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Cauliflower Buffalo Wings with Vegan Ranch Dip

June 9, 2018 by Sina 5 Comments
Last updated on: November 29, 2018

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These cauliflower buffalo wings with vegan ranch dip are the perfect comfort food! They’re super easy to make and they’re soooo delicious! We simply can’t get enough of them!

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings Being Dipped Into Vegan Ranch

I absolutely LOVE cauliflower wings! I’ve made them sooo many times and perfected my cauliflower wings recipe over time. Adding panko breadcrumbs really did the trick. It makes them so incredibly crispy!

What Are Cauliflower Wings?

For those of you who have never heard of cauliflower wings: No, cauliflower didn’t grow wings overnight! Haha! Cauliflower wings are kind of like chicken wings but they’re made out of cauliflower florets instead.

The recipe is divided into three simple steps:

  1. Dip the cauliflower wings into a batter made out of flour and spices and roll them in panko bread crumbs. Then bake them.
  2. Coat the baked cauliflower wings with your favorite sauce like BBQ sauce or hot sauce and bake them again until they’re crispy.
  3. Serve with a delicious dipping sauce like vegan ranch dip. Enjoy!!

Cauliflower wings make an amazing appetizer or snack. Or even a great side with a nice green salad!

Cauliflower wings are:

  • vegan
  • baked and not fried
  • the perfect comfort food!
  • very easy to make gluten-free
  • super easy to make

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings with Vegan Ranch on the Side

What You Need For These Cauliflower Buffalo Wings with Vegan Ranch Dip:

You will find all of the ingredients for the vegan cauliflower wings in any regular grocery store. Except from the cauliflower you don’t need any fresh ingredients.

You’ll need:

  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • regular all-purpose flour or chickpea flour
  • unsweetened plant-based milk (almond or soy)
  • garlic powder
  • paprika powder
  • panko breadcrumbs (omit for a gluten-free version)
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil
  • Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings sauce
  • vegan mayonnaise
  • dried dill and parsley

As always, you can find the full ingredient list and the recipe instructions in a separate, printable recipe box at the end of this post.

How To Make Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

Cauliflower being cut into florets

A bowl of cauliflower florets

1. Carefully cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets.

Batter for cauliflower buffalo wings is being combined in a bowl

2. In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, the plant-based milk, the water, the garlic power, the paprika powder, the salt, and the black pepper. Stir until well combined.

Cauliflower floret being dipped into batter

3. Dip the florets into the batter, so they’re completely coated.

Cauliflower floret being dipped into batter and panko flakes on the side

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings Are Coated in Panko Breadcrumbs

4. Roll them in the panko breadcrumbs. Omit this step for a gluten-free version. However, they’re way crispier with the panko breadcrumb coating.

Coated cauliflower wings on a baking sheet

5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the cauliflower florets on the baking sheet. Don’t put them on top of each other. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 °F.

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings in a Bowl after Baking

Frank's Red Hot Sauce is Being Poured Over Baked Cauliflower Wings

Frank's Red Hot Sauce is Being Poured Over Baked Cauliflower Wings

6. Combine Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings sauce with a tablespoon of olive oil and pour it over the baked cauliflower wings. Evenly coat them from all sides by stirring them a few times.

Coated Cauliflower Buffalo Wings on a Baking Sheet

7. Put the coated buffalo wings back on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake again for 20 minutes at 350 °F.

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings Being Dipped into Vegan Ranch Sauce

8. For the vegan ranch dip, combine the vegan mayonnaise with dried dill and parsley and stir until well combined. Serve the freshly baked vegan cauliflower wings with the vegan ranch and enjoy! Also sprinkle some chopped green onions and freshly chopped parsley on top if you want.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites – Recipe Tips

  • It’s very important to use unsweetened plant-based milk. The recipe doesn’t work with sweetened milk even if it’s only lightly sweetened. You can still taste it!
  • Add panko breadcrumbs to make the buffalo cauliflower bites extra crispy. They really do the trick! The cauliflower wings don’t get as crispy with regular breadcrumbs.
  • Pay attention not to put the cauliflower wings on top of each other on the baking sheet. If you’re doubling the recipe, use two baking sheets.
  • Each oven is a bit different so make sure to check the wings frequently towards the end of the baking time and adjust the time if needed. It’s okay if they have some brown patches, but you don’t want them to get burned!
  • If you don’t like spicy food, this recipe is not for you! But you might want to try my cauliflower hot wings with BBQ sauce instead. They’re a lot less spicy!

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings with Ranch Sauce in a Little Bowl

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings with Panko

When I first made cauliflower wings, I only used a batter of flour, unsweetened almond milk, and spices to coat my cauliflower wings. However, over time I perfected my recipe and the buffalo wings are so much better when you coat them with panko breadcrumbs. They’re so much crispier this way!

I also tried coating them with regular breadcrumbs, but the results were nowhere as good as with panko breadcrumbs! Learn more about the difference between panko breadcrumbs and regular breadcrumbs.

So I highly recommend using panko for cauliflower wings if you want them to be really cripsy! 

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings in a Bowl with Ranch Sauce on the Side

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings without Flour

You can also make gluten-free cauliflower wings. I’ve done this a couple of times already and it’s super easy to make them gluten-free. 

Instead of all-purpose flour I like to use chickpea flour for gluten-free cauliflower buffalo wings. This works really well! Besides, you have to omit the panko breadcrumbs and use gluten-free breadcrumbs instead or just leave them out all together.

I must admit that I like the version with panko breadcrumbs much better, but the cauliflower wings without flour are still extremely delicious! And this way you can also make them low carb.

It’s just very important that you use a good sauce because it gives the wings their flavor!

Are cauliflower wings healthy?

I’ve heard this question so many times! YES, cauliflower wings are waaaaay healthier than for example chicken buffalo wings!

I mean they’re made out of CAULIFLOWER!

Besides, they’re mostly baked and not fried, which makes them a lot healthier as well. They’re not greasy like traditional chicken wings while being packed with flavor. I added a tablespoon of olive oil to my recipe to make the wings crispier, but if you’re looking for an oil-free version, just omit it.

So if you like traditional wings but you’re looking for a healthier version, cauliflower wings are perfect for you!

Vegan Buffalo Wings in a Bowl with Parchment Paper

How do cauliflower wings taste and do cauliflower wings taste like chicken?

It’s pretty impossible for cauliflower to taste exactly like chicken I’d say. BUT cauliflower wings really do taste like traditional wings!

They taste a lot like the sauce you use for the coating. They have a tangy, spicy, and very hearty taste depending on the sauce you use.

Besides, they’re super crispy! I know a lot of people that are real meat lovers but absolutely LOVE cauliflower wings! They’re just THIS goood!!!

Are You Looking For Even More Cauliflower Wings Recipes?

My hubby and I are kind of obsessed with cauliflower wings and we make them all the time! Over time, I posted some delicious vegan cauliflower wing recipes on the blog. There are so many ways to use cauliflower wings!

Here are some of my favorite cauliflower wings recipes for you:

Cauliflower Hot Wings Being Dipped into Vegan Aioili

Cauliflower Hot Wings with BBQ Sauce and Vegan Aioli   (They’re so tangy, lightly spicy, and incredibly comforting – a real crowd pleaser!!)

Cauliflower Wings in Tacos

Vegan Cauliflower Tacos  (Another cauliflower recipe that went viral on Pinterest – I got so much positive feedback from you guys for these delicious cauliflower tacos!)

General Tso's Cauliflower with Chop Sticks on the Side

General Tso’s Cauliflower  – My favorite recipe for cauliflower wings sweet and sour!

BBQ Pizza with Crispy Cauliflower

BBQ Pizza with Crispy Cauliflower

I hope you like this recipe for cauliflower buffalo wings as much as we do! If you’re looking for even more ways to use cauliflower in your kitchen, check out my roundup of 20 game changing vegan cauliflower recipes.

Have an amazing week, everyone!

Sina – xx

Vegan Buffalo Wings in a Bowl with Parchment Paper
5 from 2 votes
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Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

These cauliflower buffalo wings with vegan ranch dip are the perfect comfort food! They're super easy to make and they're soooo delicious! We simply can't get enough of them!

Course Appetizer, Entrée, Main Course, Side, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword cauliflower buffalo wings, cauliflower wings, vegan cauliflower wings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 servings
Calories 246 kcal

Ingredients

For the cauliflower buffalo wings:

  • 1 small head of cauliflower
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (use chickpea flour for a gluten-free version)
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened almond or soy milk
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika powder
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 cup Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wings sauce
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the vegan ranch dip:

  • 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Instructions

  1. Carefully cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets.

  2. In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, the plant-based milk, the water, the garlic power, the paprika powder, the salt, and the black pepper. Stir until well combined.

  3. Dip the florets into the batter, so they're completely coated.

  4. Roll them in the panko breadcrumbs. Omit this step for a gluten-free version. However, they're way crispier with the panko breadcrumb coating.

  5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the cauliflower florets on the baking sheet. Don't put them on top of each other. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 °F.

  6. Combine Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wings sauce with a tablespoon of olive oil and pour it over the baked cauliflower wings. Evenly coat them from all sides by stirring them a few times.

  7. Put the coated buffalo wings back on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake again for 20 minutes at 350 °F.

  8. For the vegan ranch sauce, combine the vegan mayonnaise with dried dill and parsley and stir until well combined. Serve the freshly baked vegan cauliflower wings with the vegan ranch and enjoy! Also sprinkle some chopped green onions and freshly chopped parsley on top if you want.

Nutrition Facts
Cauliflower Buffalo Wings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 246 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Sodium 2192mg 91%
Potassium 270mg 8%
Total Carbohydrates 35g 12%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 2g
Protein 6g 12%
Vitamin A 0.3%
Vitamin C 38.7%
Calcium 10.6%
Iron 12.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

 

 

 

These cauliflower buffalo wings with vegan ranch dip are the perfect vegan comfort food! They make such a great snack or appetizer as well! Find more vegan recipes at veganheaven.org!
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Filed Under: Burger & Co, Entrées, Recipe Tagged With: are cauliflower wings healthy, buffalo cauliflower bites, cauliflower buffalo wings, cauliflower buffalo wings recipe, cauliflower buffalo wings with panko, cauliflower buffalo wings without flour, do cauliflower wings taste like chicken, how do cauliflower wings taste, how to make cauliflower buffalo wings, vegan cauliflower wings, vegan cauliflower wings recipe, what are cauliflower wings

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Comments

  1. Rebecca says

    June 10, 2018 at 16:01

    OMG! I saw your cauliflower wing recipe yesterday on Pinterest and had to give it a try right away! They turned out to be AMAZING and so crispy!! I convinced my boyfriend to try them as well and he just couldn’t believe they were vegan! He even wants me to make them again for him! And he wasn’t very fond of this whole “vegan thing of mine” before. So try these cauliflower wings, you guys!! Thanks again for the recipe Sina! Gotta try more of your recipes!

    Reply
  2. Kristin says

    July 9, 2018 at 12:31

    love cauliflower wings! i haven’t made them in a little while, so i think i’m about due!

    Reply
  3. Dionne says

    December 11, 2018 at 1:44

    Yummers!!! Just made my FIRST batch of cauliflower wings – thanks for this step by step guide!!!

    Reply
  4. Courtney says

    December 11, 2018 at 23:56

    Have you tried storing them overnight? I would like to bring these in for a potluck but if they are just too mushy than I may not. I have made the bbq ones before and they were a hit – but I served right after.

    Reply
    • Sina says

      December 12, 2018 at 10:30

      Hi Courtney,

      I’ve tried making them and serving them a few hours later and they weren’t as good. Not super mushy, but definitely not crispy anymore. I was a bit disappointed to be honest, so I wouldn’t recommend it. So fresh out of the oven is always best. :-)

      Reply

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Sina-Veganheaven

Hi, Thanks for stopping by! I'm Sina and this is my recipe blog where I share heavenly simple and sinfully delicious vegan recipes.

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