Everything You Need to Know About Air Fried Cauliflower: Calories, Nutrition, and Step-by-Step Recipe

This healthy alternative to deep-fried chicken wings will blow your mind!

One of the easiest ways to maintain a nutritious diet is to find healthier recipes that still allow you to indulge in your favorite foods. Many of us can agree that the taste and textures of deep-fried chicken wings are irresistible, especially on football Sundays! Unfortunately, traditional wing recipes are loaded with unhealthy fats from deep-frying. So, we set out to find a recipe that offers all of the things you love about chicken wings, but with significantly fewer calories. This is how we came up with our absolutely delicious, 30-minute air fryer buffalo cauliflower!

Cauliflower Instead of Chicken?

I was a little skeptical at first, too. But I’ve got to tell you: It’s crazy how much this buffalo cauliflower tastes like chicken wings! These tasty, lightly-battered morsels are tender on the inside but perfectly crispy on the outside. There are a few things that contribute to the crispiness. 

First, the Panko has a dryer, flakier consistency than regular breadcrumbs, so it creates a crispier air-fried product. You can use regular breadcrumbs if you can’t find Panko, but the cauliflower won’t be as crispy. Second, the air fryer does a wonderful job of simulating that beloved deep-fried texture of chicken wings while keeping the inner layer of the cauliflower wonderfully tender.

And, of course, using classic buffalo sauce adds the perfect finishing touch to the bites. We’re confident that this simple recipe will be a hit with vegetarians and meat-eaters alike!

Air Fried Cauliflower Calories vs. Chicken Wing Calories

The difference between air fried cauliflower calories and chicken wing calories will amaze you. Traditional, deep-fried chicken wings contain about 100 calories per wing. And who eats just one? These air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites contain just over 100 calories in an entire cup (and possibly a little more depending on the size of your head of cauliflower!) If you ask us, air fried cauliflower calories go a lot further than fried chicken wing calories!

While chicken wings do offer more protein and are lower in carbohydrates compared to cauliflower, they do lack fiber. They’re also higher in cholesterol and are extremely fatty, with each wing containing a whopping 7 grams of fat. This cauliflower alternative offers 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of belly-filling fiber in each serving. Furthermore, you’ll only consume 2 grams of fat per serving! 

Our Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower is Incredibly Easy to Make

While the air fryer is preheating, you can begin making the batter. Beat the egg and water in a small bowl and set it aside. In another bowl,  combine the Panko, paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Be sure to mix well to evenly combine all of the dry ingredients.

Then, grab your cauliflower florets and dip them into the eggs before tossing them in the Panko mixture. Make sure that each floret is coated evenly. Place the breaded cauliflower on a plate while you coat the remaining cauliflower.

When your air fryer is preheated, spray the breaded bites with avocado oil and place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket. Doing so can cause the bites to not cook properly, and we want these little guys to be perfectly crispy all around! Cook the cauliflower for 10 to 15 minutes, until they’re a beautiful golden brown color. If you have to do multiple batches, we highly recommend keeping the cooked cauliflower warm in a 200-degree Fahrenheit oven while you finish air-frying the remaining cauliflower.

Once you’re ready to serve the cauliflower, toss the florets in the buffalo sauce. Doing this right before serving will keep them from getting soggy. 

The Best Ways to Enjoy These Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

These delicious, vegetarian-friendly wings make a great party appetizer, but sometimes we like to enjoy them as a simple healthy snack or side dish. They’re also awesome on a salad! To tone down the spicy vibes a bit, we recommend serving this cauliflower with a side of ranch (homemade is best) or blue cheese dressing. You can also make a plant-based ranch dressing if you’d like!

If you’re lucky enough to end up with leftovers, they’ll still taste amazing, but they won’t be as crispy as the first day. You can reheat them in the air fryer to get some of that delightful, crispiness back.

If you’re throwing a party, you’re going to need more than one appetizer! Here are some of our favorites to pair with this air fryer buffalo cauliflower:

• Vegetable Skewer Cocktail
• Avocado Fries with Spicy Honey Lime Sauce
• Jalapeno Popper Zucchini Boats

If you’re lucky enough to end up with leftovers, they’ll still taste amazing, but they won’t be as crispy as the first day. You can reheat them in the air fryer to get some of that delightful, crispiness back. 

Did you know there was such a big difference between chicken wing calories and air fried cauliflower calories? Are you going to try these delicious cauliflower bites? If you do, be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

If you enjoyed this air fried cauliflower recipe, you might also like to try:

• Baked Cranberry Glazed Chicken Wings
• Orange Honey BBQ Wings
• Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash
• Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
• Extra-Crispy, Saucy Baked Buffalo Wings

Remember to follow us on Facebook and Pinterest, or subscribe to our eNewsletter to stay up to date on all of our latest and most popular recipes.