Description
A healthy, kid-approved snack made with crispy air-fried cauliflower florets tossed in spicy buffalo sauce and served with ranch dressing. Ready in under 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large cauliflower head (about 2–2.5 lbs / 900g-1.1kg), cut into bite-sized florets
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free baking flour)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ to ¾ cup water
- ½ cup Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or vegan butter)
- Homemade Ranch (optional): ½ cup Greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, splash of milk
Instructions
- Wash the cauliflower and pat it completely dry with paper towels. Cut into uniform bite-sized florets and place in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Slowly add water while whisking until a smooth, thin pancake-like batter forms.
- Pour the batter over the cauliflower florets. Use tongs to toss until every piece is evenly coated. Shake off excess batter.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place coated florets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- While cauliflower cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan or microwave. Stir in the hot sauce to create the buffalo sauce.
- Transfer the hot, crispy cauliflower to a large bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over the top and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately with ranch dressing on the side.
Notes
Patting the cauliflower dry is crucial for crispiness. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if needed. For extra crunch, you can use half flour and half cornstarch. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3 days and reheated in the air fryer to restore crispiness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 6
Keywords: air fryer, buffalo cauliflower, healthy snack, game day food, vegetarian appetizer, spicy cauliflower, keto friendly, gluten free option