour to make these gluten-free.
• garlic powder, paprika, sea salt and pepper – you’ll combine these seasonings with your flour and water to make a little sauce to coat the cauliflower florets in before baking. This helps to achieve that extra crispy texture!
• buffalo style wing sauce – I used Primal Kitchen’s Buffalo Sauce, which is vegan, sugar-free and made with super clean ingredients! If you want to try a homemade version, this one is vegan and looks great. If you’re in a pinch, Frank’s Red Hot Wing Sauce also works and is still vegan, just not as clean.
• celery –for serving of course!
• ranch dressing –I’m sharing a recipe for making your own vegan ranch dressing to use as a dip, but you can use store-bought as well. I like Primal Kitchen’s Ranch.

tip!Make sure to cut your cauliflower into small-to-medium sized florets. If the pieces are too small they could turn out mushy and if they're too large they won't crisp up as nicely.

How to Make

If you think these cauliflower buffalo wings look intimidating to make, think again! They only require a few simple steps and are super easy to whip up.

1. Chop and rinse: Start by chopping your head of cauliflower into small-to-medium sized florets. Think of them as being about half the size of a regular chicken wing. Once chopped, rinse your cauliflower and pat it dry. You’ll want to make sure you get most of the water off your florets to help ensure that your baked cauliflower doesn’t turn out soggy.
2. Make batter: The batter is equal parts flour and water mixed with spices. I used garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper, but feel free to use whatever spices you prefer. The batter consistency will bepretty thick and almost like a paste.
3. Coat: Toss your cauliflower florets in the batter until each floret is coated.
4. Bake: Once all of your cauliflower wings are fully coated, it’s time to bake! Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and toss your coated cauliflower onto the sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, tossing at the halfway mark until lightly brown and crispy.
5. Toss: When the cauliflower comes out of the oven, transfer them to a bowl and toss them in the buffalo sauce. Return to the baking pan and bake again for about 12 more minutes and then broil for 2-3 minutes or until they’re nice and crispy. Keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn!

Vegan Ranch Dressing

Besides the actual buffalo cauliflower wings, you have to have a dipping sauce, amiright?! The vegan ranch dressing I’m sharing below is crazy delicious and super simple to throw together!

The most important thing is to soak your cashews for at least 3-4 hours or overnight –this ensures a super creamy dressing. Then you just blend with water and dried spices (dill, garlic and onion powder with salt and pepper). Voila! You have the creamiest, most delicious homemade ranch you’ve ever tasted.

How to Serve

These buffalo cauliflower wings can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways. Here are some ways to serve them:

• As an appetizer – Serve them the same way you would serve wings – with celery, carrot and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
• On a salad– Make my buffalo cauliflower salad!
• In a wrap– Make a wrap by adding lettuce, any extra veggies, buffalo cauliflower and ranch or blue cheese. Lunch on the go!

How to Store

Leftover buffalo cauliflower stores really well! After cooling completely, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, pop the cauliflower in the oven or toaster oven for a few minutes so they crisp back up!

More Healthy Appetizers to Try

• Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
• Baked Sweet Potato Chips
• Lima Bean Hummus
• Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Baked Pita Chips
• Zucchini Pizza Bites
• Vegetarian Mezze Platter
• Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Healthy 7-Layer Dip
• Easy Shrimp co*cktail
• Whipped Feta Dip
• Bacon Wrapped Dates

More Cauliflower Recipes

• Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
• Air Fryer Cauliflower
• Cauliflower Pizza Crust
• Cheesy Cauliflower Nachos
• How to Make Cauliflower Rice
• Kung Pao Tofu with Roasted Cauliflower
• Roasted Cauliflower
• Curry Roasted Cauliflower
• Cauliflower Brownie Baked Oatmeal
• Roasted Cauliflower Salad

Be sure to check out all of thecauliflower recipesand the full collection ofappetizers on EBF!