Cauliflower Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Urben Life (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Jenna Urben · This post may contain affiliate links

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This vegan buffalo wings recipe is quick and easy to make in the air fryer. They're crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Simply toss battered cauliflower in homemade buffalo sauce for a delicious dairy free snack.

Cauliflower Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Urben Life (1)

If you're craving chicken wings on a vegan or plant-based diet, you need to try my breaded cauliflower wings ASAP!

Cauliflower makes a great replacement for these tasty bites and cooking them in the air fryer gives them an unmatched texture. Check out my baked cauliflower wings recipe for a crispier panko crusted bite.

Why you'll love this recipe

  • Buffalo cauliflower wings are flavorful and slightly spicy.
  • Perfect for an afternoon snack, happy hour, appetizer, party, or game day!
Cauliflower Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Urben Life (2)

Ingredients

These buffalo vegan wings come together with under 10 ingredients and cook in less than 30 minutes.

Here's what you'll need for the cauliflower wings batter:

  • Cauliflower, cut into florets and set aside
  • Flour
  • Dairy-free milk
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper

Homemade Vegan Buffalo Sauce:

  • Hot sauce
  • Vegan butter

How to make cauliflower buffalo wings

Start by removing the leaves from the bottom of the cauliflower. Carefully cut around the stem then break the cauliflower into florets.

Cut cauliflower florets into small bite-sized pieces for this recipe. You don't want the florets to be too small but if they're too large, they won't cook as evenly.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, dairy-free milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If the mixture is too thick, add an extra splash of liquid to thin it out. Toss cauliflower florets in the mixing bowl and coat with batter.

Arrange coated florets on the air fryer basket. Air fry cauliflower wings at 375F for 12 minutes. Meanwhile, melt vegan butter and stir in hot sauce to create homemade buffalo sauce.

Remove cauliflower wings from air fryer and toss in buffalo sauce. Return to air fryer tray. Air fry for a second time at 375F for 10-12 minutes. Remove from air fryer and serve with leftover buffalo sauce and vegan ranch dressing.

Cauliflower Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Urben Life (3)

Tips & FAQ

How to avoid soggy cauliflower wings: Make sure you aren't adding too much batter or buffalo sauce. When coating the cauliflower florets, let excess batter drip off back into the mixing bowl.

When you're air frying, make sure not to overcrowd the basket. You may have to work in batches for best results. Wait until just before air frying to coat your cauliflower.

What type of air fryer do you use? I currently use the Cuisinart Toaster Oven Air Fryer and love it!

What kind of non-dairy milk should I use? Use your favorite unflavored and unsweetened milk. I usually use soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk.

Can these be made gluten-free? Absolutely! Try using cassava flour or oat flour.

What do you pair with cauliflower wings? Additional fresh veggies like celery, carrots, and peppers pair perfectly with these air fryer cauliflower wings.

Which dipping sauce is the best? Try my homemade vegan ranch dressing!

Related recipes

Want more dairy-free appetizers? Check these out next:

  • Vegan Fried Pickles
  • 4-Ingredient Vegan Buffalo Dip
  • Shish*to Peppers (3 Ways)
  • Dairy-Free Beer Cheese Dip
  • Vegan Buffalo Party Snack Mix
  • Plant-Based Jalapeno Poppers
  • Easy Five Layer Dip Recipe
  • Vegan Skillet Queso Dip

I hope you enjoy my dairy-free and egg-free cauliflower wings as much as we do! They're the ultimate allergy-friendly and vegan snack. If you give them a try, please share a photo with me over onInstagram.

Cauliflower Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Urben Life (4)

Vegan Buffalo Wings

Author: Jenna Urben

This vegan buffalo wings recipe is quick and easy to make in the air fryer. They're crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Simply toss battered cauliflower in homemade buffalo sauce for a delicious dairy free snack.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Servings 4 servings

Calories 229 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower cut into bite-sized florets
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup dairy-free milk (add up to ½ cup more for desired consistency)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder optional
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ cup hot sauce (we like frank's redhot)
  • 2-4 tablespoons plant-based butter melted

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, dairy-free milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If the mixture is too thick, add an extra splash of liquid to thin it out.

  • Toss cauliflower florets in the mixing bowl and coat with batter. Let excess batter drip off then transfer to the air fryer basket.

  • Arrange florets in an even layer then air fry at 375F for 10-12 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, melt vegan butter and stir in hot sauce to create homemade buffalo sauce.

  • Remove cauliflower wings from air fryer and toss in buffalo sauce.

  • Return to air fryer tray and cook for an additional 10-12 minutes.

  • Remove from air fryer and serve with leftover buffalo sauce and vegan ranch dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 7gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gSodium: 1492mgPotassium: 550mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 440IUVitamin C: 92mgCalcium: 127mgIron: 3mg

Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating or review in the form below, then snap a picture and tag me @theurbenlife on Instagram!

Suggested Equipment

Cauliflower Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Urben Life (8)

More Dairy Free Appetizer Recipes

  • Dairy Free Pesto
  • Kale Pesto
  • Polish Dill Pickles
  • Mango Habanero Salsa

About Jenna Urben

Jenna Urben is the recipe developer, content creator, and storyteller behind The Urben Life. She has over 10 years experience adapting family favorite meals to fit allergy-friendly diets. Join Jenna as she shares delicious dairy-free recipes that are easy to follow with plenty of tips and alternatives.

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  1. Linda

    Cauliflower Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Urben Life (13)
    These were fabulous. Had my doubts about batter in an air fryer but they came out nice and light. Definitely a keeper.

    Reply

    • Jenna Urben

      I'm so happy to hear that, Linda 🙂 Thank you!

      Reply

Cauliflower Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe - The Urben Life (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in wholly veggie vegan buffalo cauliflower wings? ›

Ingredients: Cauliflower, Panko coating (water, rice flour, pea protein, non GMO canola oil, dextrose, baking soda, yellow corn flour, rice flour, potato starch, rice starch, sea salt, sunflower oil, spices, yeast extract, ancho pepper powder, xanthan gum).

Are the cauliflower wings from Buffalo Wild Wings vegan? ›

This is because the coating can sometimes contain animal products, like milk or honey, or they're deep-fried in animal fat. The cauliflower wings at Buffalo Wild Wings, for example, are meat-free, but they're not vegan because they're cooked in beef fat.

Why are my cauliflower wings soggy? ›

Baked cauliflower wings can get soggy if too much of the Buffalo sauce is used when coating the wings before going back into the oven. Just lightly coating them will keep them nice and crispy.

Is buffalo cauliflower healthier than wings? ›

The good news is that you can keep your heart healthy, without missing out on any of the fun—or flavor—on Super Bowl Sunday by opting for buffalo cauliflower wings instead. Unlike chicken wings, cauliflower is free of cholesterol and low in fat and saturated fat.

Are cauliflower wings healthier than chicken? ›

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings are the perfect comfort food. The whole recipe contains under 300 calories. A lot better for you than chicken wings with far fewer calories and fat. These Vegan and Gluten-Free Buffalo Cauliflower wings are also higher in fibre and cholesterol-free.

Is Wholly veggie healthy? ›

Free of additives, preservatives, gluten, soy, and GMOs. Just great quality vegetables, simple seasonings and chef-inspired recipes in convenient formats that are delicious, and accessible. By putting more vegetables on more plates, and more seeds in more soil, we're planting for a greener, healthier future.

Are cauliflower wings high in carbs? ›

Wholly Veggie Buffalo Cauliflower Wings (6 pieces) contains 20g total carbs, 19g net carbs, 6g fat, 2g protein, and 140 calories.

Why is buffalo sauce not vegan? ›

Unfortunately, in most cases, the answer to that question is yes. Most hot sauces are perfect for a vegan diet, composed of cayenne pepper, vinegar, and many other plant-based ingredients. Buffalo sauce, however, is a cayenne-based hot sauce with an extra special ingredient, that being equal parts butter.

Does Buffalo Wild Wings fry their cauliflower wings? ›

Our Traditional, Boneless and Cauliflower Wings are fried then sauced or seasoned in the same bowls. We grill many items that contain allergens, therefore cross-contact may occur during the grilling process.

Why aren t my cauliflower wings crispy? ›

Tricks to The Crispiest Cauliflower Wings

Make sure each wing has plenty of space on the baking sheet. The airflow helps things crisp up. Make sure you're using fresh, not soggy or stale, breadcrumbs. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.

Are cauliflower wings unhealthy? ›

There's not too much fat in these cauliflower wings but the sodium is high. There is dietary fiber and protein though! You also will get some iron and potassium. I was glad to see the company uses wheat flour and the sauce includes natural ingredients.

Why are my cauliflower wings not crispy? ›

After coating your Buffalo cauliflower wings in the batter, do not dump them onto your baking tray. Excess batter at the bottom of the bowl will pool on your tray, causing the bites to stick together, and stick to the parchment paper. This will make them less crispy.

What are the healthiest wings to eat? ›

Plain Boneless Wings

Plain boneless wings have the lowest amount of calories, sodium, carbohydrates, and saturated fat, with just 80 calories, 4.5g fat, 1g saturated fat, 6g carbs, 4g protein, and 230mg sodium per wing.

Which is the healthiest broccoli or cauliflower? ›

While they are both very nutritious vegetables, broccoli has a higher vitamin content, specifically in vitamin K and C, than cauliflower and is specifically known to be great for eye health. Broccoli florets also provide more minerals and fiber as well as contains vitamin A that isn't in cauliflower.

What are vegan buffalo wings made of? ›

Most vegan chicken wings are made from soy protein or seitan. Seitan is a high-protein vegan meat substitute made from vital wheat gluten. Vital wheat gluten is the natural protein found in wheat. While you can make wings using tofu alone, the seitan is what provides the most meat-like texture and chewiness.

How healthy are cauliflower wings? ›

Low in calories and carbs and loaded with fiber and nutrients. These cauliflower wings are a great healthy option. Flour: Use all purpose or a gluten-free flour for a nice crispy coating.

What are veggie grill buffalo wings made of? ›

We would have never thought meatless Buffalo wings could taste so good. The meat replica (made from wheat protein and soy) was juicy, flavorful and surprisingly maintained the flavor and texture of real chicken wings!

What are Pizza Hut vegan wings made of? ›

Pizza Hut has sparked debate among fans after adding “vegan wings” to its menu, leaving some baffled by the bizarre meat alternative. The new “wings” have been added to the chain's new Wingstreet menu. Pizza Hut says the plant-based wings are made from wheat protein and have a meaty like texture to imitate chicken.

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