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    Home » Recipes

    Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

    Published: Jan 29, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This air fryer buffalo cauliflower is spicy, saucy, and delicious. It's the perfect healthy game-day appetizer, and you can't even tell you're eating cauliflower. We use olive oil potato chips to coat the cauliflower, so it's gluten-free, paleo, and Whole30-friendly.

    Buffalo cauliflower in a serving container with a side of dressing for dipping.

    We love the Alamo Drafthouse Buffalo Cauliflower, but wanted a Whole30-friendly version. I came up with this air fryer buffalo cauliflower, which I bread with olive oil potato chips instead of flour or breadcrumbs.

    This gluten-free buffalo cauliflower is also the perfect healthy Super bowl snack. It's easy to make, healthy, and super tasty. Pair it with our greek yogurt blue cheese dressing or your favorite ranch dressing, and you've got a winning appetizer.

    Jump to:
    • Key Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe

    Key Ingredients

    • Potato chips- If you want to make this Whole30-compliant, make sure you use potato chips fried in a compliant oil. We use olive oil potato chips from Trader Joe's.
    • Cauliflower- We use an entire head cut into florets. You can just buy pre-cut florets if you want to skip a step.
    • Eggs
    • Buffalo hot sauce- We use Frank's RedHot.
    • Butter- Use ghee for Whole30 and dairy-free.
    • Spices: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground cayenne

    See recipe card for amounts.

    A basket of buffalo cauliflower florets.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Step 1: Crush your potato chips. We put ours into a baggie and beat it with a meat tenderizer. You could also use a rolling pin. Choose your favorite method of destruction. Once your chips are crushed into crumbs, put them in a bowl. Add the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground cayenne and stir to combine.

    Step 2: Add the egg to another bowl. Whisk until smooth.

    Step 3: Dip each of your cauliflower florets into the egg, then spoon the potato chip mixture over the dipped florets until they're covered with chips.

    Step 4: Air fry the florets in a single layer for 7 minutes at 390°F, or until the coating is golden brown and the cauliflower is tender.

    Step 5: While the cauliflower is in the air fryer, combine the buffalo hot sauce and melted butter in a large mixing bowl.

    Step 6: Right before serving, add the cauliflower to the mixing bowl with the hot sauce and butter. Toss to coat, then transfer to a serving plate. Serve immediately with a side of your favorite dipping sauce. We like using our greek yogurt blue cheese dressing.

    A piece of buffalo cauliflower coated in a white dressing.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I keep my potato chips from getting soggy while coating the cauliflower?

    Use a spoon to drop the potato chips onto the cauliflower so that the egg doesn't come into contact with the dry chips. If your chips get wet with egg, they become pretty hard to use.

    Can I use a different kind of potato chip?

    You can use whatever potato chip is your favorite. We like kettle cooked potato chips that have been cooked in olive oil, but any potato chip will work.

    What if I don't have an air fryer?

    If you don't have an air fryer, bake the cauliflower on a sheet pan at 425°F until it is tender, around 15 minutes. Your cauliflower may not be as crispy.

    A piece of buffalo cauliflower drowning in a vat of ranch dressing.
    Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe

    Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe

    Recipe by Mollie

    This air fryer buffalo cauliflower is spicy, saucy, and delicious. It's the perfect healthy game-day appetizer, and you can't even tell you're eating cauliflower. We use olive oil potato chips to coat the cauliflower, so it's gluten-free, paleo, and Whole30 friendly.

    Course: AppetizersCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
    5 from 2 votes
    Pin
    Print
    Servings

    4

    servings
    Prep time

    20

    minutes
    Cooking time

    7

    minutes
    Calories

    220

    kcal
    Total time

    27

    minutes
    Cook Mode

    Prevent your screen from going dark!

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups 3 potato chips

    • ¼ teaspoon ¼ paprika

    • ¼ teaspoon ¼ garlic powder

    • ¼ teaspoon ¼ onion powder

    • ⅛ teaspoon ⅛ ground cayenne

    • 2 2 eggs

    • 1 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets

    • 2 tablespoons 2 butter (ghee for Whole30 and dairy-free), melted

    • 1 cup 1 Frank's RedHot Sauce

    Directions

    • Crush your potato chips. We put ours into a baggie and beat it with a meat tenderizer. You could also use a rolling pin. Choose your favorite method of destruction. Once your chips are crushed into crumbs, put them in a bowl. Add the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground cayenne and stir to combine.
    • Add the egg to another bowl. Whisk until smooth.
    • Dip each of your cauliflower florets into the egg, then spoon the potato chip mixture over the dipped florets until they're covered with chips.
    • Air fry the florets in a single layer for 7 minutes at 390°F, or until the coating is golden brown and the cauliflower is tender.
    • While the cauliflower is in the air fryer, combine the buffalo hot sauce and melted butter in a large mixing bowl.
    • Right before serving, add the cauliflower to the mixing bowl with the hot sauce and butter. Toss to coat, then transfer to a serving plate. Serve immediately with a side of your favorite dipping sauce. We like using our greek yogurt blue cheese dressing.

    Notes

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    hi, we're Michael and Mollie

    Welcome! We are Michael & Mollie, a hangry economics enthusiast and her husband. Our goal is to provide you with delicious, accessible, and healthy-ish recipes that are both time- and money-efficient.

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