Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings (Gluten Free & Vegan)
These air fryer buffalo cauliflower wings are gluten free, dairy free, and vegan, with no flour or batter needed. The cauliflower cooks in the air fryer before getting tossed with homemade buffalo sauce for a spicy, saucy appetizer. Serve them with your favorite dairy-free ranch for game day or whenever you’re craving something with a little kick.
Wings are always requested in my house for game day, but chicken wings aren’t my favorite. These buffalo cauliflower bites give me the spicy sauce I love with a vegetable base.
There’s no batter to mix or breading to fuss with. Just season the cauliflower, air fry it, and add the homemade buffalo sauce. We love dipping them in dairy-free ranch to balance the heat.
Looking for more ways to prepare cauliflower? Check out other cauliflower recipes like this Vegan Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce and Oven Roasted Cauliflower next.
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings Without Batter
This recipe skips the flour, breadcrumbs, and batter. The cauliflower is tossed with avocado oil and salt, then cooked in the air fryer before adding the buffalo sauce.
The sauce uses vegan butter and a small amount of tapioca starch to help it cling to the cauliflower.
Do Cauliflower Wings Taste Like Chicken?
They taste like cauliflower with buffalo sauce! Air frying gives the florets browned edges, while the homemade sauce adds that familiar spicy, tangy buffalo flavor. Expect tender cauliflower with some bite, rather than the texture of chicken or breaded wings.
What to Serve with Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Serve these cauliflower wings with dairy-free ranch, celery sticks, and carrot sticks. For a more substantial meal, pair them with a side salad or roasted potatoes.
Ingredients for Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
You’ll find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
- Cauliflower florets: Cut them into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
- Avocado oil: Helps coat the cauliflower for air frying.
- Sea salt: Seasons the cauliflower before adding the sauce.
Homemade Buffalo Sauce
- Vegan butter: Gives the sauce richness while keeping it dairy free.
- Tapioca starch: Helps thicken the sauce so it coats the cauliflower.
- Hot sauce: I like Tapatio or Cholula. The hot sauce you choose will affect the flavor and heat.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds tanginess.
- Coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari: Adds savory flavor. Check that your tamari is labeled gluten free.
- Granulated garlic and sea salt: Finish seasoning the sauce.
How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Season the Cauliflower
Place the cauliflower florets in a large bowl. Drizzle with avocado oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and toss to coat.
Preheat the air fryer to 425°F. Arrange the cauliflower in the basket without overcrowding it, cooking in batches if needed.
Air fry for about 12 minutes.
Make the Buffalo Sauce
While the cauliflower cooks, melt the vegan butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
Stir in the tapioca starch, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari, granulated garlic, and sea salt until smooth and well combined.
Add the Sauce.
After the initial 12 minutes, transfer the cauliflower to a bowl and gently toss with half of the buffalo sauce. Reserve the remaining sauce.
Return the cauliflower to the air fryer and cook at 425°F for another 2 minutes.
Transfer to a serving plate and drizzle with the remaining sauce. Serve warm with your favorite dairy-free dipping sauce.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover buffalo cauliflower in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the air fryer until warmed through. The cauliflower will soften after being coated in sauce and refrigerated, so leftovers may have a softer texture than the freshly cooked bites.
Tips for Making Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Check ingredient labels. Use gluten-free tamari and gluten-free, vegan hot sauce and dipping sauces as needed.
Dry the cauliflower after washing. Excess water can keep the florets from browning well.
Cut similar-sized florets. This helps them cook evenly.
Leave room in the basket. Cook in batches if needed rather than packing the cauliflower tightly together.
Add the sauce after the first cook. Air fry the seasoned cauliflower first, then add half the sauce for the final 2 minutes.
Serve promptly. The cauliflower softens as it sits in the buffalo sauce.
More Game Day Recipes
- 10 Grain Free Game Day Recipes
- Easy Vegan Chili
- Chili (Instant Pot, Pressure Cooked)
- Gluten Free S’mores Dip
- Easy Gluten Free Monte Cristo Sliders
- Gluten Free Cheez Its (Homemade Cheez-Its)
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Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Air Fryer
- Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 16-20 oz Cauliflower Florets
- 2 tbsp avocado oil any vegetable oil will work
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Sauce
- ¼ cup vegan butter
- 1 tsp tapioca starch any starch will do such as: arrowroot, potato and corn
- ½ cup hot sauce we love tapatio and cholula
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari
- 1 tsp granulated garlic
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 425°F.
- Place the cauliflower florets in a large bowl. Add the avocado oil and ¼ teaspoon sea salt, then toss to coat.
- Arrange the cauliflower in the air fryer basket without overcrowding it. Cook in batches if needed. Air fry for about 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the vegan butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in the tapioca starch, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos or gluten-free tamari, granulated garlic, and ½ teaspoon sea salt until smooth and well combined.
- Transfer the cauliflower to a bowl and gently toss with half of the buffalo sauce. Reserve the remaining sauce.
- Return the cauliflower to the air fryer and cook at 425°F for another 2 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving plate, drizzle with the remaining buffalo sauce, and serve warm with your favorite dairy-free dipping sauce.
Notes
- Cut the cauliflower into similar-sized florets and dry well after washing.
- Cook in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Additional batches will increase the total cooking time.
- Check labels on the hot sauce, vegan butter, tamari, and dipping sauce to meet your dietary needs.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer until warmed through.
Nutrition
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This was originally posted in May 2024. It was updated and re-pubished in October 2026.
These are super simple and taste amazing!