These bite sized Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Tots are perfect for game day, or any time you are craving some healthy comfort food bites! Only a few ingredients, and less than 30 minutes for perfection. Paleo, Whole30, and Keto friendly.
My husband and I have recently gotten into some heated debates over food. Specifically…….wait for it………..Cauliflower.
He doesn’t understand, he says. Why must he trade in his beloved rice for cauliflower rice? It doesn’t taste anything like the “real” deal.
He also wants to know why I am thickening up his soups with cauliflower? It stinks, he says. While doing a round of Whole30, he would happily pile his favorite meal on top of potatoes over cauliflower.
Me, on the other hand, can eat cauliflower several times of day and love it.
We needed a compromise, and I needed to make him a fan. This was going to be a tough one.
Insert Buffalo Cauliflower Tots.
Why Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower?
I finally decided to dust off my air-fryer a few months ago; an appliance my mom bought for me a few years ago and swears by it! I was introduced to the book Paleo Cooking with your Air Fryer by Dr. Karen S. Lee, and couldn’t wait to start making some recipes.
When I first saw the Buffalo Cauli-Tots, I knew this was the first recipe I wanted to make! I have a slight obsession with buffalo sauce, and the thought of slathering it all over crispy cauliflower made me super excited.
While I did follow the recipe pretty closely, I have made a few changes that worked better with my air fryer.
I have made these a few times and perfected the recipe! They have a crispy “fried” buttery taste, and include that tangy/spicy buffalo taste that we all love. They pair perfectly with ranch dressing or my personal favorite Creamy Avocado Dressing.Â
Can I make these in the oven?
YES!!! Preheat the oven to 425. Start with the first step of coating the cauliflower with the tapioca starch. Heat in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and toss with the butter/ghee, buffalo sauce, and remaining starch mixture. Toss and cook for another 12-15 minutes or until nice and crispy.
And my husband? He skeptically tried one, and then another, until he gobbled up almost half the batch. “These are delicious!” he claimed.
So there you have it, from the cauliflower skeptic.
Enjoy friends!
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Air Fryer Cauliflower Tots
Ingredients
- 1 large head of cauliflower
- 1 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 tbsp arrowroot or tapioca starch
- 4 tbsp melted ghee or grass fed butter
- 3 tbsp Frank's Buffalo Hot Sauce, plus more if desired
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
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Preheat the air-fryer to 370 degrees.
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Cut the cauliflower into florets. In a medium sized bowl, toss the florets with oil, and coat them with arrowroot starch.
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When the air fryer has been heating for about 4-5 minutes, go ahead and get it ready to cook. Shake off any excess starch from the cauliflower, and place inside the basket. Set the timer for 6 minutes.Â
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Meanwhile, combine the excess starch, melted ghee, and hot sauce in the same mixing bowl and set aside. Once the cauliflower is done, toss them back into the bowl and coat them well with the sauce.
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Place the florets back into the basket, and bump up the temperature to 390 degrees. Cook for another 6 minutes to 8 minutes (or until crispy), and remove.
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Brush with additional hot sauce if desired, and serve with ranch or my creamy avocado dressing.
Could I use potato flour instead of arrowroot?
Sure!
I don’t have an air fryer. What adjustments could be made for using the oven? I cant wait to try these!
Preheat the oven to 400 – 425 (depending on oven), and bake for 20 minutes. Halfway through baking, give it a good toss and add in the additional buffalo sauce/ghee combination.
Hello! Can I use almond flour or coconut flour instead of tapioca?
The tapioca is a really good thickening agent (like cornstarch). That’s hard to get from almond flour or coconut flour. You could also use arrowroot!
Awesome recipe! Made it many times. Thank you!