Description
Crispy, spicy, and satisfying buffalo-style cauliflower bites made in the air fryer, served with a homemade creamy blue cheese dip. A healthier, lighter alternative to traditional fried wings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head cauliflower (about 1.5 kg), cut into bite-sized florets
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free flour blend)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup water (approximate, for batter consistency)
- 1 tablespoon oil (avocado or olive oil, for brushing)
- ½ cup hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot recommended)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (for dip)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (for dip)
- Chopped chives for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Wash and pat the cauliflower dry. Cut into uniform bite-sized florets (1-2 inches) and place in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Gradually add water while whisking until the batter reaches the consistency of pancake batter.
- Dip cauliflower florets into the batter, tossing to coat evenly. Lift out, letting excess drip off, and place on a plate.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Arrange coated cauliflower in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd the basket. Lightly spray the tops with oil.
- Air fry for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy and golden brown. Cook in batches if necessary.
- While cauliflower cooks, make the buffalo sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add hot sauce, minced garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk to combine and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Once cauliflower is crispy, transfer to a large bowl. Pour buffalo sauce over the hot cauliflower and toss gently to coat.
- Make the blue cheese dip: In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, crumbled blue cheese, lemon juice, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir until combined.
- Serve the buffalo cauliflower bites immediately with the blue cheese dip on the side. Garnish with chives if desired.
Notes
For extra crunch, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the batter. Ensure the air fryer is preheated and do not overcrowd the basket to prevent steaming. The blue cheese dip can be made up to 2 days ahead. Leftovers reheat best in the air fryer at 400°F for 3-4 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 6
Keywords: buffalo cauliflower, air fryer recipes, vegetarian appetizer, healthy wings, game day food, crispy cauliflower, blue cheese dip, gluten-free option