Crispy & Spicy Garlic Cauliflower Wings

These crispy, spicy garlic cauliflower wings are the ultimate game day snack! Baked to golden perfection, they’re crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a garlicky, flavorful kick of heat. Whether you serve them as an appetizer, side dish, or crowd-pleasing finger food for football season, these cauliflower wings are guaranteed to be a fan favorite!

Buffalo cauliflower wings with carrots, celery, and ranch dipping sauce on a plate.

Ingredients

  • 1 large head of cauliflower (cut into florets)

  • ¾ cup Sweet Baby Ray’s Spicy Garlic Sauce (or your favorite spicy garlic wing sauce)

  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs (adds extra crunch)

  • ¼ cup cornstarch (for crispier coating)

  • 1 tsp onion powder

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (I love Bold Bayou Cajun)

  • ½ tsp salt

  • ½ tsp black pepper

  • ½ cup whole milk

Optional for serving:

  • Sliced scallions for garnish

  • Ranch or blue cheese dressing

  • Celery and carrot sticks

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  3. Take your head of cauliflower, rip off the leaves, and remove the stem. Then cut into bite size “wings” - at this point I like to soak my cauliflower then rise, dry, and set aside.

  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, panko breadcrumbs, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.

  5. Slowly add in your milk and 2 tbsp of melted butter to the mix,

  6. Dip each floret into the batter than place them on the lined baking tray. Don’t let your cauliflower wings touch, or else they’ll end getting stuck while baking.

  7. Once your tray is full with your coated cauliflower wings pop them into the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Flipping halfway through and spraying with oil before returning it to the oven.

  8. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp of melted butter and spicy garlic sauce until combined.

  9. Once your cauliflower is done baking it should look golden and crispy. Now it’s time to brush on our sauce. If you don’t have a brush you can always place the cauliflower in a large bowl and pour the sauce on top of it tossing gently to coat each piece.

  10. For optimal crispiness, we’re placing our wings back on our baking tray and into the oven for 5-10 minutes.

  11. Once that’s done, you’re ready to eat! Optional: Pair with ranch or blue cheese and a side of veggie sticks!

Equipment

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