Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings (Gluten free)

This baked vegan buffalo cauliflower wings recipe is healthy, crispy, and also so easy to make! In addition, it's gluten free, satisfying, a crowd-pleaser, and perfect as an appetizer or main dish!

These baked gluten free buffalo cauliflower wings are spicy and a perfect alternative to buffalo chicken for vegetarians. They are lightly coated and then dipped in buffalo sauce to give so much flavor and texture. You can make a buffalo cauliflower sandwich, vegan buffalo cauliflower tacos or buffalo cauliflower salad with them as well!

You can serve these vegan buffalo cauliflower wings with vegan ranch dressing or avocado ranch dressing and some celery sticks for Super Bowl parties or any other gathering. Since we will be using cauliflower, they are also healthy and not fried and greasy just like my general tso's cauliflower, sticky sesame cauliflower, sweet and sour cauliflower, teriyaki cauliflower and orange cauliflower recipes!

The best part is that you only need a few ingredients to make these healthy baked wings. If you are a fan of buffalo flavor, you can also try my vegan buffalo chicken dip, buffalo chickpea salad, buffalo hummus, or vegan buffalo mac and cheese!

But, before we jump into the recipe, let's talk about how you can customize it and learn some tips.

How to Make Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Ingredients

Cauliflower

If you don't want to end up with little pieces, you should use your hands to break the cauliflower into bite-size pieces instead of cutting with a knife. It might take some work to get it going but once the first piece is pulled apart, it gets easier.

Flour

To keep these buffalo cauliflower wings gluten-free, I used gluten-free flour but you can use regular flour. Coating them in a flour-based batter will make the wings crispy and also help with the sauce sticking.

Unsweetened Plant-based Milk

You can use almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, or oat milk so the choice is yours. You will need to make sure that the milk is unsweetened and is not flavored since that would affect the taste.

Buffalo Sauce

You can really use any buffalo sauce but my all-time favorite is this hot buffalo sauce. You can also use Frank's Red Hot Sauce for this.

Garlic Powder

Adding some flavor to the batter is important so we will be using garlic powder. I don't recommend using minced garlic since it might burn while baking.

Smoked paprika

Smoked paprika is a game-changer if you have never used it so I don't recommend you omit it. Make sure to use a good quality one for the best results.

Vegan Butter & Salt

You will need just a couple of tablespoons melted vegan butter but you can sub for coconut oil. We will also be adding a little salt to the batter.

How to Make it

• Preheat the oven to 450 F.
• First, break the cauliflower with your hands into bite-size florets. (You can cut it with a knife if needed but you might end up with smaller pieces). And then make the batter by combining flour, milk, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt in a large bowl.

• 

• 

• Now, you can add the cauliflower florets into the bowl with the batter and then mix really well until all pieces are coated. You can also use a ziplock bag and shake the batter and the florets or dip them one at a time into the batter.

• 

• 

• Now transfer the florets onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet but let any excess batter drip off before placing on the baking sheet. Also, make sure they have space between them so they crisp up instead of steaming. Bake them at 450 F for about 25 minutes flipping halfway through.

• 

• 

• In the meantime, you can add the buffalo sauce and melted butter in a small bowl and then mix it until combined. (You can melt the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds)

• 

• 

• Now, you can take the baked florets out of the oven and then brush them with the buffalo sauce. But I prefer to dip them into the sauce to really coat them and then place them back onto the baking sheet. Bake them for another 20 minutes but check often to make sure they are not burning.

• 

• 

• 

Tips & Variations

• If the batter is too thick, you can add a little bit more milk to thin it out but remember, it shouldn't be dripping out and watery.
• If the batter is too watery, add more flour to make it thicker so it can stick to the florets.
• Don't overcrowd the pan because they will not get crispy.
• While the buffalo cauliflower wings are baking, check frequently to make sure they are not burning.

How to store and reheat it

These vegan buffalo cauliflower bites are best when eaten fresh out of the oven because if they wait, they will get soggy. If you end up with leftovers (we never do!), you can reheat them at 400 F for about 5 to 8 minutes.

Can I air fry them?

Yes, but you might have to do it in a couple of batches. You can add the battered cauliflower into the air fryer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes at 375 F (time will vary depending on the air fryer model you have). You can then coat them in hot sauce. You will need to make sure that you are not overcrowding so they are crispier.

How to Serve them

• Make buffalo cauliflower salad, buffalo cauliflower sandwich or buffalo cauliflower tacos
• Serve these crispy buffalo cauliflower with vegan ranch dressing or avocado ranch dressing
• Perfect with celery, carrot sticks, baked beans, or coleslaw on the side
• Pair with vegan chili cheese fries for an awesome game day party!
• Make it a meal by pairing it with BBQ jackfruit sandwiches or BBQ jackfruit pizzas!

Frequently Asked Questions

This vegetarian buffalo cauliflower wings recipe is very easy and satisfying. It is also:

• Gluten free, dairy free & soy free
• Healthy & Filling
• A crowd pleaser
• Also so delicious!

More plant based crowd-pleasing recipes

• Vegan Crab Cakes
• Pasta Salad
• Vegan Avocado Potato Salad
• White Bean Dip
• Vegan Corn Fritters

So, did you make this? I’d love for you to leave a comment and rate the recipe. You can also share your photo of the recipe on Pinterest and tag me on Instagram using @avocadocentric or #avocadocentric! xo, Selin

Print