Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

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I’ve been whipping up air fryer cauliflower with simple seasonings for ages. But let’s be real, how many times can you serve it before everyone’s bored? So one day when I had heaps of cauliflower staring me down, threatening to go bad, I had a lightbulb moment. I’ve made baked buffalo cauliflower, so why not make air fryer buffalo cauliflower? And it was a winner. It turned out even crispier than the oven version, coated in that same buffalo sauce we all can’t get enough of. Give it a try, and I bet you’ll be making this air fried buffalo cauliflower on repeat like me!

Why You’ll Love My Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

• Crispier crunch – The air fryer gives the cauliflower an extra crispness that oven-baking just can’t match. I’ve done both, and air frying wins every time.
• Bold buffalo flavor – I jazz up store-bought buffalo sauce with a bit of melted butter. This makes the sauce super rich and perfectly tangy… just like your favorite buffalo wings!
• Quick and easy – Just a few minutes to toss the cauliflower in spices and then into the air fryer they go. I prep the sauce while they cook. It’ll be your quick fix for spicy cravings that’s ready in only 15 minutes!
• Healthy party favorite – These air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites have become my signature dish for game day, and if I’m being honest, a workday snack for my buffalo-sauce-loving husband. But they’re also gluten-free, vegan, and just a great way to get your veggies. Win-win.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer buffalo cauliflower recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Cauliflower – I usually grab a whole head of cauliflower and chop it into bite-sized pieces, but you can take a shortcut with pre-cut cauliflower florets. Just try to get them all about the same size, so they cook evenly.
• Oil – Olive oil gets the spices to stick and the florets to turn nice and golden. Any neutral oil will do the trick.
• Buffalo Sauce – Can’t have buffalo anything without that zesty sauce, right? I use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, but pick your favorite hot sauce to bring that spicy punch.
• Butter – Mixing a bit of butter with the sauce makes it creamy and smooths out the spiciness a bit. I recommend unsalted butter, as the buffalo sauce is already salty. For my dairy-sensitive friends, you can use ghee, coconut oil, or a bit more olive oil.
• Seasonings – I keep it simple: just sea salt and black pepper. Sometimes I toss in a dash of garlic powder or paprika to kick up the flavor.

If you want to add breading for extra crunch or prefer a different “wing” sauce, see my original buffalo cauliflower recipe for options — you can use the same ones for air fryer bufflo cauliflower, too!

How To Make Buffalo Cauliflower In The Air Fryer

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Season. Pop the cauliflower florets into a large mixing bowl, drizzle them with the olive oil, and sprinkle on the seasonings. Give ’em a good toss to coat evenly. (I like to use 2 spoons for this.)
2. Air fry. Add the cauliflower to your air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry, shaking the basket halfway through, until the edges are browned.

3. Mix the sauce. Heat the butter and buffalo sauce together. You can zap them in the microwave or warm on the stove over medium-low heat, just until the butter is melted. Give it a good whisk to mix.
4. Toss together. Transfer the cauliflower to a large bowl. Pour the sauce mixture over the florets and toss to coat. Don’t miss my serving ideas below to complete your air fryer buffalo cauliflower experience!

My Recipe Tips

• Preheat your air fryer first. This step ensures that the air fryer is hot enough to immediately start cooking the cauliflower. We want it to crisp up right from the get-go!
• The more space your cauliflower has in the basket, the more crispy browned edges you’ll get. I just dumped mine in all at once for these pictures (photographing 8 healthy recipes in a day is no joke!), but I get better browning when I cook in 2 batches. You decide if you prefer convenience versus that browning.
• The cook time can vary a bit. It depends on whether you like your cauliflower crisp tender or more soft — my time here is middle of the road. Time will also vary a bit depending on the size of your florets.

Storage Instructions

• Store: If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. They’re not as good as fresh, but some extra sauce perks them right up!
• Meal prep: Cut the head of cauliflower into florets and store in the fridge for 1-3 days, until you’re ready to cook.
• Reheat: To get that crispness back, I recommend reheating your buffalo cauliflower in the air fryer again. I tend to lose sauce during reheating, so I add more afterward.

Serving Ideas

Air fried buffalo cauliflower just isn’t the same without the fixings! Here are some of my must-haves, as well as other good pairings you can try:

• Dipping Sauce – I served these with homemade ranch dressing (above). I like to drizzle some on top and top with green onions, but you can also just dunk the pieces into it. My blue cheese dressing works just as well. Both cut the heat!
• Veggies – Carrots and celery sticks are my go-to (also above). You can switch it up with cucumber slices, sugar snap peas, or some colorful mini peppers.
• Salads – My creamy cucumber salad or cucumber tomato avocado salad make the perfect fresh, crunchy chill buddies for these spicy bites.
• Bowls Or Tacos – These are really good on their own, but downright amazing in tacos or bowls! Stuff the saucy florets into your favorite tortillas with my creamy taco slaw and cilantro, or serve them over rice (or cauliflower rice) with one of my dressings above and a few slices of avocado. Both options are super easy and I just prep the other ingredients while I’ve got the buffalo cauliflower in the air fryer.

My Favorite Air Fryer For This Recipe

I’ve had this air fryer for years, and what I really love about it is the size—it’s perfect for a family, so I don’t have to cook so many batches of anything.

Recipe Card

5 from 9 votes

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Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower (15 Min)

Air fryer buffalo cauliflower is a crispy, saucy, and irresistible party favorite! Just season, air fry, and toss in buttery buffalo sauce.

Prep: 8 minutes

Cook: 7 minutes

Total: 15 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from Wholesome Yum

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1 head Cauliflower (cut into florets) ▢
• 3 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1 tsp Garlic powder (optional) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
• 1/2 cup Buffalo sauce ▢
• 1/4 cup Unsalted butter (use ghee for dairy-sensitive or olive oil for dairy-free) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F (193 degrees C).

2. Place the cauliflower florets in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with garlic powder (if using), sea salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat.

3. Add cauliflower to the air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed – don’t crowd the basket). Cook cauliflower in the air fryer for 7-10 minutes (depending on the size of your florets), shaking the basket halfway through, until browned on the edges.

4. Meanwhile, heat together the butter and buffalo sauce. You can do this in the microwave or on the stove over medium-low heat. Whisk to combine.

5. When the cauliflower is done, transfer it to a serving bowl. Evenly pour the buffalo sauce mixture over it, and toss to coat. (Alternatively, you can mix directly in the air fryer basket after removing the grate.)

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

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Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle!

Nutrition Facts

Amounts per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 225

Fat 22g

Protein 2.9g

Total Carbs 7.3g

Net Carbs 4.3g

Fiber 3g

Sugar 2.8g

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.

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