Crisp & Tender Oven-Baked Cauliflower Buffalo Wings (Vegan)
Jan 29, 2021 (Last updated Feb 12, 2026) by Hannah Sunderani
This vegan recipe for homemade cauliflower buffalo wings bakes lightly seasoned cauliflower florets and tosses in store-bought buffalo sauce. There’s no breading in this easy appetizer recipe! Enjoy the crispy buffalo cauliflower bites straight out of the oven together with a quick-to-make vegan ranch for dipping.
I am so excited to be sharing this delicious vegan cauliflower buffalo wings recipe with you today! They are so addictive that I made it twice last week. If you haven’t tried cauliflower buffalo wings before, boy are you in for a treat. They are so easy to make, and the perfect vegan and great alternative for chicken wings.
In fact, since transitioning to a vegan diet, my husband Mitch always tells me that the only thing he misses from his old diet is chicken wings! It’s something he says often in fact – that he can get on board with all the vegan versions of his old favourites, like vegan sausages, burgers, and hot dogs. But he really misses the chicken wings!
So, let me tell you exactly how to make these vegan cauliflower buffalo wings, so that you can get your fix too.
The Ingredients
- Cauliflower: Chopped into florets, this is a great vegan alternative to chicken wings! They are oven baked until tender in the middle.
- All-purpose flour & Spices: Used for a nicely spices batter to coat the cauliflower florets. This adds a delicious crisp exterior.
- Buffalo Sauce: A spicy bbq sauce used to toss the crisp baked cauliflower florets. I love the heat of buffalo sauce, but I’ve also tried traditional bbq sauce, and teriyaki sauce – they work great in this recipe! (Also makes it kid-friendly!)
How to make vegan cauliflower wings
COOK THESE VEGAN CAULIFLOWER WINGS WITH ME!
Make these plant-based cauliflower wings with me on my latest episode, 4 Healthy Vegan Cauliflower Recipes on YouTube!
Recipe FAQ’s
To avoid soggy cauliflower wings make sure that you’re not overcrowding the baking sheet. You might need to do this on two trays if the baking sheet is on the smaller side.)
I also like to coat my cauliflower wings in the buffalo sauce just before serving so they stay nice and crisp! Another options is to serve the cauliflower wings alongside the buffalo sauce for dipping.
Some recipes online recommend saucing the cauliflower wings and then popping back in the oven for a second bake, but in my experience this has resulted in mushier cauliflower wings. The better option is to sauce just before eating.
This recipe can easily be made gluten-free by swapping the all-purpose flour in the batter to a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Cauliflower wings are best enjoyed straight out of the oven while warm to ensure crispiness! They will get soggy over time so enjoy right away!
And that’s pretty much all you need to know for making this delish cauliflower wings recipe. An easy recipe for beginner cooks, a great vegan alternative to chicken wings. These cauliflower wings are wholesome, full of flavour, crispy and so comforting. They’re best enjoyed straight out of the oven with homemade vegan ranch for dipping.
And, if you do make this recipe please let me know in the comments below what you think! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have. And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.
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Crisp & Tender Oven-Baked Cauliflower Buffalo Wings (Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower (medium sized – 2 lbs)
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil melted
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/2 cup vegan ranch dip (optional for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F/190C. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Chop the cauliflower head into bite sized florets and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the almond milk and apple cider vinegar to make a buttermilk. Set aside.
- In a separate small mixing bowl, combine the flour, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Add the buttermilk and whisk until smooth and combined.
- Dip the cauliflower florets one-by-one into the batter, and roll to coat, using a spoon to scoop the batter into all the nooks and crannies. Place the florets onto the baking tray, spreading out so they are not crowded.
- Bake for 20 minutes and then flip the cauliflower florets over to bake the other side for an even bake. Bake for another 20 minutes on the other side (total of 40 minutes).
- Prepare the buffalo sauce: In a large mixing bowl combine the melted coconut oil and buffalo sauce. Mix until smooth and silky in consistency. Set aside.
- Prepare the ranch dip: In a small bowl, combine the coconut yogurt, apple cider vinegar, dill, onion powder, sea salt, paprika and pepper. Mix to combine.
- Once the cauliflower florets are crispy and baked, transfer them to the mixing bowl and toss gently to cover in the sauce. Transfer to a serving platter along with the homemade ranch for dipping.
Watch The Video
Notes
Approvals
Nutrition
See more step-by-step instructions by visiting the recipe story here!
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Wondering why you replied to everyone’s comment except Melody’s? I also was looking for NO BREADING which is what you said but this recipe has breading. You need to change what you said. Do you have a recipe with no breading? & why didn’t you reply to Melody? This makes me not even want to look at or try any of your recipes.
This are a sure fire crowd pleaser. I’ve made these for vegan and non vegan alike and it’s always well received and the first food item to disappear at parties. I even put them in our air fryer and it’s amazing!
What a wonderful review Cat! I’m so happy to hear that they were such a hit at your party. And that’s great to hear they worked well in the air-fryer! I know that will be really helpful for others who have one too and might like to use it. 🙂
I have a question regarding the description. You wrote “There’s no breading in this easy appetizer recipe! ” I see you are putting the cauliflower pieces in flour….which I believe is considered breading? Just confused as I am looking for a no breading receipe
Made this for our long awaited game day. New to vegan lifestyle and these were an amazing hit! We bought plant-based ranch and made our own spicy buffalo sauce but all in all, this recipe is now a new favorite! Thanks so much!
Hi Janetta! I am thrilled you enjoyed the recipe! So perfect for game day! Thanks for sharing this really sweet review. 🙂
Made it twice and the family enjoyed. A great way to get everyone to eat cauliflower.
These are SO good!!! Two thumbs up! My husband wants to start eating these once a week! Great recipe!
I am so glad you both loved the recipe! I made this for my husband after he said the only thing he misses about a plant-based diet is chicken wings! haha. It was such a hit too! Thanks for the sweet comment. 🙂