Cauliflower wings are the plant-based answer to a sharing platter — battered, crisped and tossed in buffalo or BBQ sauce. The air fryer gets them crunchy without deep frying. Here's how.
Key takeaways
Q: How do you make cauliflower wings in an air fryer?
A: Coat florets in a flour batter, air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 12 minutes, toss in sauce, then cook 6–10 minutes more until crisp.
Q: Are they crispy?
A: Yes — a light batter plus the air fryer's dry heat gives a proper crunch, even after saucing.
The method
The two-stage approach is key: crisp the battered florets first, then sauce and crisp again so the glaze sets rather than sogging the coating. A spritz of oil helps the batter turn golden.
The recipe
Buffalo Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower, in florets
- 60g flour, 80ml plant milk
- 1 tsp paprika, garlic, salt
- 3 tbsp buffalo or BBQ sauce
Method
- Whisk a batter; coat the florets.
- Spray with oil; air fry at 200°C for 12 min.
- Toss in sauce; cook 6–10 minutes more.
- Serve crisp with a dip.
Sauce options
- Buffalo — hot sauce whisked with a little melted butter or vegan spread.
- BBQ — sticky and sweet.
- Korean-style — gochujang, honey and soy. Pair with crispy chickpeas for a platter.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make cauliflower wings crispy in an air fryer?
Batter the florets, crisp them at 200°C for 12 minutes, then toss in sauce and cook 6–10 minutes more so the glaze sets without sogging the coating.
Are cauliflower wings healthy?
They're lower in calories and fat than chicken wings and high in fibre, especially when air-fried rather than deep-fried.
Can you make them vegan?
Yes — use plant milk in the batter and a vegan-friendly sauce. Buffalo sauce with vegan spread works perfectly.