Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Printable)
Crunchy cauliflower florets coated in spicy Buffalo sauce with a creamy blue cheese dip accompaniment.
# 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 - 1/2 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 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
→ Blue Cheese Dip
12 - 1/2 cup sour cream
13 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
14 - 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
15 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
17 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
18 - Celery sticks
19 - Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper; brush lightly with olive oil.
02 - Whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
03 - Toss cauliflower florets in the batter to coat evenly; shake off excess and arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway, until florets are tender and beginning to brown.
05 - Whisk hot sauce, melted butter, and honey until combined in a small bowl.
06 - Remove cauliflower from oven, toss gently with Buffalo sauce, return to baking sheet, and bake an additional 10 minutes to crisp and caramelize.
07 - Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, blue cheese, lemon juice, chives, salt, and pepper in a bowl; stir until smooth.
08 - Present Buffalo cauliflower bites hot alongside blue cheese dip, celery sticks, and optional parsley garnish.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They're crispier than you'd expect from a vegetable, almost dangerously addictive.
- The blue cheese dip transforms this from appetizer to craveable snack you'll make on random weeknights.
02 -
- Don't skip the second bake after tossing with sauce; that's when the real crispiness and caramelization happen.
- If your dip tastes too tangy, add a spoonful more sour cream; if it's too creamy, let the blue cheese flavor come forward with more cheese.
03 -
- Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper; it prevents sticking and makes cleanup instant.
- Don't toss the cauliflower too aggressively when coating it with sauce—you want it covered but still in whole pieces, not breaking apart into a mess.