These Paleo and Whole30 Air Fryer Buffalo Cauli-Bites are easy, delicious, and such a spicy and addicting appetizer for game day or get-togethers!
Today’s recipe is something I’m so excited to share! My fellow blogger and friend, Dr. Karen Lee from drkarenslee.com recently came out with a brand new cookbook, Paleo Cooking with Your Air Fryer, which is jam-packed with some of the most delicious recipes you can make in your air fryer!
Why the Air Fryer?
If you’ve been living under a rock recently and haven’t heard of the air fryer, it’s pretty amazing. It’s a fun kitchen gadget that “fries” your food without deep frying through hot air rapidly circulating on to the food to make it crispy while cooking it quickly.
When I first purchased my Phillips air fryer, I wasn’t sure if it was worth the hype or the money, but the more I use it, I’m beginning to fall in love with it! Not only does food cook insanely fast (which is important to me), the results are so delicious and crispy without making a huge mess because you only have to use a little bit of oil.
There’s a slight learning curve to figure out the temperature and the length of the cooking time, but having Paleo Cooking with Your Air Fryer made it so much easier and fun because all the recipes were a success every time!
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauli-Bites Recipe
One of the first recipes I tried from Dr. Karen’s book were these air fryer buffalo cauli-bites, because I am obsessed with anything with buffalo sauce. Not only are they deliciously crunchy, they take less than 20 minutes to make and the sauce is SO flavorful and on point!
Also, definitely don’t leave out the creamy paleo ranch dressing because it ties the flavors together so well and makes the air fryer buffalo cauli-bites extra delicious. These are so perfect as an appetizer for game days, holidays, or any kind of get-togethers!
Paleo Cooking with Your Air Fryer
If you don’t currently have Paleo Cooking with Your Air Fryer, I highly recommend you check it out. You’ll love the recipes, especially if you are a busy mom or a professional who want healthy food on the table quick.
Not only does this book have 80 recipes that are healthy and made with real food ingredients, it contains appetizers, meat dishes, staples, and even desserts! Who knew you could make desserts in the air fryer?
Some other recipes I’m SUPER excited to try out include:
- Paleo Falafel Platter
- Crab Cakes
- Beef Empanadas
- Healthy Biscuits and Gravy
- Persimmon Cobbler
- Simple Chocolate Mud Cake
Don’t Have an Air Fryer?
No problem! You can still adapt these recipes to make in the regular or convection oven. You just have to adjust the cooking time and the oven temperatures but the ingredients still stay the same with delicious results!
Check Out Paleo Cooking With Your Air Fryer
Recipe reprinted with permission from Paleo Cooking With Your Air Fryer by Dr. Karen S. Lee, Page Street Publishing Co. 2018. Photo Credit: Donna Crous.
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauli-Bites (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
Ingredients
- 1 cauliflower
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp cassava flour divided
- 4 tbsp ghee melted
- 3 tbsp Frank’s Hot Sauce plus more if desired
Ranch Dressing
- 1 cup Homemade Mayo page 180 of cookbook
- 1/3 cup full-fat coconut milk yogurt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp dried dill
Instructions
- Cut and discard the outer leaves and cut the cauliflower into florets. In a medium mixing bowl, mix the florets with EVOO and coat them with the cassava flour.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C).
- When the air fryer is ready, shake off any excess flour from the florets, place them in the basket, and set the timer for 6 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the excess flour, ghee and Frank’s Hot Sauce in the same mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a small bowl, make the ranch dressing by mixing all the ingredients, then refrigerate. When the timer goes off, transfer the florets to the mixing bowl and coat them well with sauce. Put the florets back in the basket and cook for 6 more minutes. Take them out when the timer goes off and add more Frank’s Hot Sauce if needed. Serve immediately with the ranch dressing.
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So FUN! I am definitely eye balling those air fryers – I haven’t jumped on yet!
OOH! That looks so crispy delicious! I love anything cauliflower!
Yum! I need to pull out my air fryer for this one. Looks amazing!!
Ohhh my goodness. Those look delicious! What a great appetizer/light lunch!
One of my favorite restaurant makes these and I love that I now have a recipe to make at home (and healthier!)
These look so yummy. I’ve never made anything like these, but can’t wait to get out my air fryer and try this recipe!
lol, I love how you have the bottom of the celery stalk on the platter . . . I always do that too, it looks so beautiful, like a flower! 😉
These cauli bites look amazing, I love how you photographed them! We got ourselves an air fryer a few months ago and I don’t think I could love without it anymore. The speed, the low oil use, the lack of mess, it’s all awesome. 🙂
Yum! I love crispy cauliflower anything and these buffalo cauli bites sound amazing!
ohhh I have to try this out! I make my buffalo cauli in the oven, but I’m sure the air fryer makes them so much better!
This makes me want an air fryer! I’m so intrigued by the idea of getting food crispy quickly without a huge mess. Thanks for the cookbook review and great recipe!
CanNOT wait to try this in my air fryer!
So easy and so tasty! I love recipes without a ton of ingredients so thanks for this. Also, persimmon cobbler? Sign me up for this book.