Quick and Easy Buffalo Cauliflower

Crisp, tender and delicious, Buffalo Cauliflower is a great way to get your family to eat another healthy vegetable. Served as an appetizer or a side dish, this vegetarian version of buffalo wings is perfect for game day or hosting.

Our recipe for buffalo cauliflower is baked, keeping it much healthier than the deep fried restaurant-style version. Using corn starch is the key ingredient that helps keep the cauliflower crispy on the outside, while still maintaining a low carb count. Once you see how easy it is to make this Baked Buffalo Cauliflower recipe, it will certainly become part of your regular rotation of veggies!

Why This Recipe Works?

• Uses just a few readily available ingredients.
• Gluten Free and Vegetarian.
• Easy to prepare.
• Perfect for game day.
• A great way to get your family to eat this amazing vegetable.
• Kid friendly.
• The Best Easy Buffalo Cauliflower ever!!!

Main Ingredients

This recipe uses super easy ingredients that can be purchased from a local grocery store if they are not already in your kitchen. Read the Recipe Card for the measurements.

• Cauliflower – Is considered a dietary superfood filled with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and eliminate harmful chemicals from your body.
• Hot Sauce – We use Frank’s Hot Sauce which is a cayenne pepper sauce. We use this sauce on our Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings as we love the traditional “Buffalo” flavor it provides.
• Corn Starch – Helps make the cauliflower crisp up during the baking process.
• Melted Butter – Adds a richness to the hot sauce, slightly cutting down the heat while adding additional flavor.
• Lemon Juice / Garlic – Mixing in the acidity of lemon juice as well as some fresh garlic enhances the depth of flavor of the hot sauce.

How To Make Quick and Easy Buffalo Cauliflower

Step 1: Prep It

• Set the rack to the lower third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Spray a large baking sheet with non stick cooking spray and set aside. Alternatively, line the baking sheet with foil for an easier cleanup.

Step 2: Cut It

• Turn the cauliflower upside down on it’s head and remove the green leafy stem.
• Cut to remove the florets from the center stem. Cut down any larger florets into bite size pieces.

Step 3: Dress It

• Add the cauliflower to a colander and rinse under cold running water to remove any dirt; drain thoroughly.
• Toss the cauliflower onto a clean kitchen towel to absorb any excess moisture; empty into a large bowl.
• Sprinkle with the corn starch and toss to combine (Tip: use a strainer to evenly dust the cauliflower with the cornstarch).

• Drizzle with the olive oil and kosher salt.
• Gently toss with a rubber spatula to evenly coat. 

Step 4: Roast It

• Place the cauliflower onto the prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer. 
• Roast in the preheated 450 degree oven until tender and starting to brown, about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Step 5: Sauce It

• While the cauliflower is roasting, make the buffalo sauce: in a small bowl, add the melted butter, Frank’s hot sauce, minced garlic and fresh lemon juice.
• Whisk together and set aside.

• Once the cauliflower is done, remove the sheet pan from the oven; set the oven to broil.
• Give the hot sauce mixture a good whisk and drizzle over the cauliflower; toss with a tong or spatula to evenly coat. 

Step 6: Broil It

• Place the baking sheet about 6 inches from under the broiler element. Keeping a close eye, broil for 3-5 minutes until the cauliflower starts to brown.

• Serve immediately with your favorite blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce. 

Try some of our other delicious baked sides: Crispy Oven Roasted Potatoes or Baked Zucchini Fries.