Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Vegan and Gluten-Free)

Buffalo wings are high, high up on my husband's list of favorite foods, so you can imagine how excited he was when he found out I was developing a recipe for Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites! He was all too happy to be my official taste tester. This final recipe got devoured (he ate almost the entire batch in one sitting!), and they're even more satisfying and filling than I thought they would be.

The flavor is SUPER authentic, with an incredibly crispy outside and tender inside. It's perfect paired with my Homemade Vegan Ranch Dressing! My husband is absolutely thrilled that this recipe is getting added to our game day appetizer spread, and I'm so excited to have a vegan buffalo wings recipe for all of the other fans out there!

Ingredients

This recipe only has 5 ingredients! The breadcrumbs are an easy one to make ahead of time so they're ready to go when you want to make these bites.

• Cauliflower - I used a medium head of cauliflower (1.5 pounds) cut into small, even-sized florets. Cutting the cauliflower evenly is an important step because we want them to cook evenly!
• Arrowroot Powder - This is a thickening agent that works similarly to corn starch. It thickens at a low temperature and adds a bit of stretchiness. When combined with water it turns into a batter that helps the breadcrumbs stick to the cauliflower!
• Panko Breadcrumbs - You can buy gluten-free breadcrumbs, but I prefer my homemade gluten-free vegan version for taste, texture and nutrition (it adds plant-based protein and healthy fats)! These are really simple to make, and for this recipe I pulse them a few extra times in the food processor since I find smaller crumbs stick to the cauliflower better.
• Vegan Butter - I usually reach for Miyokos brand. It has amazing flavor and it melts just like real butter. You could also use an avocado oil spray for a lightened-up version, although I preferred the taste of the vegan butter.
• Buffalo Sauce - This recipe calls for one cup of buffalo sauce, which is exactly one bottle of the Primal Kitchen sauce I love! You can use any buffalo sauce you like; just double check the ingredients.

How to Make Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

This dish has a few more steps than most of my recipes, but I promise it's super easy to make! A little bit of preparation and ingredient assembly at the beginning goes a long way in making delicious and crispy cauliflower bites.

1. Start with some prep. Preheat the oven, line a baking sheet, and pour the breadcrumbs into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the arrowroot powder with the water until it's smooth and thick (it should have a texture like glue). This is your batter!
2. It's time to batter the florets! One at a time, dip them into the arrowroot liquid, then into the breadcrumbs. They should be fully coated on all sides before you place them on the baking sheet (or cast iron skillet). Once they're all battered, drizzle the bites with melted butter or spray them generously with avocado oil spray.
3. Bake the bites. Put them in a 425-degree oven for 15 minutes on the middle rack. Remove them from the oven and toss them in the buffalo sauce; just like before, each piece should be fully coated. This can be done on the baking sheet or in a large bowl. I use tongs and handle the florets very gently so they stay intact! Bake for another 5 minutes.
4. Flip and bake for 5 more minutes! Flip each floret 180 degrees, drizzle with the rest of the melted butter (or give them another spray with avocado oil), and bake for a final 5 minutes. Watch closely at the end to make sure they don't burn.
5. Serve them hot. Use tongs to move the bites onto a serving platter and serve them alongside carrots, celery sticks, and vegan ranch dressing for dipping.

Tip to make them extra crispy: After baking, broil the bites at 550-degrees for a couple of minutes to finish them off! Again, watch closely to avoid burning all of your hard work!

The Best Vegan Buffalo Sauce

This recipe calls for one cup of vegan buffalo sauce. I use the Primal Kitchen brand, which you can now find in most major grocery stores. They have a short, clean ingredient list that starts with avocado oil and cashew butter. Primal Kitchen also makes a jalapeño buffalo sauce if you want to really turn up the heat!

All About Cauliflower

I don't think most people realize how versatile and amazing cauliflower is! Cauliflower is full of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folic acid. It’s also really low in calories and great for digestion and iron absorption as well. I use it to make Vegan Shawarma, in savory and comforting Mashed Cauliflower with Roasted Garlic, and even as a hidden veggie in some of my favorite smoothies!

Buffalo Bites with Plant-Based Protein

Even though these bites are totally vegan, they still contain a decent amount of plant-based protein thanks to my breadcrumb recipe! Since the breadcrumbs are both vegan and gluten-free, I make them with almonds and cashews for an alternative that's flavorful and gives the perfect structure and crunch to any recipe that uses them.

Almonds have many benefits for vegans. They are low in carbohydrates and high in protein. They also offer a good source of fiber, healthy fats, vitamin E, magnesium, iron and calcium. 

Cashews, also important in the vegan diet, have plant-based protein as well in addition to copper, magnesium, manganese, vitamin K, phosphorous and zinc. 

More Vegan & Gluten-Free Appetizers

• Best Vegan 7-Layer Dip
• Sheet Pan Vegan Nachos
• Easy Vegan Zucchini Pizza Bites
• Best Crispy BBQ Roasted Cauliflower
• Actually Crispy BBQ Roasted Chickpeas
• Mini Peppers with Roasted Sweet Pepper Hummus
• Dijon Chickpea Fritters
• Vegan & Gluten-Free Baked Crispy Cauliflower Poppers
• Sweet & Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• Healthy Maple Candied Pecans
• Sweet & Spiced Roasted Chickpeas