Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
These vegetarian air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites are an easy and healthy snack to serve at your next Super Bowl party!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 to 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- ¾ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp ground red cayenne pepper
- ¼ to ⅓ cup Frank's Red Hot
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the cauliflower into florets, removing the stalk, and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven until tender, about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Once the cauliflower is tender, let it cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Then, transfer the cauliflower to a food processor and pulse until it breaks up into smaller pieces and has a consistent texture (check that no large pieces are left).
- Transfer the cauliflower to a large mixing bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, egg, paprika, and cayenne pepper and then mix until thoroughly combined and slightly sticky.
- Next, squeeze the cauliflower mixture into small rounds, about 1 inch in diameter. Squeezing (instead of rolling) helps compact the mixture so the buffalo bites hold their shape. Set them aside on a large plate or sheet of parchment paper as you work.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F and grease the basket with cooking spray. Cook the cauliflower bites in batches, adding them to the basket in a single layer and leaving about a half-inch to an inch of space between them. Grease the cauliflower bites with cooking spray, then air fry for 10 minutes, shaking halfway through to ensure even cooking.
- Once the cauliflower bites are cooked, add them to a bowl and toss with Frank's Red Hot. Serve immediately.
Notes
Time-saving tips: You can always roast the cauliflower ahead of time for this recipe, and store it in the fridge until you're ready to make the cauliflower bites. We also recommend shaping a batch of bites, tossing them in the air fryer, and then continuing to shape the rest of the bites while the first batch starts to cook. Our 3-quart air fryer can fit about 10 of these bites at a time, for reference.
Serving suggestions: Tossing the cauliflower bites in Frank's Red Hot before serving infuses them with spicy buffalo flavor. Alternatively, you can skip this step and serve them with Frank's (or your favorite buffalo sauce) on the side for dipping. You can also serve them with ranch, blue cheese, or any of your other favorite condiments - check out our blog post above for more suggestions!
Nutrition
Calories: 20kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 97mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.3mg