Zesty Buffalo Cauliflower Bites with Creamy Ranch Dip
⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes • 🍳 Cook Time: 30 minutes
If you're craving something crispy, spicy, and totally snackable, these Buffalo Cauliflower Bites are it. Baked until golden and tossed in a zesty buffalo sauce, they’re the ultimate plant-based answer to game day wings. The creamy ranch on the side? Totally necessary. Totally addictive.
Crispy, spicy cauliflower bites baked to perfection and dunked in a cool, creamy ranch—snacking just got a major upgrade.
These are one of those recipes I always pull out for game night, movie snacks, or honestly just because I’m craving something fun and bold. The cauliflower gets lightly battered and roasted until the edges are golden and crispy, then tossed in a tangy, spicy buffalo sauce that clings perfectly. They’re so flavorful you won’t even miss the wings—and they just happen to be gluten-free and vegetarian.
The real secret? That creamy homemade ranch. It balances the heat perfectly and gives major snack platter energy. I love serving these right out of the oven with some extra celery sticks on the side. They’re kid-approved, crowd-approved, and a total staple for anyone who loves a good spicy-saucy situation. You can even prep them ahead and reheat in the air fryer for an ultra-crispy second round.
Ingredients
🍽️ Servings: 4 • 🔥 Calories/Serving: 210
For the cauliflower bites:
1 head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
½ cup almond flour
½ cup unsweetened almond milk (or other plant milk)
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp salt
⅓ cup buffalo sauce
1 tbsp olive oil or melted butter (to mix with buffalo sauce)
For the creamy ranch dip:
¼ cup mayo or vegan mayo
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dried dill
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
Salt & pepper, to taste
Steps
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Step 2
In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, almond milk, garlic powder, paprika, and salt to form a batter.
Step 3
Dip each cauliflower floret in the batter, letting excess drip off, and arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet.
Step 4
Bake for 20–22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until lightly golden.
Step 5
Meanwhile, mix buffalo sauce with olive oil or melted butter.
Step 6
Remove cauliflower from oven and toss gently in the buffalo sauce mixture.
Step 7
Return to oven for another 8–10 minutes, until crispy and caramelized.
Step 8
While cauliflower finishes baking, stir together all ranch ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
Step 9
Serve hot with ranch dip on the side.
Make it your own!
🍗 Add a protein twist
Swap half the cauliflower with bite-sized tofu or tempeh cubes for extra plant-based protein.🌱 Make it vegan
Use vegan yogurt and mayo in the ranch dip and dairy-free butter for the sauce.🔥 Turn up the heat
Add a few dashes of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne to the buffalo sauce for more fire.🧄 Garlic lover’s dream
Add roasted garlic to the ranch dip or toss minced garlic in with the buffalo sauce.
