Whether you’re hosting game day or craving finger food, these vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings will hit the spot.
Perfectly crispy with just enough heat, these plant-based bites are super easy to make. Just dip cauliflower florets in a simple batter, then coat with bread crumbs. You can also use gluten-free bread crumbs or skip them completely, if you’d like.
Finally, bake the cauliflower florets to crispy perfection, then cover them with your go-to Buffalo sauce. That’s all there is to it.
Serve your homemade vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings with dairy-free ranch dressing for classic take on the appetizer — or, if you’re looking for a full meal, serve them as a side dish for vegan black bean burgers.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
- Cauliflower. For this recipe, cut one medium head of cauliflower into equal-sized florets.
- All-purpose flour. This will be used in the batter. If needed, you can use gluten-free flour.
- Oat milk. Use plain unsweetened oat milk.
- Bread crumbs. Bread crumbs give these cauliflower wings a crispy exterior. Feel free to use gluten-free bread crumbs.
- Buffalo sauce. Of course, you can’t make vegan Buffalo wings without Buffalo sauce! Be sure to check the ingredients to make sure it’s vegan.
How to Make Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Thanks to this easy 4-step recipe, you’ll be able to make vegan Buffalo “wings” at home. It’s a delicious and simple alternative to store-bought meat substitutes.
You can find the exact ingredient measurements and step-by-step tutorial in the recipe card below.
1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and oat milk. Whisk well and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken.
2. Using a fork or slotted spoon, dip each cauliflower floret into the batter. Rotate the cauliflower until completely coated, then let the excess drip off.
3. Immediately place the cauliflower floret into the bowl of bread crumbs. Toss to coat.
4. Place on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower, then bake for 20 minutes, rotating once halfway.
5. Carefully remove the cauliflower from the oven. Using a slotted spoon, dip each floret in Buffalo sauce.
6. Return the cauliflower to the baking sheet, then bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve with vegan ranch dressing or your favorite dip.
Recipe Tips, Variations, and Substitutions
- Switch up the bread crumbs. For even more flavor, use Italian bread crumbs. You can also use a gluten-free version.
- Skip the bread crumbs. If you don’t have bread crumbs on hand, you can skip them. The wings won’t be as crispy, but they’ll still be delicious.
- Use a different milk. Unsweetened, unflavored soy or almond milk also work well in place of oat milk.
- Increase the heat. Add a bit of chili powder or paprika into the batter for even hotter wings.
- Remove the excess batter. Be sure to use a fork or slotted spoon when dipping the cauliflower into the batter. This will remove the excess and minimize big chunks of batter.
- Use it in a wrap. Try chopping up the vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings and using it in a wrap.
How Do You Store Leftover Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings?
These vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings are best eaten immediately. However, you can store leftovers in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. The breading will likely soften during this time, so you’ll need to bake them in the oven (or a toaster oven) for a few minutes to crisp them back up.
Serving Suggestions
- Vegan ranch dressing — A classic partner for anything with Buffalo sauce
- Vegan Thousand Island dressing — Another tasty dip option
- Vegan crispy baked onion rings — Complete your spread of finger food with onion rings
Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Ingredients
- 1 medium cauliflower head chopped into florets
- 1 cup oat milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter melted
- 1 cup Buffalo wing sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and oat milk. Whisk well and let it sit for a few minutes to thicken.
- Using a fork or slotted spoon, dip each cauliflower floret into the batter. Rotate to the cauliflower until completely coated, then let the excess drip off. Immediately place the cauliflower floret into the bowl of bread crumbs. Toss to coat.
- Place on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower, then bake for 20 minutes, rotating once halfway.
- Carefully remove the cauliflower from the oven. Using a slotted spoon, dip each floret in Buffalo sauce.
- Return the cauliflower to the baking sheet, then bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve with vegan ranch dressing or your favorite dip.
Notes
- For even more flavor, use Italian bread crumbs. You can also use a gluten-free version.
- If you don’t have bread crumbs on hand, you can skip them. The wings won’t be as crispy, but they’ll still be delicious.
- Unsweetened, unflavored soy or almond milk also works well in place of oat milk.
- Add a bit of chili powder or paprika into the batter for even hotter wings.
- Be sure to use a fork or slotted spoon when dipping the cauliflower into the batter. This will remove the excess and minimize big chunks of batter.
- Try chopping up the vegan Buffalo cauliflower wings and using it in a wrap.
Recommended Tools & Products
Nutrition
About the Author
Kirsten Nunez is a journalist who focuses on healthy food and cooking. Her vegan and plant-based recipes have appeared on VegNews, eHow, Shape, and more. When she’s not creating and photographing vegan recipes for Clean Green Simple, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen and sharing plant-based meals with friends and family. More articles by Kirsten.
