Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Printable Version)
Golden spicy cauliflower bites baked crisp, tossed in tangy buffalo sauce, served with creamy ranch dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Cauliflower Bites
01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - ½ teaspoon salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
07 - 1 cup milk
08 - 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
09 - Cooking spray or olive oil for baking
→ Buffalo Sauce
10 - ½ cup hot sauce
11 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
→ Homemade Ranch Dressing
13 - ½ cup mayonnaise
14 - ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
15 - 2 tablespoons buttermilk or milk
16 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
17 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
18 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
19 - 1 clove garlic, minced
20 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
21 - ½ teaspoon salt
22 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
23 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray or brush with oil.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the milk until a smooth batter forms.
03 - Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, allowing excess to drip off, then coat evenly in panko breadcrumbs. Arrange florets on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Lightly spray or drizzle the coated florets with oil. Bake for 20 minutes, turning once halfway, until golden and crisp.
05 - Meanwhile, prepare the buffalo sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, and honey or maple syrup if using.
06 - Remove the cauliflower from the oven and transfer to a large bowl. Pour buffalo sauce over the hot florets and gently toss to coat.
07 - Return coated cauliflower to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 10 minutes until crispy and caramelized.
08 - While the bites finish baking, whisk together all ranch dressing ingredients in a bowl. Adjust seasoning and consistency with extra milk if desired.
09 - Serve the crispy buffalo cauliflower bites hot with ranch dressing on the side for dipping.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These satisfy that deep fried comfort food craving while keeping things light
- The homemade ranch dressing alone will become your new go-to condiment
02 -
- Do not skip spraying the panko with oil before the first bake or they will stay powdery
- Work quickly when tossing with sauce so the cauliflower stays hot enough to caramelize
03 -
- Let cauliflower florets sit on paper towels after washing to remove excess moisture
- Double the buffalo sauce recipe if you love that really coated, drippy finish