Vegan Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings
These air fryer cauliflower wings are crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. They are coated with teriyaki sauce for a tasty bite.
Vegan air fryer cauliflower wings are a relatively healthy alternative to the deep-fried, non-vegan versions. They are just as satisfying and curbs your craving for fried food.
Air-frying cauliflower results in perfectly crispy florets, while using very little oil. The teriyaki sauce is sweet and savory at the same time and adds a ton of umami flavor.
A great game-day appetizer and you only need less than 10 ingredients. So get ready to bust out that air fryer!
Key Tips to Follow
1. Make sure your cauliflower florets are dry after rinsing. If they are wet, the batter will not adhere properly. You may end up with a few bald spots when cooking in the air fryer.
2. Shake off excess batter. To avoid a goopy mess at the bottom of the air fryer tray or basket, be sure to shake off any excess batter off the cauliflower florets.
3. Oil the tray or basket. Not all of them are non-stick so it’s a good idea to apply a bit of oil to prevent the cauliflower from sticking. A light brush or spray will do.
4. Keep a little distance between the cauliflower florets. This allows each edge and crevice to brown and crisp up beautifully!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Grab the following ingredients to make this recipe:
- Cauliflower florets – A small head of cauliflower should give you about 10 to 12 pieces. Cut off the leafy base. Next cut through the stems of the already separated florets.
- All-purpose flour
- All-purpose seasoning – I like using this roasted garlic and herb seasoning or this vegetable bouillon
- Plant-based milk – I used soy milk
- Teriyaki sauce – House of Tsang is my favorite but any brand with a thick consistency can work. Try this Korean BBQ Sauce for a twist.
- Chili or cayenne pepper (optional)
- Oil or cooking spray
How to Make Vegan Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings
Here are the basic steps:
1. Make a thick batter by combining all the ingredients except the cauliflower, teriyaki sauce and oil.
2. Dip the rinsed and dried cauliflower florets into the batter.
3. Place each one on a lightly oiled air fryer tray or basket. Line them up on the tray so they do not touch.
4. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 400°F (200°C). Set aside on a plate. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower.
5. Dip the air-fried cauliflower florets into the teriyaki sauce and place them back onto the tray.
6. Air fry for another 3 to 5 minutes or until the sauce becomes stickier. Repeat with the remaining pieces.
7. Serve warm.
Recipe Variations or Substitutions
Variations:
- For a buffalo-style version, try the sauce from my Vegan Buffalo Chicken recipe.
- Try this recipe using oyster mushrooms, similar to my Fried Oyster Mushroom recipe.
- You could also try cauliflower wings with a wide variety of sauces, including barbecue and sweet chili.
- Another variation is to try tossing the cooked cauliflower wings in a dry rub.
A few options are lemon pepper (lemon zest, salt, black pepper), Cajun seasoning (paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried herbs, black pepper, salt) or create your own!
To get the dry rub to stick, lightly coat the cooked cauliflower with some cooking spray.
Substitutions:
- If you are on a gluten-free diet, you can use all-purpose gluten-free flour and gluten-free teriyaki sauce.
- If you like seitan, it’s a great substitute to use when making vegan wings as it has somewhat of a “meaty” texture.
Can this recipe be prepared in advance?
Sure this recipe can be made in advance. The cauliflower keeps for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator and crisp up beautifully when reheated in your air fryer.
You could also prepare the batter a day in advance if needed. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Storage Suggestions
To store in the refrigerator, place them in an airtight container. They will keep for 4 to 5 days in the fridge.
They also keep well in the freezer. You can store them for 10 to 12 months.
Set them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer. Once frozen within a couple of hours, place them in a plastic bag and seal. Label with the date.
How to Reheat
Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
If they were stored in the fridge, reheat for 3 to 4 minutes. If they were frozen, cook for 15 minutes.
They will come out warm and crispy, just like when you first made them!
Serving Ideas
- Fresh vegetables, like julienned carrots, celery, and cucumber
- A salad with leafy greens
- Vegan Coleslaw
- French fries or roasted potato wedges
More vegan appetizer recipes
Easy Vegan Appetizers: Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings
Baking Recipes: For more accuracy, use Metric measurements and measuring spoons.
Ingredients
- 10 fresh cauliflower florets, from one small head of cauliflower, about 250g
- ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon (2 g) all-purpose seasoning
- ½ cup (120 ml) plant-based milk
- ½ cup (150 g) teriyaki sauce
- ¼ teaspoon (1 g) chilli or cayenne pepper, optional
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) oil, or cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- In a bowl, combine the flour, all-purpose seasoning and chilli pepper. Gradually stir in enough plant-based milk to make a thick and smooth batter.1/2 cup (60 g) all-purpose flour ,1/2 cup (120 ml) plant-based milk ,1/4 teaspoon (1 g) chilli or cayenne pepper ,1/2 teaspoon (2 g) all-purpose seasoning
- Rinse and drain cauliflower then dip each piece into the batter, coating completely. Shake off the excess batter then place on an air fryer tray or basket coated with oil or cooking spray. Place them in one layer, without touching.10 fresh cauliflower florets ,1 tablespoon (15 ml) oil
- Place the tray in the air fryer and cook for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove the pieces, set aside and repeat with the remaining batch.
- Dip each piece of cauliflower in teriyaki sauce. Place back on the tray and into the air fryer for another 3 to 5 minutes or until the sauce becomes stickier.1/2 cup (150 g) teriyaki sauce
- Repeat with the remaining pieces and serve warm.
Notes
- All-purpose gluten-free flour blend can also be used and gluten-free teriyaki sauce.
- For a buffalo version, try the sauce from this Vegan Buffalo Chicken Sandwich recipe.
That was one of the longest, most attentive recipes. I finally put the last batch of cauliflower in the oven! (Two were done in the air fryer). I then added the teriyaki sauce and baked another 6 minutes. This recipe would have been far better if it were all done in the oven. Everything would have been ready at the same time. Scrubbing the air fryer was done after each batch. NIGHTMARE. This recipe sticks horribly. In the oven I used a silicone baking sheet. NIGHTMARE. It was still really had to remove what was stuck. And, this was on a no-stick baking sheet! Everything that stuck was BEFORE the teriyaki sauce! I love cauliflower, but I will skip this recipe because of all the maintenance.
Sorry you had trouble with the recipe, Char. I’ve made this countless times and as you can see in the images, I haven’t had any problems with sticking. Oiling the air fryer basket was recommended even if it is non-stick. Leaving the sauce-coated cauliflower in the air-frier too long will make the sauce even stickier and possibly burn due to the sugars in the sauce. I’ve also used silicone baking mats in the oven which are usually easy to clean but brands may vary.
Thanks for the vegan recipe! This worked great! When someone first told me you could air fry cauliflower I put some in my air fryer plain and it just charred. Now with the flour coating it works great. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the feedback!
I’m on a no oil diet. Can I use parchment paper instead of the oil?
Sure Barbara, that should be fine.