Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings

If you love buffalo flavor, then you’ve gotta try these air fryer vegan cauliflower wings. Crispy and saucy– they are the best!

I got an Air Fryer for Christmas. Well, more to the point, I grabbed one impulsively on Black Friday at a major discount and it sat in my car for the following three weeks until our kitchen was finished. I finally pulled it out over the holidays and oh my gosh, where has this thing been all my life?

I need another appliance like I need a hole in my head. My kitchen is brimming with gadgets even though I actively try to whittle down as many necessities as I can. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever have an Air Fryer, but then I’d seen so many rave reviews from friends (and my sister!) that I knew I’d eventually be grabbing one.

Do you need an Air Fryer for this recipe? No. It’s essentially the same technique for my Sriracha Cauliflower Buffalo Wings, though these are made in a 1/4 of the time and without the need for frying. You know, because the Air Fryer does all of that for you!

It’s no secret that my husband loves buffalo wings. He asks for my cauliflower buffalo wings at least a few times a month during Football season and while I’m usually very happy to fulfill his food wishes, those things just take so much time to put together. There’s the baking of the cauliflower, the dredging, the frying, the sauce making. It’s great as a special occasion, but not something that I’m eager to take on every Sunday afternoon.

That’s the beauty of the Air Fryer! BL can request cauliflower wings and in ~30 minutes, I’m presenting him with a giant basket of crispy fried wings covered in whatever spicy sauce he’s into at the moment. I’m partial to classic Buffalo sauce, but we’ve also been known to make a honey BBQ sauce, a smokin’ Habanero sauce and a more mild Asian Chili sauce. All are fantastic on crispy, crunchy cauliflower wings!

How to Make Cauliflower Buffalo Wings in the Air Fryer 

I tested this recipe close to 15 times, mostly to get the timing right. Compared to cauliflower wings made in the oven and then the skillet, these are much easier to overcook. We found that 6-7 minutes is the optimal time for getting a crunchy outside while still keeping some texture of the actual cauliflower.

I also wanted to see if you needed to dredge the cauliflower first. So I made a batch without any coating (boring), a batch with a dry coating (fell off as soon as the sauce was added) and a batch that was already coated in flour and buffalo sauce (meh. Lacked crunch and saucy, lick-your-fingers-goodness.)

My classic way is still the best way. Yes, it adds another step but you are saving so much time by using the Air Fryer that I don’t think it matters. Make a thickened egg-like mixture by heating dairy-free milk and cornstarch together, then letting cool slightly. From there, you will do a triple dip: once in the flour, once in the thickened milk mixture and then back in the flour.

Tap off as much excess flour as you can before placing them into the Air Fryer. Then set for 7 minutes at 400 degrees F. and let fry while you whisk together the ingredients for the sauce. So much easier than pan frying, am I right?

I know you are going to love these air fryer buffalo wings as much as we do! They have already become a staple in our house over the last few weeks and I have a feeling I’m going to continue to make them almost weekly during Football/Baseball season.

Looking for more vegan appetizer recipes?

Vegan tofu nuggets
Vegan chili queso dip
Vegan chorizo queso dip
Roasted tomato guacamole

Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings

• Author: Alex Caspero
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 minutes
• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: appetizer, snack
• Method: Air Fryer
• Cuisine: vegan, American

Description

Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings! Looking for healthy, vegan buffalo wings? These air fryer buffalo wings made from cauliflower are a MUST try!

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• Author: Alex Caspero
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 minutes
• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: appetizer, snack
• Method: Air Fryer
• Cuisine: vegan, American

• Author: Alex Caspero
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 7 minutes
• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: appetizer, snack
• Method: Air Fryer
• Cuisine: vegan, American

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into drumstick-like pieces
• 1 cup soy or almond milk
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup Buffalo Sauce (like Frank’s Hot)
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar

Vegan Ranch Dressing 

• 1/2 cup mayo (or vegan mayo)
• 1/4 cup soy milk
• 1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

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Instructions

1. Make the ranch dressing, if using. Whisk together the mayo, soy milk, parsley, dill, garlic powder. Add a pinch of salt and season to taste, if needed. Set aside.
   
2. Heat the milk and cornstarch together in a medium saucepan until cornstarch has dissolved. Heat the milk over medium heat until slightly thickened, about 4-5 minutes, then set aside to let cool.
3. Whisk together the flour, garlic salt, paprika, onion powder, black pepper and salt in a large bowl.
   
4. Dip the cauliflower into the flour, then into the thickened milk mixture, then back into the flour. Tap off as much of the excess flour as you can, then place in a single layer in the bottom of your Air Fryer. Repeat with the rest of the cauliflower; knowing that you may have to work in two batches depending on the size of your Air Fryer.
   
5. Place the air fryer tray into the Air Fryer and set to 7 minutes at 400 degrees F. Let cook, then flip/shake ~halfway through cooking.
6. While the cauliflower is cooking, heat the butter, buffalo hot sauce, vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat. When cauliflower is done, toss with the melted buffalo sauce and serve immediately with the ranch dressing.
7. Heat the butter, buffalo hot sauce, vinegar and Sriracha over medium heat. Toss with the crispy cauliflower and serve immediately with the ranch dressing.
   

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