• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My Plant-Based Friend

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Coaching

The Best Baked Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

by 5 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

Looking for the best crispy buffalo cauliflower recipe? You’ve come to the right place! These oil-free, baked buffalo cauliflower wings are perfectly crispy and truly addicting! They make for a delicious vegan appetizer for football games, parties, and potlucks. These buffalo cauliflower bites are great in wraps and salads, and delicious by themselves. They’re especially tasty dipped in your favorite vegan ranch, vegan blue cheese, or hummus. Mmmmm!

What Makes This the Best Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe?

Firstly, I love this buffalo cauliflower recipe because the outside truly turns out crispy thanks to the breadcrumb coating. I like these healthy, gluten-free breadcrumbs made with chickpeas for some added protein.

While some restaurants offer buffalo cauliflower as a meatless appetizer option, many times the batter contains eggs and/or milk.

Not these buffalo cauliflower wings! They contain no milk or eggs and are perfectly crispy on the outside! They’re a great healthy vegan snack loved by people of all diets.

crispy buffalo cauliflower

I’ve made buffalo cauliflower dozens of times over the last few years. I am happy to share that this is the best version I’ve tried to date!

This crispy buffalo cauliflower bite recipe is vegan, oil-free, and easy to make. I enjoy making these for family and friends because I love seeing how much meat-eaters enjoy them too. One commenter on Pinterest even said these were mistaken for real buffalo chicken bites! While I can’t promise that you will think the same, I can assure you this will become your favorite cauliflower recipe 😉

Crispy buffalo cauliflower bites are a delicious, nutritious, and cruelty-free alternative to traditional boneless buffalo wings. They are filled with flavor, have the perfect texture, and you wouldn’t even know they’re made with a vegetable. Win, win, win!

What Sauce Goes Best With Cauliflower Bites?

buffalo cauliflower and vegan blue cheese

After trying many brands, I’ve finally found my go-to vegan buffalo sauce. I love this buffalo sauce because the ingredients list is completely simple and clean, whole 30 approved and paleo, and truly the best tasting buffalo sauce I’ve come across. I always go for the medium buffalo flavor, but this brand carries a hot buffalo flavor as well if you are braver than I am! If spice isn’t your thing, you can also find a mild buffalo flavor.

As far as a dipping sauce, I personally prefer more buffalo sauce (anyone else!?) But my family and friends love this vegan blue cheese. If you like, vegan ranch goes well with these crispy buffalo cauliflower wings, too!

Is Buffalo Cauliflower Healthy?

buffalo cauliflower

Cauliflower is not only a diverse veggie to cook with, but it is also a nutrient-dense powerhouse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consuming powerhouse fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. One large head of cauliflower is an excellent source of fiber, potassium, antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and more. Another win!

Now that I’ve convinced you that you absolutely have to try these crispy buffalo cauliflower bites, I know you’ll love this easy and delicious recipe.

The best part? These buffalo cauliflower wings make the best leftovers, and turn out almost more delicious and crispy the second time around! Simply pop in the oven or toaster oven at 400° for 20-25 minutes and they taste as good as (or better) than new.

If you like vegan recipes with a kick, you will also love my easy zesty vegan tacos!

buffalo cauliflower
Melissa Donovan

Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower

5 from 1 vote
These baked crispy buffalo cauliflower wings are oil-free, easy to make, and addicting. Buffalo cauliflower bites are the perfect healthy vegan snack.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 40 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large head of cauliflower cut into florets
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened soy milk or other plant-based milk of choice
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 1/4 cup buffalo sauce

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, mix flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper together until well-combined. Add soy milk and mix until well-combined to form batter. In a separate bowl, add breadcrumbs.
  2. Cut the cauliflower into florets and coat completely in the batter.
  3. Once coated in batter, dip the cauliflower florets into the breadcrumbs until completely coated.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes at 400°, flipping cauliflower bites halfway through.
  5. Carefully remove cauliflower bites from oven and coat in buffalo sauce. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, once again flipping halfway through.
  6. Optional: Broil for 2-4 minutes on high for extra crispiness.
  7. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and celery sticks. Enjoy!

Most importantly, don’t forget to pin the recipe for later!

Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: buffalo cauliflower, crispy buffalo cauliflower wings

Previous Post: « The Best Vegan Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (Easy and Healthy Recipe)
Next Post: Healthy Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah

    November 29, 2019 at 1:56 pm

    Okay this sounds like the perfect SuperBowl snack! My husband Ryan is already requesting them!😁

    Reply
    • Melissa Donovan

      November 29, 2019 at 6:55 pm

      Definitely perfect for the Super Bowl! I hope you and Ryan love them 🙂

      Reply
  2. Justin

    February 17, 2025 at 5:36 am

    5 stars
    This looks amazing I don’t normally like cauliflower but I would definitely try this.

    Reply
    • Melissa Donovan

      February 26, 2025 at 7:40 pm

      Thank you! This is my absolute favorite way to enjoy cauliflower, I think you’d like it!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





Primary Sidebar

By Melissa Donovan

I love creating tasty, balanced, and healthy vegan recipes for people of all diets. Whether you’re looking for high protein, macro friendly vegan recipes or positive encouragement in adopting a more plant-based lifestyle, you’re in the right place!

Read More

Recent Posts

tofu peanut noodle dish
birthday cake mug cake
healthy vegan high protein & macro friendly snacks you'll love

Navigation

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Coaching

Footer

myplantbasedfriend

You can work toward your goals without putting you You can work toward your goals without putting your life on hold to achieve them 💪 

The @vegansquadcoaching team drove from Florida to New York for the @marchforanimals, with some time to explore NYC and eat our way through the city, too!

On our 17+ hour travel days in the car, I ate 3 of my usual meals, then kept things flexible by swapping my last meal for some high-protein snacks and fun drinks along the way.

If you have any kind of goal to get in shape or change your physique, know that you don’t have to eat perfectly 100% of the time. You can find a way of eating that supports your goals and lets you enjoy your life.

Eat the foods that nourish you, make you feel good, and bring you joy. What’s not sustainable isn’t optimal!

What’s your go-to travel meal or snack? 😋
This isn’t a before & after where I look at the fi This isn’t a before & after where I look at the first clip and wish I could go back and change my body.

I actually feel so much love for that version of me. She showed up for herself on a lot of really hard days. She kept training, moving her body, and trying to take care of herself even when her body wasn’t responding the way she wanted it to.

Last year was a really hard one for me. I was navigating high cortisol and everything that came with it. Changes in my nutrition, training, sleep, mental health, energy, and how I felt in my body.

So when I look at these two versions of myself, I don’t see one body that’s “better” than the other. I see two seasons of the same woman doing her best to take care of herself.

Being able to train hard again, have my body respond well, and exist at a more peaceful baseline feels like the biggest blessing. I don’t take it for granted for a single day 🥹

In January, I decided to hire @thebodybuildingvegan to coach me through my return to the stage, and I’m so grateful I did. Having his guidance, experience, and outside perspective has allowed me to approach this season with so much more intention and trust in the process.

Transformation doesn’t have to begin with deciding there’s something wrong with you. You can love your body exactly where it is, and still want to see what it’s capable of.

And, you can choose to build a life where your own thriving doesn’t require another being to suffer. That’s a huge part of why bodybuilding as a vegan means so much to me.

Every time we choose compassion, question what we’ve been taught is necessary, and make choices that don’t require exploiting another being, we remember the role we play in creating a kinder, safer, happier and healthier world.

If you want to feel more vibrant, stronger, or more confident, you’re allowed to feel proud of how far you’ve come AND still dream about what’s next 🤍

Comment WORTHY if you’re on a journey to deeply love yourself and want to thrive alongside a supportive group of vegan women 🥰
Connecting with so many other like-hearted vegans Connecting with so many other like-hearted vegans has shifted so much for me.

There’s no better feeling than when your choices, values, and the things you’ve built your life around aren’t up for debate, and you get to just exist as yourself.

I’ve learned that healing and growth don’t only come from doing the deep, hard work alone. Sometimes they come from letting yourself rest, play, and be witnessed and supported by people who are walking a similar path.

That’s exactly what I felt the first time I was in a space like this, and it’s exactly why we created @vegansquadretreats 💚

If any part of you is craving a space where you don’t have to shrink, explain, or perform, this is your sign!

Join us for the first Vegan Squad Retreat in Florida, January 29 - February 1, 2027.

Comment RETREAT and I’ll send you all the details 🥰
Here’s what I’ve been eating while participating i Here’s what I’ve been eating while participating in the @marchforanimals as a vegan bodybuilder:

Fruit, high protein sandwiches, and some of my favorite high-protein snacks 🥪 🍇 

Tomorrow, we arrive at Marshall BioResources to stand with the animals and demand an end to animal testing.

There are so many heartbreaking realities behind the doors of these facilities, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of it.

But being here has reminded me that change happens when people are willing to show up, speak up, and refuse to look away. 

I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this experience with my @vegansquadcoaching team, and to stand alongside so many people who are making history.

These innocent animals deserve better ❤️‍🩹

Proud to march alongside:
@sexyfitvegan - Ella Magers, Co-Director, March to Abolish Animal Testing
@yourveganmentor1
@consciouslivingwithali
@thebodybuildingvegan
And so many other amazing humans.

Learn more about how you can help abolish animal testing in our lifetime at marchforanimals.org

Use my code to save & support:
@vedgenutrition 15% off: MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND 
@saygraceprotein 10% off: MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND
@crisp.power 10% off: MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND 
@greenbitesgo 15% off: #MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND
Tell me you have a sweet tooth without telling me Tell me you have a sweet tooth without telling me you have a sweet tooth 🍩

I’ve always had a sweet tooth. Fun fact: I actually ran a vegan baking business for 3 years 😍

I started it because I wanted to recreate all of my favorite desserts without the animal products, and make them so good that everyone could enjoy them, whether they were vegan or not.

And that’s one of my favorite things about vegan food: you can enjoy the desserts you love without dairy, eggs, or other animal products.

You don’t have to give up the foods that bring you joy to make choices that are more compassionate toward animals.

There are so many incredible people and businesses creating alternatives that make it easier than ever to choose differently, without feeling like you’re missing out.

My sweet tooth definitely didn’t go anywhere. If anything, going vegan made me even more excited to discover new favorites!

If you could only pick ONE vegan dessert, what would you choose? 👀
I didn’t go vegan because I don’t love food. When I didn’t go vegan because I don’t love food.

When I was in college, I started having little moments that made me question eating animals.

Then one day, I was eating chicken at a restaurant and the realization that I was eating the wings of someone who had once been alive really hit me.

How I felt in that moment stayed with me, but it wasn’t like I suddenly had everything figured out. I kept exploring plant-based options, learning, and making more connections.

A few months later I went vegan, and that was over 10 years ago now.

My biggest fear was that I’d have to give up the foods I loved, but I’m so grateful for how wrong I was about that.

There’s SO much to eat and enjoy when you approach food with an open mind and let yourself try new things.

Whether I’m making a nourishing meal, cooking high-protein foods or nostalgic foods I grew up loving, or discovering an incredible restaurant or dessert, being a foodie is so much more fulfilling when I get to enjoy food while making choices that feel more compassionate toward animals 🥰

You don’t have to change everything overnight.

Try some of the plant-based options that are out there, get curious, and let me know if you need any recommendations! ❤️

If you’re vegan, how long ago did you make the switch? And if you’re not vegan, what’s a vegan meal you’ve tried and loved, or one you’d love to try? 😊
You already know who you need to send this to 👀 You already know who you need to send this to 👀 

#foodiesforlife #cheatmealtime #veganfoodies
POV: you spent an entire day eating your way throu POV: you spent an entire day eating your way through @gainesvillevegfest 🍕

Thank you so much to our @vegansquadcoaching team, all the volunteers, vendors, attendees, and everyone else who made this event possible and created such an exceptional day for our community 🌱

As a vegan of 10 years, I’ve attended and vended at so many events like this. But there was something incredibly special about playing a part in bringing this one to life with some of my best friends.

I deeply understand how important it is to find community as a vegan and remember that you’re not alone ❤️

Yes, the food is INCREDIBLE, and I’m so grateful to the business owners who make living this lifestyle so easy. 

And, I believe it’s the people you connect with along the way who truly make this journey fulfilling 🥰

I enjoyed welcome bag snacks from our awesome sponsors, including some of my favorites:
🥨 @crisp.power protein pretzels (code MYPLANTBASEDFRIEND to save)
🫘 @badabeansnacks

And food/ drinks from some of the amazing vendors:
🍪 @oopsydaisysweets Rice Crisp Marshmallow Cookie
🌺 @alkalinehealingfoods Passionfruit Sea Moss Drink
🥙 @theveganhalalcart Gyro Platter & Mac & Cheeze
🍕 @projectnovapizza Peach & Prosciutto Pizza
🍦 @caliscoops Birthday Cake Ice Cream

This is just the beginning!! If you’re craving more community, connection, and unforgettable vegan food with hundreds of like-hearted people, follow @vegansquadretreats 🥳🌅🌱

We have something even bigger and better coming, and we can’t wait to share it with you so soon! 💚
Follow Me!

Copyright © 2026 My Plant-Based Friend on the Foodie Pro Theme

Disclosure Policy - Privacy Policy