Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Printable)

Crispy cauliflower tossed in buffalo sauce served with rich blue cheese dip for a tasty vegetarian treat.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cauliflower Bites

01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
02 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 cup water
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, for baking

→ Buffalo Sauce

09 - 1/3 cup hot sauce (e.g., Frank's RedHot)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup

→ Blue Cheese Dip

12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
14 - 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
15 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped (optional)
17 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and brush lightly with olive oil.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
03 - Toss cauliflower florets in the batter until evenly coated.
04 - Arrange coated florets on the prepared sheet, spaced apart. Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crisp.
05 - In a small bowl, combine hot sauce, melted butter, and honey. Stir to blend.
06 - Remove cauliflower from oven and toss gently in buffalo sauce until well coated. Return to baking sheet.
07 - Bake for an additional 8 to 10 minutes until bites are crispy and sticky.
08 - Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, blue cheese, lemon juice, and chives until creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
09 - Serve cauliflower bites hot with blue cheese dip alongside.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're crispy on the outside and tender inside—nobody notices they're vegetarian until you tell them.
  • The blue cheese dip transforms something simple into restaurant-quality appetizer magic.
  • You can make a big batch in 45 minutes and watch them vanish in minutes.
02 -
  • Don't skip the first 20-minute bake before saucing—the cauliflower needs that initial crisping or the sauce will make it steam and turn soggy.
  • Cold blue cheese dip against hot buffalo bites is the texture contrast that makes these unforgettable, so don't assemble them ahead.
03 -
  • Dry your cauliflower florets well before battering—any excess moisture will steam them instead of crisping them.
  • Don't crowd the pan; leave a little space between florets so heat can circulate and they crisp evenly on all sides.

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