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    Cauliflower Hot Wings (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

    Published: Aug 5, 2018 · Modified: Jul 11, 2020 by Sina · This post may contain affiliate links · 54 Comments

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    These vegan cauliflower hot wings with vegan aioli are the perfect comfort food! They’re so tangy, spicy, and incredibly comforting. And they’re also a lot healthier than chicken wings! We’ve made them so many times and they’re always a real crowd-pleaser!

    A hand dipping a cauliflower hot wing into a bowl of vegan aioli with more cauliflower wings in the background

    If you haven’t tried cauliflower wings yet, you should really give them a try! It’s incredible what you can make with cauliflower. It’s such a versatile vegetable! 

    I’ve wanted to try vegan cauliflower wings for sooo long. But somehow I never got around to actually making them.

    a bowl of cauliflower hot wings on a marble counter top with chopped green onions on top

     

    There are just way too many vegan recipes to try. And some people say vegan food is boring and restrictive. Well, not really! These vegan cauliflower hot wings are the perfect proof!

    Why These Cauliflower Hot Wings Work:

    • They’re tender and soft on the inside, while being crispy on the outside. It’s almost a bit creepy how close they are to the real thing!
    • Cauliflower is extremely versatile and can be used instead of chicken for these vegan “wings”.  Cauliflower doesn’t have a very strong taste by itself.
    • The BBQ sauce gives these cauliflower wings a hearty and tangy taste.
    • The sriracha sauce adds some nice spiciness.
    • They can easily be made gluten-free by substituting the all-purpose flour with chickpea flour.
    • They’re healthier than chicken wings and contain less calories.

    Cauliflower Hot Wings – What You’ll Need:

    You don’t need any fancy ingredients to make these vegan cauliflower wings. Just very basic ingredients you’ll likely find in any regular grocery store.

    You’ll need:

    • 1 head if cauliflower
    • chickpea flour or regular all-purpose flour
    • unsweetened plant-based milk (almond or soy)
    • garlic powder
    • paprika powder
    • spicy BBQ sauce
    • panko breadcrumbs (omit for a gluten-free version)
    • salt and pepper
    • sriracha sauce (optional)

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

    How To Make Cauliflower Hot Wings:

    The preparation of these cauliflower hot wings takes some time, but the steps are very easy!

    Cauliflower being cut into florets

    A bowl of cauliflower florets

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

    Batter for cauliflower buffalo wings is being combined in a bowl

    STEP 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

    STEP 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

    STEP 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

    STEP 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 Wings in a Bowl after Baking

    STEP 6: Transfer the cooked cauliflower wings to a bowl.

    BBQ sauce is being poured over baked cauliflower wings in a bowl

    STEP 7: Combine the BBQ  sauce with a teaspoon sriracha sauce and pour it over the baked cauliflower wings. Evenly coat them from all sides by stirring them a few times.

    Cauliflower Hot Wings in a bowl with BBQ sauce on top

    with BBQ sauce coated cauliflower wings in a bowl with a wooden spoon

    STEP 8: Put the coated hot wings back on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

    coated cauliflower hot wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (before baking)

    STEP 9: Bake again for 20 minutes at 350 °F.

    Freshly baked cauliflower hot wings on a baking sheet

    STEP 10: Serve immediately and sprinkle with the green onions and serve with vegan aioli or vegan ranch sauce. Enjoy!

    Recipe Notes:

    • I recommend rolling these cauliflower wings in panko breadcrumbs after dipping them into the flour batter. It makes them a lot crispier!
    • For a gluten-free version, you can use chickpea flour instead of all-purpose flour. Also omit the panko breadcrumbs.
    • Immediately serve these cauliflower wings. They’re super crispy when they come out of the oven, but unfortunately they will be a lot less crispy when they cool down.
    • Don’t store them in air-tight containers. I’ve done this before and they became really mushy. The taste was still amazing, but the texture wasn’t as planned.
    • You can, however, reheat them in the oven for about 10-15 minutes. But they will still be softer and not as crispy as when they’re freshly baked.
    • I’ve also got a recipe for cauliflower buffalo wings on the blog, if you’re looking for a different flavor or style.

    What goes with cauliflower wings?

    Dips:

    • We ate the vegan cauliflower hot wings with vegan aioli, which I absolutely love. We used a store-bought vegan aioli. But if you can’t get hold of it, you can also make it yourself by blending vegan mayonnaise with garlic.
    • Or enjoy these vegan chicken wings with ranch sauce. I’ve got a recipe for a vegan ranch dip in another post.
    • Vegan Blue Cheese Dip might also be a great idea.

    Wraps, Pitas, and Tacos:

    I also love eating them in wraps or pitas with lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado. Top it off with a vegan yogurt sauce made of unsweetened yogurt and herbs.

    Or  serve them in tacos. Check out my recipe for vegan cauliflower tacos. It’s so yummy and super popular on Pinterest!

    If you’re looking for a spicier version of cauliflower wings, check out my cauliflower buffalo wings with ranch dip. They’re made with Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wings sauce.

    cauliflower wings on a marble counter top with a small bowl of vegan aioli on the side

    Looking for Gluten-Free Cauliflower Wings?

    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.

    a bowl of vegan cauliflower hot wings on a marble counter top with green onions on top

    More vegan cauliflower recipes:

    • Cauliflower Buffalo Wings 
    • Cauliflower Burger 
    • Crispy Vegan Cauliflower Tacos 
    • BBQ Pizza with Crispy Cauliflower 
    • Cauliflower Bolognese Sauce
    • 20 game-changing vegan cauliflower recipes 

    I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS!

    I hope you like this recipe for cauliflower hot wings as much as we do around here.

    If you give these cauliflower wings a try, I’d love to know what you think about it. Just leave me a comment and a star rating below. Your comments really make my day!

    You like my recipes and want to see more? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest! 

    Sina – xx

     

    Cauliflower Hot Wings with Vegan Aioli

    Cauliflower Hot Wings with Vegan Aioli

    These vegan cauliflower hot wings are the perfect comfort food. They're so tangy, spicy, and incredibly delicious! It's almost a bit creepy how close they are to the real thing!
    4.71 from 57 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entrée, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 50 mins
    Total Time: 1 hr
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 245kcal
    Author: Sina

    Ingredients

    • 1 head of cauliflower
    • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (or chickpea flour for a gluten-free version)
    • 3/4 cup unsweetened almond or soy milk
    • 1/4 cup water
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika powder
    • salt
    • black pepper
    • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs (omit for a gluten-free version)
    • 1 cup spicy BBQ sauce
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce (optional)
    • 2 green onions, cut into rings

    Instructions

    • Heat the oven to 350 °F.
    • Carefully cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
    • 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. For a gluten-free version substitute the all-purpose flour with chickpea flour (also omit the water if using chickpea flour). 
    • Dip the florets into the batter, so they’re completely coated.
    • Roll them in the panko breadcrumbs. Omit this step for a gluten-free version. However, they’re way crispier with the panko breadcrumb coating.
    •  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.
    • Transfer the cooked cauliflower wings to a bowl. Combine the BBQ  sauce with a teaspoon sriracha sauce and pour it over the baked cauliflower wings. Evenly coat them from all sides by stirring them a few times.
    • Put the coated hot wings back on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake again for 20 minutes at 350 °F.
    • Serve immediately and sprinkle with the green onions and serve with vegan aioli or vegan ranch sauce. Enjoy!

    Notes

     

    • I recommend rolling these cauliflower wings in panko breadcrumbs after dipping them into the flour batter. It makes them a lot crispier! 
    • For a gluten-free version, you can use chickpea flour instead of all-purpose flour. Also omit the panko breadcrumbs.
    • Immediately serve these cauliflower wings. They're super crispy when they come out of the oven, but unfortunately they will be a lot less crispy when they cool down.
    • Don't store them in air-tight containers. I've done this before and they became really mushy. The taste was still amazing, but the texture wasn't as planned.
    • You can, however, reheat them in the oven for about 10-15 minutes. But they will still be softer and not as crispy as when they're freshly baked. 
    • I've also got a recipe for cauliflower buffalo wings on the blog, if you're looking for a different flavor or style. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 878mg | Potassium: 504mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 76.7mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.8mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @_veganheaven_ or tag #veganheaven!
    Rate the recipe!If you like this recipe, please leave a good rating! This will help other readers.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cody

      March 28, 2018 at 1:42 am

      I’m a total meat eater but I was just looking for recipes that are healthier and I tried this. I did alter a few things like the sauces I used and I used real ranch. But seriously…these are REALLY good I seriously couldn’t not believe how good. The ones I made are better than Buffalo Wild Wings no joke. Also…my first time eating cauliflower. Crazy I know. But very well done. I’m going to make these A LOT!

      Reply
    2. Vanessa

      February 17, 2018 at 9:20 pm

      I can’t wait to try these! Any leads on vegan Ranch sauce?

      Reply
      • Katie

        March 07, 2018 at 3:09 pm

        You can buy some from a company called Daiya

        Reply
      • Ashley T

        March 22, 2018 at 2:34 am

        The best vegan ranch is called, “Just Ranch.” In Indiana it’s sold at Kroger, depending where you live I’m sure you can find it!

        Reply
    3. Suzanne

      February 17, 2018 at 8:38 pm

      This looks so good! I’ve always wondered how these worked!

      Reply
    4. Mila

      January 27, 2018 at 10:23 pm

      I’m wondering if you can use frozen cauliflower?

      Reply
    5. Janet H.

      November 27, 2017 at 8:26 pm

      Trying these..will post pic!

      Reply
    6. Jem

      November 15, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      Has anyone tried these in an air fryer?

      Reply
    7. Isabella Powers

      October 13, 2017 at 4:54 pm

      These look delicious! Can’t wait to make them! One question – can I used regular milk instead of almond/soy milk? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Tina Taylor

        November 01, 2017 at 11:32 pm

        They wouldn’t be vegan with animal milk

        Reply
    8. Kristen

      September 21, 2017 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      We made these last night and they were absolutely delicious! Thank you!

      Reply
    9. Jaquie

      September 11, 2017 at 7:17 am

      Is the batter suppose to be watery? Thank you!

      Reply
    10. Cammie

      September 11, 2017 at 1:13 am

      Can I use plant based milk instead like ripple?

      Reply
    11. John

      September 07, 2017 at 10:00 pm

      Is it required that you use “Spicy BBQ Sauce” or could any favorite buffalo sauce work?

      Reply
      • Sina

        September 08, 2017 at 10:25 pm

        Hi John, No, you can basically use any other BBQ sauce as well. If you want the cauliflower wings to be spicy, just add red pepper flakes or sriracha. :-)

        Reply
    12. Lisa

      September 01, 2017 at 4:14 pm

      Delicious! Huge hit with my family!

      Reply
    13. Nellie

      September 01, 2017 at 4:05 am

      This recipe is very similar to another one I use but you cook the cauliflower at 450 degrees for the same length of time. I just tried this recipe and it was good except the spicy bbq sauce tasted too sweet for my liking. It paired very well with the vegan ranch dressing in this recipe:
      http://www.hotforfoodblog.com/recipes/2014/11/1/vegan-buffalo-cauliflower-sandwich

      Reply
    14. Susie Sunshine

      August 30, 2017 at 11:21 pm

      I love LOVE that these are not fried in oil or coated in oil! Perfect! Thanks!

      Reply
    15. Els

      August 30, 2017 at 5:25 pm

      Hi! Love your recipes! I have a question. Are the wings supposed to be sticky? Maybe foolish of me but I expected them to be “dryer” on the surface. I used oathmilk in stead of soy or almond, maybe that was the cause?

      Reply
      • Nick

        August 30, 2017 at 9:44 pm

        The bbq sauce carnal using is what makes them sticky

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Sina and this is my recipe blog where I share heavenly simple and sinfully delicious vegan recipes.

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