Vegan Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

By Jolinda Hackett

Updated 07/01/19

Oven roasted cauliflower bites on plate

The Spruce
  • Total: 35 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
205 Calories
7g Fat
31g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 servings
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—all that great spicy flavor and not a bit of chicken in sight. 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 it has a subtle and neutral flavor which combines perfectly with the spicy sauce.

Those with wheat allergies can use gluten-free flour in place of all-purpose flour ​and it's just as delicious. And as long as you use vegan margarine and not butter, this recipe is completely vegan as well. Olive oil can be used but vegan margarine produces the best results.

Accompany these wings with the hot sauce of your choice, even Sriracha, but using a classic buffalo wing sauce like Frank's is the way to go.

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 margarine (melted, olive oil also will work but vegan margarine is best)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for cauliflower buffalo wings
    The Spruce

  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
    The Spruce

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

    Cauliflower pieces on a paper towel.
    The Spruce

  5. Coat each individual piece with the soy milk-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
    The Spruce

  6. Bake the cauliflower in the heated oven for 18 minutes.

    Cauliflower spread on baking tray
    The Spruce

  7. Next, prepare the buffalo sauce by whisking together the wing sauce or hot sauce of your choice and the melted vegan margarine in a small bowl or on the stovetop over low heat.

    Buffalo sauce in bowl
    The Spruce

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

    Cauliflower with sauce on baking tray
    The Spruce

  9. Return the cauliflower to the oven for an additional 5 to 7 minutes.

    Roasted cauliflower with hot sauce
    The Spruce

  10. Let cool for a few minutes and then devour.

Tips

  • Buffalo wings are traditionally served with a blue cheese dressing for dipping and celery sticks for cooling off. But if you don't care for blue cheese, 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 addicting. You have been warned.