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 09/29/20
Oven-roasted cauliflower bites on a plate

The Spruce
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
205 Calories
7g Fat
31g Carbs
7g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 205
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1119mg 49%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 7g 23%
Protein 7g
Calcium 145mg 11%
*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.)

This recipe for vegan Buffalo wings made with oven-roasted cauliflower is the best of both worlds: You get all that great spicy flavor 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 vegetable version.

Cauliflower is the perfect vegetable to make buffalo wings as its subtle and neutral flavor combines very easily with the spicy sauce. (Its adaptability is also why cauliflower is the go-to for so many other vegan and gluten-free foods these days.)

Those who avoid wheat and gluten can use gluten-free flour in place of all-purpose flour ​and it's just as delicious. Olive oil can be used instead of butter, but a plant-based vegan butter works better. Any non-dairy milk will work, too, such as soy, almond, or oat.

Accompany these vegan cauliflower wings with the hot sauce of your choice, or even sriracha, but using a classic Buffalo wing sauce such as Frank's is the way to go. After all, it is the key ingredient in the original Buffalo wings recipe, which was, of course, invented in Buffalo, New York in 1964. It also happens to be vegan.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened soy milk (almond milk, another non-dairy milk substitute, or water)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free)
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (or kosher salt)
  • 1 head of cauliflower (washed, stemmed, and cut into pieces about the size of chicken wings)
  • 1/3 cup Buffalo wing sauce (or more, to taste)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons vegan butter (melted, or olive oil)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for cauliflower buffalo wings
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  2. Heat the oven to 450 F.

  3. 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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  4. Pat the cauliflower pieces dry with a paper towel.

    Cauliflower pieces on a paper towel
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  5. Coat each individual piece with the soy mil and flour mixture until well covered. Then place in a casserole dish or baking sheet that has been lightly coated with cooking spray.

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

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

    Buffalo sauce in bowl
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  8. When the cauliflower has finished cooking, remove it from the oven and carefully coat pieces with the wing sauce mixture. You can brush it on or lightly toss the florets in the sauce. 

    Cauliflower with Buffalo sauce on baking tray
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  9. Return the cauliflower to the oven for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Let it cool for a few minutes and then devour.

    Roasted cauliflower with hot sauce
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Tips

  • Buffalo wings are traditionally served with a blue cheese dressing for dipping and celery sticks for cooling off. For this vegan version, try serving them with a vegan ranch dressing instead. 
  • You can make a full meal of these cauliflower hot wings with or without a simple side green salad or serve them as a tasty appetizer. They are completely addictive. You have been warned. 

How to Store Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

These "wings" will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge. To reheat, put 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.