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Home » Snacks

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

Published on 3.1.2021 by Jen Hansard

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Recipe for vegan buffalo cauliflower wings

You just can't go wrong with these cauliflower buffalo wings. All my friends are hooked on them; I don't even have to be the one to bring them to parties anymore! Someone always volunteers to bring the "cauliflower chicken wings." Cauliflower wings are definitely a party staple.

What makes cauliflower wings so good?!

There are so many reasons I love this dish, yet here are my top 3:

  1. The hotter, the better is my motto! Add as little or as much hot sauce you want... just keep a glass of water nearby! Franks RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce is my go-to, yet if you've got a better option, let me know in the comment section!
  2. Vegetarian alternative to a classic is the best way to share this cauliflower buffalo wing recipe. Not everyone will eat chicken wings, yet I think everyone can agree that cauliflower chicken wings will be a crowd pleaser.
  3. Dairy free ranch dressing. Need I say more? You're going to fall in love with the creaminess of this ranch dressing and you don't even have to feel bad about it.
cauliflower buffalo wings

Cauliflower buffalo wing recipe

My mouth is watering just writing about this recipe... it is a for real winner. I made sure to keep the ingredient list simple, since the baking process takes a little time. If you want to get the perfect crisp, then don't skimp out on the second bake time, or rotating the cauliflower buffalo wings in the oven! Also, mixing the buffalo sauce with a little coconut oil before dipping the wings in is necessary, to help the sauce coat each piece better. It also lends to the pieces crisping up in the oven.

Recipe swaps

If coconut oil isn't your thing, then swap in another oil, like avocado. Store bought (or homemade) ranch dressing works fine, yet the creaminess of the cashew ranch dipping sauce is unmatched... in my opinion. If you want to try the dipping sauce, yet need a replacement for the cashews, try macadamia nuts or almonds. Gluten-free all purpose flour works best, because it is so finely milled. However, if you need an alternative, use almond flour + 1 tablespoon tapioca starch. Cauliflower buffalo wings use buffalo sauce, yet don't be afraid to try other hot sauces too.

cauliflower is a versatile veggie, like in these vegan cauliflower buffalo wings.

Healthy game day snacks

If you need more fabulous game time snack recipes, then check out this list below:

  • Rice Krispie Treats
  • Crispy Potato Tacos
  • Homemade Italian Soda
  • Herb Hummus
  • Chocolate Smoothie Bowl
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Margarita Smoothie
  • Dalgona Coffee
  • Chocolate covered banana bites

Plant based food for a party

I love parties; whether it's just a few friends, or a whole big group. I also love food. So when I created Simple Green Meals, I did so with recipes that I knew would translate well from a small gathering to a large one. Good food is meant to be shared! I believe a party is a great way to share healthier recipes in a no-pressure way for others to try. So next time you're headed to a get-together, grab a recipe like these cauliflower buffalo wings. Everyone wants the recipe once they've tried a piece or two!

Are you ready for your mind to be blown? Get ready because these "cauliflower chicken wings" are packin' the heat!

Recipe for vegan buffalo cauliflower wings

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

4.89 from 9 votes
Rate this Recipe Print Recipe
I’ve never been a fan of chicken wings—yet I love the spicy-hot flavor! I was so excited when I got this plant-based recipe to work. Welcome to the world of Cauliflower Buffalo Wings!
Total Time45 minutes
Servings4 Servings

Ingredients

For the wings

  • ½ cup gluten-free all purpose flour
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 head cauliflower (cut into bite-size florets)
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil (melted)
  • ⅔ cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce

Cashew Ranch Dipping Sauce (Makes About ½ Cup)

  • ½ cup raw cashews
  • 4 tsps lemon (juice, divided)
  • ½ teaspoon dill weed
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • Pinch smoked paprika
  • sea salt
  • black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat: Oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Mix together: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, water, garlic powder, and salt. Whisk until smooth and well combined.
  • Dip: Cauliflower pieces in the batter, making sure each piece is well coated, and arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake: For 15 minutes, turning the pieces over halfway through the baking time.
  • Meanwhile, in another large bowl, stir together the oil and hot sauce.
  • When the cauliflower is done, transfer the pieces to the bowl with the sauce and toss well.
  • Place coated cauliflower back on the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, or until crispy.
  • Let cool slightly. Serve the cauliflower with the dipping sauce.

CASHEW RANCH DIPPING SAUCE

  • Place the cashews in a medium bowl. Pour 2 teaspoons of the lemon juice over the top. Add enough water to cover by a few inches. Let soak 2 hours, then drain and rinse well.
  • In a food processor: Combine the cashews, ¼ cup water, dillweed, garlic powder, paprika, the remaining 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Process until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides as needed. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Video

Notes

  • Gluten Free. Vegan. Dairy Free.
  • To make the cashew cream even smoother, double the recipe and use a blender on high. Add more water as needed to encourage blending. 

Nutrition (estimated)

Calories: 157kcal (8%) Carbohydrates: 18g (6%) Protein: 5g (10%) Fat: 9g (14%) Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Sodium: 1523mg (66%) Potassium: 220mg (6%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 2g (2%) Vitamin A: 1351IU (27%) Vitamin C: 4mg (5%) Calcium: 32mg (3%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy T

    January 17, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    5 stars
    This was very good, my daughter and husband love spicy and they really enjoy this. I am not a spicy eater but this was very tasty for our lunch

    Reply
  2. Carolyn

    October 20, 2021 at 11:09 pm

    I'm confused. The written recipe calls for 4 tsp Lemon Juice (divided), but the video shows Jen (and she also states) to use Tablespoons of Lemon Juice. Please clarify which is correct.

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      October 25, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      Hi Carolyn! The recipe as written with 4 tbsps of lemon juice divided is what we'd go for here. 🙂

    • Carolyn

      October 25, 2021 at 6:21 pm

      Thanks for your below reply. The recipe states "teaspoons" of Lemon. Your reply assumes the recipe as written shows "Tablespoons". It does not! I'm changing my copy of the recipe to show that the "teaspoons" in the recipe are actually supposed to be "Tablespoons" of Lemon.

  3. Vicky

    June 15, 2021 at 2:23 pm

    5 stars
    My new favourite snack (and I’m not vegitarian/Vegan) trying to incorporate more plant based food into my diet

    Reply
  4. Erin

    March 11, 2021 at 3:53 pm

    5 stars
    Hands down my fave recipe. These are too good not to bring to your next gathering! I love to make them for a snack, or for friends.

    Reply
  5. Dawn

    February 09, 2021 at 8:00 pm

    5 stars
    Note to others reading comments, watch the video first. The batter I made was way too thick. But the results were still YUMMY!

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      February 19, 2021 at 8:09 am

      Hey Dawn! 🙂 The recipe works best with GF flour, so using a traditional flour (in case that was the dif?) may cause it to be thicker and require more water. So glad you enjoyed the yum!

  6. Olivia

    February 08, 2021 at 8:50 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this tonight! I made sure the "wings" were crispy and blended the cashew cream long enough to be extra creamy. SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOODDDDD!

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      February 09, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      Yaaaas Olivia!! Love that you loved it!

  7. Iris

    February 05, 2021 at 12:46 pm

    wings look great. My sons is allergic to cashews. Do you have any substitutes for me? I

    Reply
    • Erin

      February 08, 2021 at 7:53 am

      Yes! You can use macademia nuts or almonds for the cashew cream, to get the most similar texture. You could also try sesame seeds, yet the taste + texture will change more with this sub.

  8. Maribel Matos

    February 03, 2021 at 2:57 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for share the recipes .

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      February 05, 2021 at 11:01 am

      You're so welcome, Maribel!

  9. Mrs. B

    September 07, 2019 at 12:40 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is GRRRREAT! I ate it right off the pan when it came out of the oven. Thank you so much for sharing (I'm making it again today)

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      September 09, 2019 at 9:13 am

      Yay!!! Love hearing that!

  10. Katie

    February 03, 2019 at 9:37 am

    Hi,

    Is it table or teaspoons of lemon juice? It says teaspoon in the recipe but she says tablespoon (and uses table) in the video. Thank you.

    Reply
  11. Niv

    October 29, 2018 at 4:57 pm

    4 stars
    I tried this recipe today. Very tasty but my only comment is that I may have had a bigger head of cauliflower than you did as the coating didn't seem to be enough for mine... so I ended up cooking for much longer to make it even remotely crispy. The taste was on point though but I would recommend maybe using a cups or ounces measurement for the cauliflower florets...

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      November 01, 2018 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      Hey NIV,

      So happy that you enjoyed the recipe and thought it was super tasty! This recipe is one of my favorites.
      Also, thank you for your feedback with the recipe we really appreciate it 🙂

  12. April

    October 15, 2018 at 10:01 am

    Do you think this will work in an air fryer?

    Reply
    • Simple Green Smoothies

      October 16, 2018 at 1:39 pm

      Hey April,

      We have had a few people try this recipe with an air fryer and they were happy with the results!

      Enjoy 🙂

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Jen hansard blogger at Simple Green Smoothies About

I'm Jen Hansard, mom of two, plant-based foodie, adventure junkie + cookbook author.

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