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25-Min Mouthwatering Air Fried BBQ Cauliflower

25 min
GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free NF Nut-Free
by: Lindsay Grimes
March 15, 2021 (Updated: February 13, 2023)
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This is an overhead image of a white plate sitting on a white counter. One the plate are cauliflower florets coated with bbq sauce and garnished with fresh cilantro.
Air Fried Cauliflower is made with only six ingredients and makes for a tasty appetizer! Smother with your favorite BBQ sauce!

I love cauliflower. I love the versatility of it and how it can go from florets to rice to mash and take on any flavor you want! It’s a blank canvas that’s full of possibilities.

I mean, I love it so much I wrote a whole book about it! Cauliflower, you crazy cool magician. How do you do it?

Today we’re making some BBQ cauliflower wings in our air fryer. It’s a super simple appetizer that you would also make for a delicious dinner.

How to cut cauliflower florets for air fried cauliflower wings:

I like to turn the cauliflower head upside down your you’re looking down the stem, into the cauliflower. Cut the big florets away from the center stem.

Then, cut the big florets further into smaller florets. You don’t want them to be too small for this recipe, but a medium-sized so that you could pick them up with your fingers – about half or three-fourths the size of a chicken wing.

Ingredients for air fried cauliflower:

  • cauliflower
  • oat flour
  • whole milk
  • garlic powder
  • salt
  • BBQ sauce
This is a side view of a white plate on a white counter. On the plate is cauliflower florets coated with bbq sauce and garnished with fresh cilantro.

How to make BBQ air fried cauliflower

Prep the cauliflower. Cut the cauliflower into medium-sized florets. 

Prep the breading. Whisk together the flour, milk, salt, and garlic powder. Allow for the mixture to sit for a couple minutes to thicken up. 

Coat the cauliflower. Toss the florets in the flour-milk mixture until the florets are well coated. 

Prep the air fryer. Spray the trays or air fryer baskets with oil.

Arrange the cauliflower. Spread the florets out on the trays of the air fryer in a single layer. Make sure not to overcrowd the florets so the air can circulate around them. 

Cook. Air fry for 15 minutes. If you have two trays in your air fryer, you’ll want to switch them halfway through to they both get evenly cooked. If you have a basket with your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. 

Coat with BBQ sauce. Transfer the air fried cauliflower to a large bowl with the BBQ sauce and toss until coated. 

Serve. Plate the BBQ cauliflower and serve with fresh herbs like cilantro for garnish. 

How to make BBQ cauliflower in the oven:

Follow the same directions as above, but instead place the coated florets on a baking sheet linked with parchment paper and roast at 400F for 20 – 25 minutes until the florets are golden brown.

This is a close up of a fork piercing a cauliflower floret coated in bbq sauce. A white plate with more bbq cauliflower is blurred in the background. The cauliflower is topped with fresh cilantro and the plate sits on a white counter.

How to store the leftovers:

I’m not going to lie, these are best served and eaten immediately. I find leftovers lose that crisp outside.

If you do have leftovers and want to store them, place the BBQ cauliflower in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave as desired.

Cauliflower Power Cookbook

75 delicious and wholesome recipes to fulfill all your cauliflower dreams!

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More cauliflower recipes to try:

  • Spanish Style Cauliflower Rice
  • Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup
  • Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
  • Low Carb Cauliflower Flatbread
  • Low Carb Cauliflower Falafel

Did you make this? Leave a review below and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

This is a close up of a fork piercing a cauliflower floret coated in bbq sauce. A white plate with more bbq cauliflower is blurred in the background. The cauliflower is topped with fresh cilantro and the plate sits on a white counter. Recipe
GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free NF Nut-Free

25-Min Mouthwatering Air Fried BBQ Cauliflower

Air Fried Cauliflower is made with only six ingredients and makes for a tasty appetizer! Smother with your favorite BBQ sauce!

Recipe by:Lindsay Grimes
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
Prep: 10 minCook: 15 minTotal: 25 min
Print recipe Rate recipe Pin Save recipe
Servings: serves 2 – 4 1x

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head of cauliflower
  • 3/4 cup oat flour (all-purpose flour also works)
  • 3/4 cup whole milk (any milk works here)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • cilantro or fresh herbs for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat air fryer 400F.
  2. Cut the cauliflower into medium-sized florets. 
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, milk, salt, and garlic powder. Allow for the mixture to sit for a couple minutes to thicken up. 
  4. Toss the florets in the flour-milk mixture until the florets are well coated. 
  5. Spray the trays or air fryer baskets with oil.
  6. Spread the florets out on the trays of the air fryer in a single layer. Make sure not to overcrowd the florets so the air can circulate around them. 
  7. Air fry for 15 minutes. If you have two trays in your air fryer, you’ll want to switch them halfway through to they both get evenly cooked. If you have a basket with your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. 
  8. Transfer the air fried cauliflower to a large bowl with the BBQ sauce and toss until coated. 
  9. Plate the BBQ cauliflower and serve with fresh herbs like cilantro for garnish. 

Tips

  • nutrition facts will depend a lot on what BBQ sauce you use 🙂

Nutrition Info:

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of the batch
  • Calories: 226
  • Sugar: 22.2g
  • Sodium: 1052mg
  • Fat: 2.9g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.2g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 44.4g
  • Fiber: 5.7g
  • Protein: 6.6g
  • Cholesterol: 5mg
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  1. Ramya says

    Posted on 3/16/21 at 5:14 am

    will be making this soon but with almond milk instead as am a vegan i love cauliflower sooooooooooo much will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya

    Reply
    • Lindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 3/16/21 at 9:37 am

      Thanks so much for the comment! You’ll have to let me know what you think!

      Reply

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Lindsay

Nice to Meet You!

I’m Lindsay - cookbook author, blogger and chocolate lover! If gluten-free desserts are your jam, you’re in the right place! I live in south Jersey with my family and new puppy Roxie! Some of my favorite things are oat milk lattes, sunny days and warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies.

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This is a close up of a fork piercing a cauliflower floret coated in bbq sauce. A white plate with more bbq cauliflower is blurred in the background. The cauliflower is topped with fresh cilantro and the plate sits on a white counter. Text overlay reads "air fryer bbq cauliflower."
This is a side view of a white plate on a white counter. On the plate is cauliflower florets coated with bbq sauce and garnished with fresh cilantro. Text overlay reads "bbq cauliflower made in the air fryer."