Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

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These vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings are soft and tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and ultra-spicy! They’re breaded and baked until golden, then tossed in Frank’s Red Hot sauce. Serve them at a potluck or the big game with a side of creamy ranch dressing.

🧡 Why you’ll love this recipe

• Easy: This recipe is beginner-friendly, especially if you’re new to plant-based cooking. Only a handful of ingredients are required, and it comes together incredibly easily!
• Healthy: Vegan Buffalo cauliflower is much healthier than traditional chicken wings. This baked version contains less saturated fat and zero cholesterol!
• Flavorful: If you enjoy bold and spicy flavors, you’ll love vegan Buffalo wings! They’re tangy, savory, hot, and great for dipping.
• Versatile: Adapt this recipe to suit your preferences. Make it more or less spicy, or even use a different protein like tofu or seitan instead of cauliflower.

If you love vegan Buffalo cauliflower, you should also check out our vegan chicken tenders, vegan lentil patties, fried oyster mushrooms, and air fryer pizza rolls.

🌶️ What are vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings?

Vegan buffalo cauliflower wings are a simple, plant-based alternative to traditional chicken wings. Cauliflower florets act as the wing base and are coated in a batter made of flour, panko, and savory seasonings.

Once baked, the golden and crispy “wings” are tossed in a spicy sauce made of avocado oil and Frank’s Red Hot. Each bite is spicy and crispy on the outside, but the cauliflower becomes perfectly tender on the inside.

Serve your vegan Buffalo wings as an appetizer or snack paired with vegan ranch, vegan Caesar dressing, and carrot or celery sticks. This dish is great for game days, potlucks, backyard barbecues, and more!

🍗 Cauliflower wings vs chicken wings

We’re not here to tell you that cauliflower wings are indistinguishable from chicken wings (that’s pushing it a little far), but they are seriously addicting in their own way.

One of the best parts about swapping out chicken wings for cauliflower wings is how much healthier they are. Compared to chicken, cauliflower is free of cholesterol and low in saturated fat.

It’s also high in antioxidants and fiber, making it a nutrient-dense snack that just so happens to taste delicious as well.

If you’re looking for a meat-free alternative to chicken, we urge you to give cauliflower a try. Trust us, even your meat-eater friends and family will love this recipe!

♨️ Can I make cauliflower wings in the air fryer?

You can just as easily bake or air fry vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings. To air fry them, toss them in batter and add them to the air fryer basket lined with air fryer-safe liners.

Air fry them at 400 degrees F for about 20 minutes, then toss them in the hot sauce mixture. The cooking time may vary based on your specific air fryer make and model, but this is a good guideline to start with.

One thing to keep in mind for the air fryer is that you really can’t overlap or overcrowd the basket, so you may need to cook the wings in batches.

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Cauliflower: Cauliflower florets make the perfect base for vegan Buffalo wings! Once baked, they become tender on the inside and soak up the marinade like a sponge. Use pre-cut florets, or cut them yourself from a head of cauliflower.
• All-purpose flour: To make the breading, use all-purpose flour. For a gluten-free option, use a 1:1 gluten-free blend like King Arthur Baking or Bob’s Red Mill. 
• Spices: We use garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, and salt to season the vegan buffalo wings. The combination creates a savory, smoky, and spicy flavor. You can also try cayenne pepper, sweet paprika, or onion powder.
• Soy milk: To mix with the flour and seasonings, forming the batter. Our preferred choice is plain, unsweetened soy milk, but oat milk or pea milk work as well.
• Nutritional yeast: Provides a savory, slightly cheesy, and umami-rich element that turns the cauliflower florets from plain to flavor-packed.
• Panko: Adds a little texture to the breading mixture. If you are sensitive to gluten, make sure to purchase gluten-free breadcrumbs, or make your own.
• Avocado oil: We mix avocado oil with Frank’s, creating a rich flavor and texture that rounds out the acidity of the hot sauce. You can also use olive oil if you prefer.
• Frank’s Red Hot: Our favorite hot sauce for buffalo wings is Frank’s Red Hot, but any Buffalo-style hot sauce will work.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make vegan buffalo cauliflower

Step 1: Prepare the pans

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F with the rack in the center, and line 2 baking pans with parchment paper. Grease 2 wire cooling racks with cooking spray, then place them on the pans.

Step 2: Mix the breading 

In a large bowl, combine the soy milk, flour, panko, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, and sea salt. Try to remove as many lumps as possible without overworking the gluten in the flour.

Step 3: Dredge the florets

Dredge each cauliflower floret in the seasoned breading mixture, then transfer them to the wire racks on top of the pans. The wire racks aren’t 100% necessary, but we find them to be helpful in crisping up all sides evenly.

Step 4: Bake the cauliflower

Bake the cauliflower florets for about 30 minutes, or until the breading is no longer wet. You want the breading to appear light golden and feel crispy. If you have not used the wire racks, make sure to flip the wings halfway through.

Step 5: Toss the wings

In the meantime, mix the avocado oil and Frank’s Red Hot in a large bowl. Remove the cauliflower wings from the oven, toss them in the hot sauce mixture, then transfer them back to the racks.

Step 6: Finish baking the wings

Bake the sauce-covered wings for another 20-25 minutes, turning halfway. Turn the oven to broil on high for 2-3 more minutes to crisp them up. Happy eating!

If you have questions about making these vegan Buffalo wings, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🥗 Dips for vegan Buffalo wings

Your vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings won’t be complete without some carrot and celery sticks plus a cool and creamy dip. Pair them with options like these:

• Vegan ranch sauce
• Vegan Caesar dressing
• Vegan tzatziki
• Vegan blue cheese sauce

🍔 Serving suggestions

Make a full meal or spread by serving your vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings in one of the following ways:

• Appetizer: Serve the wings on a platter with one of the dips we mentioned above. 
• Sandwich: Add the cauliflower to a bun with lettuce, tomato, vegan mayo, and more hot sauce.
• Bowl: Serve your cauliflower over a bed of rice along with veggies and a creamy sauce.
• Wrap: Add the cauliflower wings to a vegan flour tortilla along with avocado, cucumber, and tomato.
• Salad: Serve the cauliflower over a bed of greens, then pile on your favorite salad toppings like onion, cucumber, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

🌡️ Storage & reheating

If you end up with leftover vegan Buffalo wings (although it’s not likely), follow these storage and reheating tips:

• Fridge: Once cooled, store vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
• Freezer: Freeze the cooked cauliflower wings on a baking sheet until frozen. Next, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag where they will last for 3 months. Thaw them overnight before reheating them. 
• Reheat: You can reheat the Buffalo wings in the oven at 375 degrees F until they’re heated through. Alternatively, heat them up in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for about 5-10 minutes. They turn nice and crispy this way!
• Prep ahead: You can prep Buffalo cauliflower wings ahead of time by making the batter and storing it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve them, just dip them in the batter and bake them as usual.

♻️ Variations

• Hot & bothered: Toss the baked cauliflower in a combination of Frank’s Red Hot sauce and BBQ sauce for a tangy and smoky flavor.
• Teriyaki Buffalo: Combine Frank’s Red Hot sauce with teriyaki sauce for a sweet and savory twist on traditional Buffalo wings.
• Garlic-Parmesan Buffalo: After baking the cauliflower, toss it in a mixture of melted vegan butter, minced garlic, and vegan Parmesan cheese.
• Sriracha: Use Sriracha sauce instead of Frank’s Red Hot sauce for a spicier version of vegan Buffalo cauliflower.
• Honey mustard Buffalo: Combine Frank’s Red Hot sauce with maple syrup or agave and mustard for a sweet-yet-tangy flavor.
• Lemon pepper Buffalo: Toss the baked cauliflower in a mixture of lemon juice, lemon zest, vegan butter, and cracked black pepper for a zesty variation.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Fresh cauliflower: For the optimal texture and flavor, choose a fresh, firm head of cauliflower with tightly packed florets. 
• Bite-sized pieces: Cut the head of cauliflower into even, bite-sized pieces to help the wings cook evenly.
• Thick batter: Make sure the batter is thick and evenly coats all the florets. It should be the consistency of pancake batter. 
• Bake them: You may feel like you need to fry vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings, but they turn out just as crispy in the oven. Plus, there is much less mess to clean up!
• Frank’s Red Hot: We don’t recommend anything but Frank’s Red Hot sauce for this recipe. It provides the quintessential Buffalo hot wings flavor.
• Serve with dip: There’s nothing better than serving your spicy wings with a creamy sauce to cool off your mouth in between bites!
• Single layer: It may be a bit tedious, but it’s important to organize the wings in a single layer and not overcrowd them. You will achieve a crispier texture this way. 
• Flip halfway: For evenly crisped wings, flip them halfway through.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More game day recipes

If you enjoyed this vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings recipe, take a peek at some more of our favorite game day snacks like these:

• Air Fryer Quesadillas: Crispy quesadillas made with plant-based cheese.
• Baked Potato Wedges: Homemade potato wedges perfect for dipping. 
• Totopos: Crunchy corn tortilla chips to serve with guacamole and salsa fresca .
• Sopes: A simple Mexican corn cake with loads of toppings.
• Cauliflower Manchurian: An Indo-Chinese style cauliflower recipe.
• Buffalo Jackfruit Wings: A similar snack made with jackfruit instead of cauliflower!
• Chickpea Fries: Crispy, tender, and creamy fries made with chickpea flour.

Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.