Name: Oven Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 head cauliflower (Cut into approx. one inch pieces. I try to remove as much of the stem as possible. ); 2 tbsp butter (melted); 3/4 cup milk (I use skim but whatever you have will work. ); 1/4 cup water; 3/4 cup flour; 1 cup panko breading ((divided into 3/4 cup and 1/4 cup)); 2 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1-2 tsp paprika; 3/4 to 1 cup buffalo sauce (If you want a saucier dish, use a full cup. For a lighter coating, 3/4 of a cup will work); 1 tbsp olive oil; ½ tsp salt (or more, to taste)

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

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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!

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

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

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

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 17 votes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Servings

Calories 298 kcal