Easy 3-Ingredient Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

I’m pretty much a fan of any spicy condiment so I love Buffalo sauce, in all its tangy, buttery glory. I’m also a vegetarian — so no Buffalo wings for me. But who cares! Wings are just the gateway into Buffalo sauce; once you’ve joined the fan club, there are plenty of other (and arguably better) ways to enjoy it.

These buffalo cauliflower bites are my latest obsession, and I guarantee they’re the best on the internet. You only need three ingredients (not counting olive oil, salt, and pepper), and they can be easily prepared. Coat large florets in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then roast at 475°F until crisp, and toss them with hot sauce.

A quick Pinterest search will reveal there’s been more than a few iterations on Buffalo cauliflower bites. Many are designed to mimic restaurant-style Buffalo chicken wings, meaning the florets are dredged in beaten egg, dipped in flour or panko, than baked or fried. Not only did I find this messy, but the bites also turned out more gummy than crisp and the cauliflower itself got lost.

So I considered my priorities. I wanted these bites to be as easy as possible (ideally just three ingredients, not counting olive oil, salt, and pepper), as healthy as possible (oven-baked rather than fried, and made with olive oil in place of butter), and as crispy as possible (crank up that oven temperature). They should be delicious as a side dish, just as great for feeding friends as an appetizer, and even better stuffed into corn tortillas for taco night.

The solution? Coating large florets in olive oil and seasoning with plenty of salt, pepper, and garlic powder (don’t be shy — cauliflower itself doesn’t have a ton of flavor, so a heavy hand is a must), roasting at 475°F on the lowest oven rack until beginning to crisp, tossing with the hot sauce so that every piece is coated, and returning to the oven until the sauce is warm and the veg is extra-crisp. I consider these a wild success; they’re easier, healthier, and more delicious than any others I’ve tried. Plus, they satisfy my Buffalo sauce cravings.

Although the brand you use is entirely up to you (Frank’s, Texas Pete, Sriracha, Cholula — the list goes on), Frank’s RedHot has that classic Buffalo wing flavor. It’s what I use in every Buffalo sauce recipe, and it’s never let me down.

Want more? 10 Cauliflower Bites We Can’t Get Enough Of