Air Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings
These vegan Air Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings are not only packed with flavor but also easy to make with a few ingredients. They are the perfect game day snack when you need something crispy, delicious, and fun. Just like these deliciously crispy Frozen Onion Rings in Air Fryer and Air Fryer Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms without Cream Cheese!
These guilt-free veggie wings are a fantastic alternative to chicken wings, whether you’re a vegetarian, trying to eat less meat, or just looking for something different.
Please continue scrolling down to find the recipe card below, which contains the complete list of ingredients with measurements, detailed recipe instructions, additional notes, and nutritional information.
I love cauliflower and have several cauliflower recipes on my other blog, where I love sharing delicious every day recipes.
Some of my favorites include Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Risotto, Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Celeriac, and Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cauliflower – When buying cauliflower, choose the firm ones with a creamy white color and no signs of browning. The florets should be crisp, and the outer leaves fresh without any yellowing or wilting. Cut the cauliflower into medium-sized florets , similar to chicken wing size.
- Plain flour (all-purpose flour) – This is used to make the batter that will get the cauliflower nice and crispy. You can also add some cornstarch if you have it in your pantry!
- Seasoning – I use a simple seasoning made with paprika, salt, black pepper, and cumin. Feel free to adjust the amounts or add your favorites to make it your own!
- Olive oil – A small amount of olive oil is necessary to help the air fryer BBQ cauliflower wings get crispy and prevent them from sticking to your air fryer basket.
- BBQ sauce – Use your favorite BBQ sauce or buffalo sauce for a full buffalo wings experience.
How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings?
Important Note
Before you start cooking, note that times may differ among air fryers. I develop my recipes using a Cosori 6.8 air fryer. If you’re using a different air fryer, view my recipes as a general guide and tweak the cooking time—add a bit more or cook slightly less as needed.
First things first, prep your cauliflower. Wash it thoroughly and cut it into medium-sized florets, similar to chicken wing size. Try to keep them all roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. This will be your batter.
Quick Tip!
If you want an extra crispy coating, you can add corn starch to your batter or dip the battered florets into breadcrumbs before air frying.
Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, making sure it’s well-coated. Shake off any excess batter before placing it on a baking sheet or directly into the air fryer basket. If you’re using breadcrumbs, roll the battered florets in the breadcrumbs until they’re fully coated.
Set your air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Place the coated cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd them; you might need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Cook the wings for about 10- 12 minutes, flip them halfway through to ensure even cooking.
Once your cauliflower wings are slightly crispy and lightly browned, it’s time to add the sauce. Mix olive oil and the BBQ sauce in a small bowl and spread it evenly over the cauliflower wings using a brush.
Cook for another 10 minutes, until they are crispy and look almost charred.
Serve the wings immediately with your favorite dipping sauce to keep their crispy texture.
Expert Tips From the Chef
- Cut the cauliflower into uniform florets for consistent cooking.
- If you want an extra crispy coating, you can add corn starch to your batter or dip the battered florets into breadcrumbs before air frying.
- Arrange the florets in a single layer to avoid overcrowding, live some space to let the air circulate. Do in 2-3 batches if necessary.
- Line the air fryer basket with perforated parchment paper to make cleanup easier and prevent sticking.
- Flip the cauliflower halfway through cooking for even browning and crispiness.
- Serve the wings immediately after cooking to maintain their crispy texture.
What to Serve with Air Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings?
Cauliflower wings are versatile and can be served in many ways. Here are a few ideas:
- With a Dip: Serve your wings with a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
- On a Salad: Add the wings to a salad for some extra crunch and flavor.
- As a Snack: Enjoy them on their own as a healthy snack or appetizer.
Storage and Reheating
If you have any leftovers (we rarely have some because they’re so good!), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for a few minutes until they’re warmed through and crispy again.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can bake them in a preheated oven at 400°F – (205°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.
Preheating the air fryer is recommended for even cooking, but if your model doesn’t require it, you can follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Yes, you can use any sauce you prefer, such as buffalo, or teriyaki instead of BBQ sauce.
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Please give us a five-star rating and leave a comment below.
I hope you enjoy the process of preparing these juicy Air Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings just as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂
Bon appétit!
Air Fryer BBQ Cauliflower Wings
Ingredients
- 400 g cauliflower
- ½ cup water
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp cumin powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ cup plain white flour / all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp BBQ sauce (of your choice)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- First things first, prep your cauliflower. Wash it thoroughly and cut it into medium-sized florets, similar to chicken wing size.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, water, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. This will be your batter. If you want an extra crispy coating, you can add corn starch to your batter or dip the battered florets into breadcrumbs before air frying.
- Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, making sure it’s well-coated. Shake off any excess batter before placing it on a baking sheet or directly into the air fryer basket. If you’re using breadcrumbs, roll the battered florets in the breadcrumbs until they’re fully coated.
- Set your air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Place the coated cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd them; you might need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Cook the wings for about 10- 12 minutes, flip them halfway through to ensure even cooking.
- Once your cauliflower wings are slightly crispy and lightly browned, it’s time to add the sauce. Mix olive oil and the BBQ sauce in a small bowl and spread it evenly over the cauliflower wings using a brush.
- Cook for another 10 minutes, until they are crispy and look almost charred.
Notes
- Cut the cauliflower into uniform florets for consistent cooking.
- If you want an extra crispy coating, you can add corn starch to your batter or dip the battered florets into breadcrumbs before air frying.
- Arrange the florets in a single layer to avoid overcrowding, live some space to let the air circulate. Do in 2-3 batches if necessary.
- Line the air fryer basket with perforated parchment paper to make cleanup easier and prevent sticking.
- Flip the cauliflower halfway through cooking for even browning and crispiness.
- Serve the wings immediately with your favorite dipping sauce after cooking to maintain their crispy texture.
- If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Best way to get the kids eat cauliflower! I will definitely make them again. Thank you for the recipe!