You ever crave buffalo wings and quickly realize that satisfying this craving is impossible due to your lack of buffalo wings? This used to happen to me ALL of the time. Of course, there are an abundance of buffalo cauliflower wing recipes out there to help with this exact scenario. Unfortunately, I usually do not have fresh cauliflower sitting in my fridge. I DO, however, have bags of frozen cauliflower that have been shoved in the corner of my freezer for months, just waiting for their time to shine!
Well my friends, this is frozen cauliflowers big day, because you are going to LOVE these frozen cauliflower wings!
How To Make Buffalo Cauliflower Wings:
This is one of the easiest snack recipes you will make. The NUMBER ONE most important thing to remember when making buffalo cauliflower bites from frozen cauliflower is that the cauliflower MUST be completely thawed before you cook them. I have made the mistake (it was more of an ‘I can’t wait an hour to thaw these delicious buffalo bites‘ conscious decision) of battering and baking the bites fully frozen. When the cauliflower thaws in the oven, the batter melts off of it and you get a giant puddle.
As for the batter, you will find a lot of recipes out there that mix spices with the flour for ‘extra‘ flavor…WHY? The bites are going to be dipped in buffalo sauce, so you won’t be able to taste ANY of the added spices. That is why this is a 4 ingredient recipe!
Need a good baking sheet? This ‘Sur La Table’ platinum pro baking sheet is the one I use, and I love it!
The baking process:
Frozen cauliflower recipes don’t have to be boring, and these spicy cauliflower buffalo wings are double baked for an extra crispy bite! I don’t know about you, but I would MUCH rather my chicken wings be baked in their sauce than tossed in it after they are done baking. I feel the same way about my cauliflower wings. Baking them in the sauce really helps to integrate the flavor into the wing, and it is less messy. I also find that baking wings in buffalo sauce decreases the spiciness you get from the sauce, which I appreciate! (I have sensitive taste buds!)
You always have the option to toss them in more sauce after they are done baking. But I definitely recommend double baking them in buffalo sauce for the best flavor and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
| Are these vegan baked cauliflower bites? | They absolutely can be! Just substitute the milk for your favorite dairy-free milk alternative! Many buffalo sauces are vegan, just check the ingredients on yours to make sure. |
| Do I need to thaw the cauliflower before baking it? | Absolutely 100% YES! Unless you want a big puddle of batter goo on the baking sheet and no batter on the cauliflowers! (trust me, this is no bueno) |
| Should I add spices to the batter? | I say “nahhh”, don’t bother. They are going to be tossed in buffalo sauce which is so flavorful as it is, you won’t even taste if you add garlic powder to the batter. |
| Do I NEED to dip the cauliflowers in one by one, or can I just dump the whole batch in the batter? | This one made me ‘lol’ because I am TOTALLY that person that tried to just dump the entire batch in the batter. The issues with this is that the extra batter will pool and your bites will bake into weird shapes. I recommend individually dipping the bites and shaking off the excess batter. (but I won’t judge you if you decide ‘TO HELL WITH IT’) |
| Are they make ahead wings? | These wings are definitely best served right away. If you do end up making them ahead of time, I would re-heat them in the oven instead of the microwave. |
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pierogies
If you like this appetizer, you will LOVE my Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pierogies! They make for an amazing game day appetizer or dinner party side!
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When to Eat Frozen Cauliflower Wings:
When I first developed this recipe, it was game day. The Patriots were on, and being a normal red blooded American, I was craving buffalo wings while I watched football. They make a GREAT easy tailgate snack, because you most likely already have all of the ingredients in your pantry and freezer! You can also serve these baked cauliflower buffalo wings as a healthy snack for parties! Trust me, everyone is going to LOVE them!
Frozen Cauliflower Wings
Ingredients
- 1 24 oz bag frozen cauliflower
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (or regular flour)
- 1 cup milk or milk alternative
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (I use Frank's)
Instructions
- Thaw the cauliflower by placing the unopened bag in a bowl filled with hot water. Flip the bag occasionally and continue to replace the water until the florets have completely thawed. Pat dry with a towel.
- Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place parchment paper on a large baking sheet and spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour and milk. Taking 1 floret at a time, dip the cauliflower in the batter, shake off the excess, and place flat on the baking sheet. Do this for every floret.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven, and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove pan from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Pour buffalo sauce in a bowl, and dip each of the florets in the sauce. (I do this to maintain shape, however if you are in a time crunch, it is okay to 'toss' them in sauce). Place them back on the baking sheet, and continue to bake for 10 more minutes.
- Remove, serve with a side of ranch or blue cheese, and enjoy!
Did you like this Frozen Cauliflower Wings recipe? If so, go check out my ‘Wasabi Roasted Brussels Sprouts‘ recipe!
Wasabi Oven Brussels Sprouts
Recipe on how to bake perfect crispy wasabi brussels sprouts with orange zest!
Lazy Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Soup
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