If you're looking for a delicious and healthy appetizer or side dish, then you'll love these Crispy Cauliflower Bites made in the air fryer! This recipe is easy to make and requires little clean-up thanks to my breading-in-one-bowl technique!
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For game day, social gatherings, or as a healthy snack, try these vegetarian Crispy Cauliflower Bites instead of chicken wings or serve them as a side! If you love this recipe you'll also love these Mushroom Fries too!
Crispy cauliflower bites are air-fried until golden brown, then, if desired, generously coated with a honey chipotle sauce for a sweet, spicy, and crunchy snack!
Jump to:
- Equipment
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Make Crispy Cauliflower Bites in the Air Fryer
- Why you Should Cook Cauliflower Bites in Two Stages
- Sauce Ideas for Crispy Cauliflower Bites
- Storing, Freezing, and Reheating
- Tips for Making Perfect Crispy Cauliflower Bites
- FAQ
- More Air Fryer Recipes You May Enjoy
- Recipe
Equipment
This is my favorite Large Spoon for mixing!
Ingredients You'll Need
See recipe card for quantities.
For the Cauliflower Bites
- Cauliflower - For the best tasting cauliflower bites use fresh cauliflower.
- All Purpose Flour - Sub with gluten-free flour if you're gluten-free.
- Eggs - Sub with flax or chia egg or aquafaba if you're vegan or can't eat eggs.
- Water
- Panko Breadcrumbs
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Smoked Paprika
- Salt
- Oil Spray
For the Honey-Chipotle Sauce
This sauce is absolutely amazing on these cauliflower bites! However, if honey chipotle isn't your thing I have a ton of sauce ideas listed below!
- Chipotle Tabasco or a hot sauce you love. If you're a huge chipotle Tabasco sauce fan, like I am, you can buy it by the gallon here!
- Honey - Replace with maple syrup, date syrup or agave syrup if you're vegan.
- Butter - Sub with vegan butter if you're vegan.
How to Make Crispy Cauliflower Bites in the Air Fryer
Prep the Cauliflower Bites
Rinse and cut the cauliflower ¾ inch florets (about the size of a tater tot).
Preheat your air fryer to 370-375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
In a bowl, add the cauliflower florets, flour, and spices. Stir the flour and spice mixture with the florets until they are all evenly covered.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the water, and then, add the beaten eggs to the coated florets. Gently stir the egg mixture into the cauliflower until all of the pieces are coated evenly with the egg.
Once fully coated, add the Panko breadcrumbs to the cauliflower and gently stir once again until the florets are evenly coated.
Please note that the Panko does not completely evenly distribute using this method. You will have some spots that have more Panko breading than others, but that's ok! It actually makes for crunchier cauliflower bites!
If want perfectly even distributed Panko on your cauliflower add Panko to a separate bowl. After you coat the cauliflower with eggs, dip each piece of cauliflower into the Panko to get a nice even coating.
Cooking the Cauliflower Bites
1. First Cook: Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray.
Working in batches, place the coated cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, allow plenty of between the cauliflower so that they crisp up nicely.
Lightly spray the cauliflower florets with cooking oil spray.
2. Air fry the cauliflower for 7 minutes.
3. Remove the cauliflower from the air fryer and allow to cool on a baking sheet. Repeat this process until all the cauliflower is par-cooked.
Make the sauce: (optional) While the cauliflower is cooking: combine butter, honey and chipotle Tobasco in a pan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the butter melts and the sauce begins to gently bubble. Then remove from heat. Allow sauce to rest until second cook is done.
4. Second Cook: Working in batches, cook the cauliflower a second time. Spray the basket with oil, add the florets in a single layer, spray the cauliflower with oil, cook for another 7 minutes or until golden brown and crispy!
Why you Should Cook Cauliflower Bites in Two Stages
This two-stage cooking technique will ensure that the cauliflower bites are crispy on the outside and fully cooked through on the inside. The first cook allows the moisture to escape without damaging the coating, while the second cook is done to brown and crisp the coating even more!
This technique takes these cauliflower wings to the next level! Just like it does with my Fall off the bone chicken wings and air fryer chicken wings.
If coating in sauce, add the cooked bites to a large, clean bowl, add sauce and toss until coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Sauce Ideas for Crispy Cauliflower Bites
Dipping Sauces:
- Sriracha Mayo: Mix together mayonnaise and Sriracha hot sauce to taste. This sauce is creamy and spicy, which pairs well with the crispy texture of the cauliflower bites.
- Honey Mustard: Mix together equal parts of honey and dijon mustard, and a pinch of onion powder for a sweet and tangy dipping sauce.
- Ranch Dressing: Use your favorite store-bought or make your own homemade ranch dressing. This sauce is cool, creamy, packed with herbs, and is a classic dipping sauce for anything crunchy!
- Blue Cheese Dressing - Classic dipping sauce for chicken wings that is creamy, tangy and pungent. If you like blue cheese, this dressing makes a great dip for these bites.
- BBQ Sauce: For a smoky and sweet dipping sauce, serve the cauliflower bites with your favorite store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce.
- Chimichurri Mayo - Mix 1 part chimichurri with 2 parts mayo for a herbaceous and tangy dipping sauce.
More Sauces for Tossing with your Bites (or dipping):
These sauces are great for tossing with your cauliflower wings!
- Teriyaki Sauce: Toss the Cauliflower Bites in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds for a delicious Asian-inspired twist.
- Garlic Butter Sauce: Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a pan and add 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning salt, and pepper. Toss the Cauliflower Bites in the garlic butter sauce for a crunchy, garlicky and buttery treat.
- Honey Garlic Sauce: Combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and ginger for a sweet and savory sauce that will elevate the flavors of this cauliflower appetizer.
- Buffalo Sauce: Mix together ¼ cup Franks Red Hot, 1 tablespoon butter, a pinch of onion and garlic powder for a classic wing sauce.
- Peanut Sauce: Mix together peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger and lime juice for a spicy creamy and nutty sauce.
Storing, Freezing, and Reheating
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Place a paper towel in the container with the bites to prevent them from getting soggy.
To freeze, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until firm. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat, preheat your oven or air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
Arrange the bites on a baking sheet or in the air fryer basket, spray the bites with oil spray and bake or air fry for 7-10 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.
Tips for Making Perfect Crispy Cauliflower Bites
- To prevent soggy cauliflower bites, don't crowd the florets while cooking.
- Use a good quality oil spray: olive oil or avocado oil. I don't recommend cooking sprays like Pam that are filled with dimethyl silicone (synthetic material). Use high-quality ingredients to cook healthier, better-tasting food.
- Make sure to cook using the 2-stage method.
FAQ
Can I use frozen cauliflower instead of fresh?
Yes, but I don't recommend it. Frozen cauliflower will be much soggier. If it's your only option, make sure to thaw and dry the cauliflower completely before you start the breading process.
Can I use gluten-free breadcrumbs instead of Panko breadcrumbs?
Yes, you can use gluten-free breadcrumbs instead of Panko breadcrumbs. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly, as gluten-free breadcrumbs may brown faster than Panko breadcrumbs.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
Yes, you can make this recipe vegan by using a flax, chia egg or Aquafaba instead of regular eggs.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
You can prepare the cauliflower, coat them in the breading mixture and par-cook them for 7 minutes. Allow them to cool and store them in the refrigerator until you want to cook again. Just make sure to spray the coated florets with cooking spray before baking or air frying them the second time.
Can I use a different seasoning blend?
Yes, you can adjust the seasoning to suit your taste. Just change the amounts to suit your spice preferences. Some seasoning favorites include Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or curry powder.
More Air Fryer Recipes You May Enjoy
Recipe
The Ultimate Crispy Cauliflower Bites
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Ingredients
For the Cauliflower
- 1 Large Head Cauliflower
- 3 tablespoon All-purpose flour sub with gluten-free flour
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 2 Large Large Eggs sub with flax or chia egg if vegan
- 2 tablespoon Water
- 1-¼ Cup Panko Breadcrumbs sub with regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Salt divided
- Oil Spray as needed
For the Honey Chipotle Sauce
- ¼ Cup Chipotle Tobassco
- 2 tablespoon Honey
- 1 Tbsp Butter
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Instructions
For the Cauliflower Bites
- Preheat your air fryer to 370-375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.Rinse and cut the cauliflower into ¾ inch florets (about the size of a tater tot).
- In a bowl, combine the cauliflower florets, flour, and spices. Stir the flour and spice mixture into the florets until they are all evenly coated.
- In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the water. Add the beaten eggs to the coated florets. Gently stir the egg mixture into the cauliflower until all of the pieces are coated with the egg.
- Add the Panko breadcrumbs a little bit at a time to the cauliflower. Gently fold the breadcrumbs into the cauliflower until the florets are completely coated. - Take your time and don't rush this step.
- First Cook: Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray.Working in batches, place the coated cauliflower florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket, allow plenty of between the cauliflower so that they crisp up nicely.Lightly spray the cauliflower florets with cooking oil spray.Air fry the cauliflower at 370- 375F for 7 minutes.Remove the cauliflower from the air fryer and cool on a baking sheet. Repeat this process until all the cauliflower is par-cooked.
- Make the sauce: (optional) While the cauliflower is cooking: combine butter, honey, and chipotle Tobasco in a pan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the butter melts and the sauce begins to gently bubble. Then remove from heat. Allow the sauce to rest until the second cook is done.
- Second Cook: Working in batches, cook the cauliflower a second time. Spray the basket with oil, add the florets in a single layer, spray the cauliflower with oil, cook for another 7 minutes or until golden brown and crispy!
- If coating in sauce, add the cooked bites to a large, clean bowl, add sauce and toss until coated. Serve immediately and enjoy
Notes
- To prevent soggy cauliflower bites, don't crowd the florets while cooking.
- Use a good quality oil spray: olive oil or avocado oil. I don't recommend cooking sprays like Pam that are filled with dimethyl silicone (synthetic material). Use high-quality ingredients to cook healthier, better-tasting food.
- Make sure to cook using the 2-stage method.
- If want perfectly even distributed Panko on your cauliflower add Panko to a separate bowl. After you coat the cauliflower with eggs, dip each piece of cauliflower into the Panko to get a nice even coating.
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