Vegan Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

Written by
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Jolinda Hackett
Updated 07/20/21
Oven-roasted cauliflower bites on a plate

The Spruce
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
236 Calories
9g Fat
34g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 236
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 119mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 6g 22%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 99mg 496%
Calcium 47mg 4%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 477mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

There is no game-day party without wings, but for many vegans and vegetarians, plant-based options are limited when these types of gatherings happen. Our recipe for vegan Buffalo wings might be your new go-to game-day appetizer, one that would be devoured by vegans and meat-eaters alike. With our recipe, you get all that great spicy flavor, red fingers and all, but not a bit of chicken. If you're a fan of tofu hot wings or seitan hot wings, you're going to like this easy oven cauliflower version.

As its subtle and neutral flavor combines very easily with the spicy sauce, cauliflower is the perfect vegetable for making Buffalo "wings". Its versatility is also why cauliflower is the go-to for so many other vegan and gluten-free foods these days, like pizza crust, riced cauliflower, or mashed cauliflower. Cauliflower can do it all. For our recipe, if you need it to be gluten-free, simply swap the wheat flour for gluten-free flour. Any non-dairy milk will work, too, such as soy, almond, or oat. With so many available brands of vegan alternatives to dairy, a quick trip to the cold aisle at your grocery store will set you up for a successful vegan pantry.

Accompany these vegan cauliflower wings with the hot sauce of your choice, sriracha, or vegan ranch. The classic hot sauce used to make Buffalo wings is Frank's. It is the key ingredient in the original recipe, invented in Buffalo, New York in 1964. Lucky us, the sauce also happens to be vegan.

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened soy milk, or any non-dairy milk substitute or water

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, or gluten-free flour

  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, or kosher salt

  • 1 large head cauliflower, washed, stemmed, and cut into wing-sized florets

  • 1/3 cup hot sauce, such as Frank's; or to taste

  • 2 tablespoons vegan butter, or olive oil

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for cauliflower buffalo wings
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  2. Preheat the oven to 450 F. Prepare a baking sheet or large oven-safe dish lightly coating it with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine the soy milk, flour, garlic powder, and salt, whisking together until well combined.

    Soy milk, flour, garlic powder, and salt, whisked together in bowl
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  3. Pat the cauliflower pieces dry with a paper towel.

    Cauliflower pieces on a paper towel
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  4. Thoroughly coat each individual piece with the soy milk and flour mixture. Place the coated cauliflower florets in the prepared baking sheet.

    Dipping each cauliflower piece in sauce
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  5. Bake the cauliflower in the oven for 18 minutes.

    Cauliflower spread on baking tray
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  6. In a small bowl or on the stovetop over low heat, whisk together the hot sauce of your choice and the melted vegan butter.

    Buffalo sauce in bowl
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  7. Carefully coat the cauliflower pieces with the wing sauce mixture. Either brush it on or lightly toss the florets in the sauce. Place the pieces back in the baking sheet.

    Cauliflower with Buffalo sauce on baking tray
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  8. Return the cauliflower to the oven for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

    Roasted cauliflower with hot sauce
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  9. Enjoy!

Quick Vegan Buffalo Sauce

Follow this easy recipe for a quick vegan take on Buffalo wing sauce. Use this in our recipe, or use on other roasted vegetables, grilled tofu, seitan, or any rice or potato salad:

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix together 2/3 cup of hot sauce with 1/2 cup of melted vegan butter, 1 pinch of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1 pinch of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper—depending on your spice preference.
  • Allow the sauce to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, remove, and let cool for a bit before using.

How to Store Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

These vegan wings will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge. To reheat, place them on a baking sheet in a 400 F oven for about 10 minutes to crisp them up. Try to avoid using the microwave—it'll just turn them soft and soggy.