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Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites with Blue Cheese

air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites - featured image
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These crispy air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites are crunchy, spicy, and completely satisfying—perfect for game day or a healthy snack. With a shatteringly crisp coating and cool blue cheese dip, they rival traditional wings without the guilt.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets (about 4–5 cups)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose blend)
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅔ cup water
  • Olive oil spray (or avocado oil spray)
  • ⅓ cup buffalo hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
  • ½ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup crumbled blue cheese, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives or parsley, chopped (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets (1.5 to 2 inches across). Rinse and pat very dry.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add water and whisk until smooth (consistency of heavy cream).
  4. Add dried florets to the batter and toss gently until evenly coated. Work quickly.
  5. Place battered florets in the air fryer basket in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Spray generously with oil.
  6. Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes. Shake basket, spray again lightly with oil, and cook for another 5-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
  7. While cauliflower cooks, make buffalo sauce: whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, and honey (if using) in a small bowl.
  8. Make blue cheese dip: in a medium bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, crumbled blue cheese, lemon juice, and fresh herbs (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Transfer hot cooked florets to a large bowl. Pour about half the buffalo sauce over them and toss gently to coat. Add more sauce as needed.
  10. Repeat with remaining batches. Keep cooked cauliflower warm in a 200°F oven. Serve immediately on a platter with blue cheese dip, extra blue cheese crumbles, and fresh chives.

Notes

For maximum crispiness, ensure cauliflower is thoroughly dry before battering, do not overcrowd the air fryer basket, and spray with oil at the halfway point. Toss in buffalo sauce while hot and serve immediately. For oven-baked version, bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, then broil 1-2 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer buffalo cauliflower, crispy cauliflower bites, buffalo cauliflower, blue cheese dip, healthy appetizer, game day snack, vegetarian, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://twinkletaste.com/crispy-air-fryer-buffalo-cauliflower-bites-with-blue-cheese/