Description

A crispy, spicy, and grease-free alternative to buffalo wings, these baked cauliflower bites are coated in a double-dip batter and tossed in classic buffalo sauce, served with a tangy homemade blue cheese dip.

Ingredients

Scale

1 large head of cauliflower (about 2–2.5 lbs / 900g-1.1kg), cut into bite-sized florets
1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free 1-to-1 blend)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (240ml) carbonated water or club soda
½ cup (120ml) buffalo sauce (e.g., Frank’s RedOriginal)
2 tablespoons (30g) butter, melted
½ cup (120g) plain Greek yogurt (2%)
½ cup (60g) blue cheese crumbles
2 tablespoons (30g) mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wash and thoroughly pat dry the cauliflower florets. Cut into uniform bite-sized pieces.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt.
In a separate bowl, whisk the carbonated water until smooth.
Add the cauliflower florets to the wet ingredients and toss to coat. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the batter to thicken.
Arrange the battered florets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
While cauliflower bakes, melt the butter and whisk in the buffalo sauce in a small bowl.
Remove cauliflower from oven and immediately toss in the buffalo sauce mixture until evenly coated.
In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt, blue cheese crumbles, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, and black pepper to make the dip.
Serve the hot cauliflower bites immediately with the blue cheese dip on the side, garnished with chives if desired.

Notes

For extra crunch, double-dip the florets by rolling them in dry flour after the wet batter. Ensure the pan is not overcrowded to prevent steaming. Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or air fryer at 400°F for 5-7 minutes to restore crispiness. Do not microwave as it makes them soggy.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup
Calories: 180
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 450
Fat: 8
Saturated Fat: 2
Carbohydrates: 20
Fiber: 3
Protein: 6

Keywords: buffalo cauliflower, game day snacks, vegetarian appetizer, crispy cauliflower, blue cheese dip, healthy wings alternative, party food