Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe is one of those spicy to-die-for yet surprisingly healthier recipes, an excellent combination of cauliflower coated in a deliciously crispy batter, then baked and tossed in a homemade Buffalo Sauce to create a simple and delicious appetizer that would be perfect for vegetarian friends, impromptu get-together, or even game night.
You are seriously going to love this recipe for Buffalo Cauliflower Bites because it cuts the calories from traditional Buffalo Wings in a few ways by swapping cauliflower for the usual chicken wings and baking the Buffalo Cauliflower Bites in the oven instead of frying them in oil.
I’m not even going to kid Y’all. I am one of the many folks who’ve jumped on the cauliflower bandwagon over the years. My love affair with cauliflower all started with Mock Mashed potatoes several years ago. I still, to this day, don’t know how this vegetable became so darn delicious in mock recipes over the years, but it’s a favorite go-to faux ingredient these days for several methods.
My family members are not huge fans of blue cheese dressing, so we opted for a Homemade Ranch that’s super easy to make and pairs well with the Buffalo Cauliflower Bites. However, if you love blue cheese, feel free to enjoy your blue cheese. Don’t forget to add some veggies on the side, like crisp carrots and crunchy celery, for everyone to munch on with the Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.
This recipe for Buffalo Cauliflower Bites is a great vegetarian alternative to greasy Buffalo wings cooked in oil. Breaded cauliflower stands in for the standard chicken wings, all baked to perfection for a crispy mock Buffalo wings sensation at your next gathering. Serve with Homemade Ranch Dressing if desired.
Pro tips for Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe
- Look for a head of cauliflower with a creamy white color and densely packed florets free of blemishes or brown spots.
- The cauliflower head should feel heavy in your hand for its size.
- Take a good whiff. If the cauliflower has a strong or foul smell, it’s past its date and will probably taste unpleasant.
- To cut a head of cauliflower into florets, quarter the cauliflower head through the stem and then cut away the small piece of core from each quarter. Then, cut the cored cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
- Rinse the cut-up cauliflower pieces in a colander to remove any residual dirt. Use a clean kitchen towel to pat the cauliflower dry before cooking.
Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-rising flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon of kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 dash cayenne pepper
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup water
- 1 large cauliflower cut into bite-sized pieces
- ⅓ cup hot sauce your brand
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons minced chives
- Homemade Ranch Dressing see the blog post for link
- chopped parsley to garnish
- celery sticks
- carrot sticks
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Prepare a metal baking sheet with cooking spray
- In a glass large bowl, whisk together self-rising flour, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir in the buttermilk and water until smooth. Toss the bite-sized cauliflower in the batter until evenly coated.
- Spray the metal baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Spread the battered cauliflower bites onto a pan. Try not to overcrowd the pan or the cauliflower will steam become as crispy as it should. You use two metal baking sheets.
- Bake cauliflower for 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, combine the hot sauce and butter in a small metal saucepan on low heat until the butter melts.
- Remove the cauliflower bites from the oven and toss with the hot sauce mixture.
- Return the cauliflower bites to the oven for another 15-20 minutes.
- Serve with Ranch dressing, celery sticks, and carrots on the side.
Notes
Although themccallumsshamrockpatch.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and how ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will themccallumsshamrockpatch.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from your reliance on nutritional information.
Nutrition
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These bites were super tasty! I was a little hesitant because… cauliflower, but that was silly. These were just perfect, thanks!
These bites were so, so good! I made them for movie night and my whole family loved them and didn’t even realize they were healthy. I’m excited to make them again next week! Thanks a ton.
Cauliflower is such great veg for eating with dips, especially when it’s been baked or deep-fried. I Loved that these cauliflower bites are double baked with batter and then with hot sauce.
I made this buffalo cauliflower for my family last night and everyone loved it! It disappeared almost instantly, I’m definitely making a double batch next time!
I’m all over these! It’s almost like cauliflower was made for this recipe, right? So good! I have to admit, though: I’m team blue cheese, but ranch is never turned down 🙂
This recipe is AMAZING! Made it last night and we got no leftovers left! Going to make a double batch next time 😉
I made these buffalo Cauliflower Bites tonight, and everyone loved it!