Baked Cauliflower Wings Buffalo Style

Tis the season of football game days! These Baked Cauliflower Wings Buffalo Style are an absolute game changer 😉 So saucy, so flavorful, so crispy and SO healthy. The guys in my family are absolute sports fanatics, so fall is a lot of parties full of game day appetizers. If you’re looking for a healthy twist on traditional buffalo wings you’ve got to try these cauliflower wings. They are undeniably healthy & good. I can assure you—you won’t feel like you’re missing out on your traditional game day foods & flavors.

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Recipe Details

This recipe is super simple and requires only 8 (cheap) ingredients. I love an easy and inexpensive appetizer, especially when serving large groups!

Ingredients

• 1 Head Cauliflower
• 2 Eggs
• 1 Cup Hot Sauce ( I typically use Frank’s Red Hot Original)
• 1 Cup Almond Flour
• 2 Tablespoons Corn Starch
• 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
• 2 Teaspoons Paprika
• 1 Teaspoon Salt

How to Make Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Then begin by breaking down your cauliflower into individual florets. Think bite-sized! I’ve made these too small before and they just don’t have the same effect.

There are many ways to break down a head of cauliflower—this is a great tutorial on how to cut cauliflower into florets that are bite-sized!

We will now make the buffalo batter. Get out a medium mixing bowl and combine the eggs, hot sauce, almond flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well then pour the batter over the cauliflower florets.

Get out a wire baking rack and place the cauliflower florets spaced out on the rack. If you don’t have a wire baking rack, use a sheet pan and cover it with parchment paper, then place the cauliflower florets spaced out on the parchment. The wire baking rack helps with crispiness and has the same effect as a convection oven.

Bake the Cauliflower Wings!

Bake the wings at 425°F for 15 minutes, then flip the wings over and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes. Once they’ve finished baking, take them out of the oven, put them back in the bowl and toss in ¼ cup of buffalo sauce. Bake them again for another 10 minutes to complete. You’ll know they’re done when they start to achieve a golden, crispy edge. In my opinion, this is the most important step—the goal is to let the florets caramelize and crisp up thoroughly around the edges.

While these wings are wonderful as is, sometimes I’m in the mood to make a dipping sauce. They pair excellently with a homemade Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing!

Enjoy!

A Tip For Making These Baked Cauliflower Wings

The baked crispiness is key to deliciousness. So don’t miss the crisp and make a soggy cauliflower wing! To avoid this, you’ve got to make sure to do the last step of adding more buffalo sauce after they’ve baked the first time, then finishing them off with another 10 minutes of baking. I promise you it makes such a difference and adds a perfect, thin, and flavor filled final crisp.

How Do I Keep Cauliflower Buffalo Wings Crispy After Storing?

Here are some handy tips to help you keep that satisfying crunch, even after storing them in the fridge!

Because these buffalo cauliflower wings are the most delicious when they’re freshly baked—I’d suggest avoiding huge batches. I’ve definitely wasted food on these! To avoid losing that satisfying texture, try to prepare only the amount you intend to consume at that moment. By purchasing ingredients in batches and making smaller servings as needed, you can eliminate, or at least minimize the waste, and enjoy them when they are the most fresh! If you do have leftovers—no worries! Add all of the florets to a bowl, toss them in more hot sauce, and bake at 425°F for 10 minutes to reheat. Be sure to watch them so they don’t burn.

Of course, for the ultimate crispy experience—it's definitely best to prepare and bake the cauliflower wings just before you plan on enjoying them. The longer they sit after baking, the more moisture they release, which can compromise their crunchiness. However, this doesn’t mean preparation can’t be done in advance. If you're pressed for time on the day you plan to serve them, you can definitely prepare the florets and batter then store separately until you’re ready to bake them! I can assure you—it will be a breeze when it's time to bake.

The Best Appetizer with Any Sauce!

If you don’t love hot sauce—you’re not limited. These Baked Cauliflower Wings Buffalo Style can be made with so many different sauces. Try barbecue, honey mustard, teriyaki, or any other sauce you like.

Again, these are such a yummy side dish or appetizer for any event. If your people love them as much as mine do—they’ll be a hit!

Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings

If you’re making these in an air fryer, let me give you a quick run down. This method will be a lot quicker!

Preparation will look the same, baking will look different. Once you’ve coated the florets, place them spaced out in the bottom of your air fryer. You may have to do multiple batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Once you’ve done this, set your air fryer to 10 minutes at 425°F. Flip the cauliflower wings half way through (after 5 minutes). ENJOY!

Enjoy!

I hope you and your loved ones enjoy this recipe for all occasions! They’re one of my all time favorite snacks and I love how healthy they are!

I’ve kind of been a buffalo sauce addict these days, so if you’re looking for more buffalo recipes, try my Buffalo Chickpea Quesadillas or Buffalo Chicken Crunchy Wrap!

🧡