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    Home » Food » Appetizers

    Delicious Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

    May 19, 2019 by Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food 51 Comments

    buffalo cauliflower bites alongside dip and celeryI can't believe I'm so excited about cauliflower - but these buffalo cauliflower bites are seriously the stuff dreams are made of!

    Jump to Recipe

    Not only are they good, but they're the kind of good where when you're finished, you're already thinking about when you'll make them next. I've played around with the recipe a few times to make sure the buffalo cauliflower is as delicious and perfect as possible for you!

    Something about buffalo sauce is just so appealing to me on almost anything. I've put hot sauce on eeeeverything lately, and Frank's Buffalo Hot Sauce has become a favorite! If you're as obsessed with buffalo sauce as I am, don't miss this buffalo mac and cheese recipe before you go!

    buffalo cauliflower with ranch and celery on white plates

    You'll bake the cauliflower instead of frying it so you don't have to use a bunch of oil. I just add a splash to the buffalo sauce, but you could also use butter. AND, if you use plant-based milk and butter, it's also a vegan recipe!

    I've made these breaded buffalo cauliflower bites sooo many times now.

    I've nailed down some important things that really make a difference in how the final product tastes. Before we dive into the recipe, I want to share with you some tips for cooking cauliflower for the best outcome!

    Ingredients

    Here's what you'll need to make them for yourself:

    • Cauliflower (I usually cut the stems off so they mimic "chicken bites")
    • Milk (Cow or vegan milk works, use your favorite)
    • Water
    • Flour 
    • Paprika (I sometimes us smoked paprika and other times regular)
    • Garlic powder
    • Onion powder
    • Salt
    • Panko bread crumbs
    • Buffalo sauce (I go with good ol' fashioned Frank's Buffalo Hot Sauce)
    • Melted butter (You can use vegan butter)
    • Olive oil

    2020 Update

    You guys blow me away! Thanks to an insane traffic boost over Super Bowl weekend, this has become the third most popular recipe on my site! The only two recipes ahead of it are my spicy honey garlic tofu and homemade caesar salad dressing recipes. 

    2022 Update

    I've finally updated this recipe with new pictures! Just in time for the cauliflower bites' biggest day of the year: Superbowl Sunday.

    Tips for Cooking Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

    1. Cut your cauliflower into small pieces, no bigger than one inch pieces - even a bit smaller if possible. This ensures each piece gets more crispy bits per portion of cauliflower. It also helps it cook evenly!
    2. This recipe calls for one cup of panko bread crumbs. I have a special trick for making sure the coating gets a bit crispier Toss your cauliflower in ¾ a cup of panko bread crumbs first (once it's been dipped in the milk and flour mix). THEN add the other ¼ cup of panko bread crumbs. When I do this I get a crispier result, because the second time you add the breadcrumbs it helps make sure they don't all get clumped together.
      crispy baked cauliflower on a baking sheet

      Look how gorgeously crispy the cauliflower gets after the first round of baking before the buffalo sauce is added!

    3. This doesn't really change how crispy it gets, but when it comes to cooking cauliflower bites, I strongly encourage that you cut the stems off. This helps make sure the bites look and taste more like popcorn chicken or wings.

           4. Make sure you spread your cauliflower evenly on the pan. This will help make sure all the edges get cooked and the pieces don't stick together. I also like to sprinkle them with a bit of salt at this point.buffalo cauliflower bites

    5. Be sure to stir your buffalo cauliflower bites on the pan halfway through each time you cook them (unless you're cooking them on a wire rack). Once when the cauliflower is cooking for the first 20 minutes. Then stir again halfway through the 20 minutes after you add the buffalo sauce.

    6. If you have a wire rack to place over your baking sheet, you can put the cauliflower on the rack instead to help ensure the whole bite gets crispier.

    What Goes with Buffalo Cauliflower Bites?

    My personal favorite way to eat these buffalo cauliflower bites is by dipping them in ranch! A side of celery sticks never hurts either.

    Another way I love eating them is on top of a salad. They also make a great taco filling! I usually eat these for dinner, but they make a great appetizer or a side dish too.

    You can basically substitute the crispy buffalo cauliflower bites into any dish where you'd use buffalo chicken! Handy right? And it's a way healthier (for you and the environment!) option!

    Note...

    You're saving yourself a TON of oil consumption when you bake instead of fry. And that's kind of a trade off for baked dishes maybe not being quite as crispy as fried dishes.

    But don't get me wrong...

    You'll definitely be able to achieve a crispy cauliflower dish using the tips I've provided! But just a quick reminded that baked cauliflower won't usually have QUITE the same texture as it would if it were fried.

    Let's dive in!

    Can you make buffalo cauliflower gluten free?

    You'll need to find gluten-free flour and gluten-free panko crumbs to make this recipe gluten-friendly. I haven't tried it with those ingredients yet, but please let me know if you do.

    Crispy Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe

    📖 Recipe

    a close up of buffalo cauliflower bites with ranch and celery

    Oven Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

    These baked buffalo cauliflower bites will have you asking, "who needs chicken when there's cauliflower?!" They're that good! My favorite way to eat these is simple: dipping them in ranch dressing! But they also make a great taco filling if you cut the cauliflower into smaller pieces.
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course
    Servings 4
    Calories 298 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 head cauliflower Cut into approx. one inch pieces. I try to remove as much of the stem as possible.
    • 2 tablespoon butter melted
    • ¾ cup milk I use skim but whatever you have will work.
    • ¼ cup water
    • ¾ cup flour
    • 1 cup panko breading (divided into ¾ cup and ¼ cup)
    • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1-2 teaspoon paprika
    • ¾ to 1 cup buffalo sauce If you want a saucier dish, use a full cup. For a lighter coating, ¾ of a cup will work
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon salt or more, to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 350F.
      Wash your cauliflower and cut into approx. one-inch sized pieces. I like to remove as much of the stem as I can so it really feels like a little piece of "meat" but you can definitely keep the stems longer if you want. (If you're going to be using the buffalo cauliflower bites as taco filling, I recommend chopping the pieces quite small)
    • Melt the butter in the microwave. Toss the cauliflower pieces with the melted butter.
    • In a large mixing bowl, add flour, paprika, onion powder, salt, and garlic powder. Stir to combine.
      Add milk and water to the flour mixture and whisk until mostly smooth, without big clumps left over.
    • Add the cauliflower into the flour/milk mixture. Toss with your hands or tools to make sure the pieces are evenly coated in the batter!
    • In a separate bowl, add ¾ cup of your panko breading. Pour the coated cauliflower into the panko breading and gently toss with your hands, making sure each piece is evenly coated.
      Then, add your other ¼ cup of panko to the cauliflower. (Doing this in two steps help make it more evenly-coated).
    • Place parchment paper on a large baking sheet. Place the coated cauliflower on the baking sheet, and spread evenly so the pieces aren't clumped together. Or, you can place a wire rack over your baking sheet (spray it with oil if you use a wire rack instead of placing the cauliflower bites directly on the baking sheet)
      Add to heated oven and bake for 20 minutes, stirring the cauliflower halfway through so the pieces cook evenly.
    • While the cauliflower bakes, add your buffalo sauce and olive oil and stir to combine.
      When the cauliflower has baked for 20 minutes, remove from oven (but keep the oven on).
      Take the cauliflower from the pan and add it to the bowl with the buffalo sauce. Mix well (careful — it will be hot!) until the pieces are evenly coated.
    • Return the buffalo cauliflower to the oven and bake for another 25-30 minutes (stirring halfway through) OR until pieces are crisped to your liking!
      Serve and enjoy! (Toss with more buffalo sauce before serving if you want them extra saucy)

    Notes

    I encourage you to read the recipe notes in this post before you make these for the first time to ensure the best result!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 9gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 1847mgPotassium: 581mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 495IUVitamin C: 69mgCalcium: 121mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword buffalo, cauliflower, crispy baked buffalo cauliflower
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Let me know what you think!

    I can't wait to hear what you think of these baked buffalo cauliflower bites once you give them a try! They've become a beloved classic in my family and it makes me so happy that so many of you love them too. 

    xo - C

     

    About Chelsea Kram & XO&So

    Hi! I'm Chelsea and I'm the Canadian food blogger behind all of the XO&So vegetarian comfort food recipes. Click here to get to know more about me.

    Learn more about me →

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kaitlyn

      May 24, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      I’m drooling. Can’t wait to try these!!

      Reply
    2. Marlee

      July 28, 2019 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      These look incredible! Can’t wait to try them!

      Reply
      • Scott M Andrews

        January 28, 2020 at 7:19 pm

        5 stars
        I made these tonight....i used smoked paprika instead of regular and used 2 teaspoons....i think with smoked I would cut it back to 1. And I may try next time to only toss it on buffalo after all the cooking time to see how it does but following the instructions, oh my gosh it was so good!

        Reply
        • chelseaxoandso

          February 03, 2020 at 2:24 pm

          I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed them! Keep me posted if you try other methods 🙂

          Reply
    3. jessica

      November 16, 2019 at 8:06 am

      5 stars
      Made these last night and my wife loved them! we've unsuccessfully tired two other recipes and they were not good. This was one amazing. I felt way better eating them, then real wings. And honestly, they were really good. Highly recommend this recipe.

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        November 17, 2019 at 5:27 pm

        I love hearing that!!!! Thanks for letting me know and SO glad you enjoyed them.

        Reply
      • Phaedra

        June 28, 2020 at 4:37 pm

        5 stars
        I have tried so many cauliflower recipes. They are usual less than desirable. But this right here!! My goodness, sooooo good. The breading was perfect! A must try!

        Reply
        • chelseaxoandso

          June 28, 2020 at 7:49 pm

          Woohoo!! That makes my day! Thanks for letting me know.

          Reply
    4. Scott Andrews

      January 28, 2020 at 1:14 pm

      Do you think it would affect the crispiness if I did the first part of the baking Thursday evening, then Friday before serving I tossed them in the buffalo sauce and finished baking then?

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        January 28, 2020 at 7:16 pm

        I can't say for sure because I've never done this, but I think it could be worth a try!? Even if the texture isn't quite the same, I think they'd still taste really good. Sorry I can't help more! Please let me know how it works out for you.

        Reply
    5. Joshua Lytton

      February 22, 2020 at 5:54 pm

      5 stars
      Made these many times with a few different sauces, always a winner! Thanks!

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        February 22, 2020 at 11:03 pm

        Wow — so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    6. Cassie

      April 06, 2020 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      This is by far the best recipe for this I have found! It turned out amazing and instead of buffalo sauce I did a ginger Thai sauce which also turned out amazing! Thanks for the share

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        April 06, 2020 at 1:02 pm

        I'm so glad to hear that! A ginger Thai sauce sounds amazing!

        Reply
      • Tammy

        October 02, 2021 at 12:41 pm

        can you share your ginger thai sauce recipe? this sounds delicious

        Reply
    7. Kahrlly Patricia Jacoby

      April 26, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      Try this recipe today for lunch and it was amazing! After the recommended bake time, we added 15 minutes under broil and it came out fantastic, we have a Bertazzoni oven so not sure if that would make a different on other ovens. Thank you so much for sharing this incredibly delicious recipe.

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        April 26, 2020 at 6:03 pm

        I'm so happy you enjoyed them!!! Thank you so much for letting me know.

        Reply
    8. Ashley

      May 14, 2020 at 2:12 pm

      Can you use regular bread crumbs instead of panko?

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        May 14, 2020 at 6:39 pm

        I haven't tried, but it would probably work. It might not get as crunchy though since regular breadcrumbs absorb more oil than panko. Please let me know how they turn out if you try it 🙂

        Reply
    9. Christina

      May 31, 2020 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      Amaaaaaazing recipe! First time I have made cauliflower wings so crispy and delicious. I tossed mine in mango habanero sauce 👌🏻

      Reply
    10. Gita

      June 24, 2020 at 2:59 pm

      Have you tried these with almond flour?

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        June 24, 2020 at 6:31 pm

        I haven't! Please let me know how it works for you if you try it 🙂

        Reply
    11. Amanda

      July 17, 2020 at 12:59 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best buffalo cauliflower recipe I’ve tried!! The panko makes them so so crispy - the texture I crave! I always put these in the air fryer instead of the oven and they turn out amazing.

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        July 20, 2020 at 9:31 pm

        That's AWESOME news! Thank you so much for letting me know, I'm so so so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
      • Linda

        January 02, 2021 at 10:55 am

        How long do you keep them in the air fryer? Thanks. Linda

        Reply
        • Amanda

          January 02, 2021 at 4:17 pm

          Linda - I coat the cauliflower, put them in for about 8-9 minutes, then toss them in Buffalo sauce, then back in the air fryer until crispy again! About another 8ish minutes but I always check every so often to make sure they don’t burn.

          Reply
    12. Cheryl Nero

      July 23, 2020 at 5:38 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is the best of all the recipes my family love ❤️ so much . Thank you very much

      Reply
      • chelseaxoandso

        July 23, 2020 at 8:32 pm

        Awww I'm so happy to hear that, Cheryl! ❤️❤️❤️

        Reply
    13. jo

      August 23, 2020 at 11:26 am

      Calories?

      Reply
    14. Blanca

      September 20, 2020 at 4:25 pm

      5 stars
      THIS WAS THE BOMB! Easy, crunchy and so dang good! I used GF flour, was the only change I made. Thank you for a fantastic recipe Chelsea - I appreciate you!

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        September 20, 2020 at 7:49 pm

        Woohoooo!!!! This made my day to hear!!! Thank you so much for letting me know, I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed them and I'm glad to know it worked well with GF flour.

        Reply
    15. CC

      October 08, 2020 at 4:49 pm

      Not sure what I did wrong but the Panko was incredibly crunchy and the batter was not cooked through.

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        October 08, 2020 at 8:44 pm

        Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. Did you change any of the ingredient quantities or miss something? I've definitely done that myself before!

        Reply
    16. Kim Megorden

      November 12, 2020 at 2:31 pm

      5 stars
      I have tried a number of Buffalo Cauliflower recipes. This is far and away THE BEST!
      However, no matter how hard i try, I can't get the cauliflower to stay crispy after I add the hot sauce. so, we just dip them in hot sauce and ranch dressing!

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        November 12, 2020 at 4:21 pm

        I'm so happy you enjoy them, Kim! I really appreciate you leaving a review. There's nothing quite like a hot sauce and ranch dipping combo! Yum!

        Reply
        • Kim Megorden

          October 12, 2021 at 1:11 pm

          5 stars
          We make these frequently now! Definitely a go-to recipe!

          Reply
    17. Elle N

      January 03, 2021 at 6:26 pm

      I found the recipe to be too heavy on the batter. The recipe would have better suited for a frying method. The batter didn't "crunch" up as I was hoping for.

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        January 03, 2021 at 10:14 pm

        Sorry to hear that! Hope you find a recipe that works for you 🙂

        Reply
    18. rebecka kosichek

      January 16, 2021 at 4:20 pm

      how do you make them crispy? I have tried everything and yet they still are not crispy

      Reply
    19. Bill Stryker

      January 23, 2021 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      Found this when surfing the internet for new recipes after we decided to try a plant based diet. I was actually looking for tofu recipes (Your spicy honey garlic recipe is awesome as well!) when I came across this and had to give it a go.

      Really, really good!! Our family loves it. This dish has become a staple in our house every 2-3 weeks by request. Found it better to double the batter so everything is fully coated. We also like to add extra panko for more of a "fried" crunch and create extra crunch by using the broiler when we return it to the oven until finished stirring as needed. A small bit of char adds to the flavor. I'm certain it would taste great fried too but truly love the healthy option of baking...would have never said that a year ago!!! We want to try this in an air fryer at some point.

      Always make enough for leftovers you'll be happy you did.

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        February 01, 2021 at 3:21 pm

        Thanks for sharing, Bill! That makes me so happy to hear. Glad you like the tofu as well!

        Reply
    20. MB

      February 09, 2021 at 1:27 pm

      5 stars
      I tried these this afternoon & this is the best cauliflower "wings" recipe ever! I sent the link to my sister. It has the crunch of a real wing. I added a small pat of unsalted butter to the buffalo sauce. I have half a cauliflower left so looking forward to making this again this week.

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        February 09, 2021 at 3:53 pm

        I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed them!!! Thanks so much for the review and letting me know 🙂

        Reply
    21. Hollis Ramsey

      March 02, 2021 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      I’m going to mix these with baked breaded chicken tenders, toss everything in Frank’s hot sauce + melted butter, and serve with celery sticks and homemade blue cheese dressing.

      Reply
    22. BB

      April 01, 2021 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, man. These are SO GOOD. Thank you so much for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        April 02, 2021 at 10:44 am

        I'm so happy you liked them!!!

        Reply
    23. Robin

      October 12, 2021 at 5:36 am

      5 stars
      Your tweaks of this recipe made ALL the difference in the world. Turned out just as you said they would! Delish and crispy, just how we like 'em.

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        October 12, 2021 at 12:46 pm

        That makes me so happy to hear they were helpful! I always worry people will skip right to the recipe and miss those things 🙂

        Reply
    24. Lori

      October 10, 2022 at 5:54 am

      5 stars
      The farmers market near me had these beautiful cauliflowers and since need to bring a snack to a football party, I decided on this recipe. They were a hit! A substitution I used was buttermilk. I also doubled the recipe as I had a very large head of cauliflower. I already passed along this recipe.

      Reply
    25. Norma

      December 02, 2022 at 1:01 pm

      I will be making these tonight to take to a get together tomorrow afternoon. Do you think serving them cold is a good idea?

      Reply
      • Chelsea Kram – XO&So: Vegetarian Comfort Food

        December 02, 2022 at 1:29 pm

        Hi Norma, I haven't tried but I don't think they will taste as good cold and it might give them a mushy texture.

        Reply

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    About Chelsea Kram & XO&So

    Hi! I'm Chelsea and I'm the Canadian food blogger behind all of the XO&So vegetarian comfort food recipes. Click here to get to know more about me.

    Learn more about me →

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