Epic Air Fryer Honey BBQ Cauliflower Wings

These Air Fryer Honey BBQ Cauliflower Wings are battered, air fried and tossed with a sweet ‘n spicy Honey BBQ Sauce. They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside – the perfect game day appetizer!

If you like air fryer wings then I’ve got you covered. Make sure you add my Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings and my Honey BBQ Chicken Wings (the crispiest wings you’ll ever have) to your hit list!

Honey BBQ Cauliflower Wings

It is officially August and in our house that means we are getting ready for our fantasty football drafts and planning which Dallas Cowboy games where going to. This house lives for football season and the food that comes with it.

Last year, I finally invested in an Air Fryer and it has rocked my world. I’ve absolutely LOVED it and am still testing out recipes with it. Since we’re headed into football season there is no better way to celebrate than with wings. But not just any wings, Cauliflower Wings. They are crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside! Have you tried them? They are a major game changer! Pun intended haha.

The vegans will for sure love it and so will the meat eaters! Don’t believe me. Try it!

What are Cauliflower Wings?

Cauliflower “Wings” are a vegan version of the classic chicken wing. Essentially it is raw cauliflower that is cut into florets, battered and then either baked, air fried or fried and the tossed in your favorite sauce.

What you’ll need to make Honey BBQ Cauliflower Wings:

This dish comes together quick – you’ll need cauliflower, a handful of spice to make a dairy free gluten free batter and a few ingredients to make my epic sweet & spicy bbq sauce. You’re gonaa love it. Here’s what you need:

Cauliflower Wings:

• Cauliflower – This is a key ingredient. Buy a large head of cauliflower and cut into florets. Try to make them about the same size for consistent cooking.
• Almond Milk – You’ll need this to make the batter for the cauliflower wings. We’ll be making a dairy free buttermilk. If you don’t care about the dairy just use regular buttermilk.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Just a tablespoon of this will do, but you’ll need it to make our dairy free buttermilk.
• 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour –
• Spices – You’ll need garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried parsley and black pepper.

Honey BBQ Sauce:

• BBQ Sauce – Use your favorite BBQ Sauce here, I like to use Stubbs Original BBQ because it is lower in sugar.
• Honey – To sweetened things up, you’ll just need 2 tablespoons of this.
• Dijon Mustard – I find mustard adds just the right amount of tang to change up the flavor profile of the BBQ sauce.
• Sriracha Sauce – To spice things up

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How to make Air Fryer Honey BBQ Cauliflower Wings

These Honey BBQ Cauliflower Wings have quickly become a favorite of mine and the kids! There are few components to prep before you dive into them though. The main parts to prepare are the batter and the sauce. Once you have those set, you’ll be eating this wings in 15 minutes. Here’s how to make these Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings:

1. Make Honey BBQ sauce: To a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add bbq sauce, honey, dijon mustard and sriracha. Cook until simmering, stirring throughout. Once simmering, remove pan from heat and set aside.
2. Prep the Dairy Free Buttermilk: To a small bowl, add almond milk and apple cider vinegar. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes.
3. Make the Batter: To a medium bowl, add gluten-free baking flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried parsley and black pepper. Add almond milk mixture to the dry ingredients, whisk until smooth (the mixture will be thick).
4. Coat Cauliflower Wings: Add cauliflower florets to a large bowl, pour batter over the cauliflower and toss thoroughly with a spoon to make sure each floret is coated evenly.
5. Air Fry Cauliflower Wings: Set air fryer to 400°F. Add half of the cauliflower batch to the basket. DO NOT overcrowd, you don’t want any of the cauliflower to overlap. Cook for 7 minutes. Take basket out, turn or shake the basket to flip the cauliflower. Cook for an additional 5 to 6 minutes until lightly browned. Remove cauliflower and add to a bowl (cover with tin foil to keep warm). Repeat cooking process with second batch.
6. Toss Wings with Sauce: Pour BBQ sauce over cauliflower and toss to completely coat cauliflower wings with sauce. Serve immediately. Optional: serve with ranch dressing, carrot sticks, celery sticks and garnish with green onions.

Tips & Tricks for the Best Cauliflower Wings

I’ve made these cauliflower wings a handful of times. Every time I make them I learn something different.

• Size Matters – When cutting your cauliflower into florets, try to make sure they are about the same size. It will help everything cook evenly. You can’t do this with a pre-cut bag of cauliflower, which is why I recommend buying a head and cutting it yourself.
• Drumstick – If you like something to “hold onto” kinda like you do with a chicken wing. Leave part of the steam on to the cauliflower on.
• Spray the Air Fry – I like to spray my air fryer with cooking spray. I use Chosen Foods Avocado Oil, but honestly anything will work. I find this helps coat the rack and browns the cauliflower wings.
• Get them Space – Don’t crowd the air fryer. You don’t want your cauliflower wings touching at all. Even if that means you’re doing 2-3 batches. Giving the cauliflower wings to will allow them to cook and brown properly.
• Toss it – Don’t skip this halfway step. You want to toss or flip your cauliflower wings that both sides get that browning, not just one.

What to serve with Honey BBQ Cauliflower Wings?

• Healthy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
• Creamy White Queso Dip
• Homemade Creamy Hummus with Pita Chips
• Crispy Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
• 20 Minute Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos
• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

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