Description
This, my friend, is cauliflower’s glow-up moment. We’re taking humble florets, tossing them in a seasoned coating that gets ultra crispy in the oven (or air fryer if you’re feeling trendy), and serving them up as a snack, side dish, or meatless main that slaps. These crispy little nuggets are golden on the outside, tender on the inside, and ridiculously addictive. Think of them as veggie popcorn—only way more satisfying and with a crunch that’ll make you forget all about fries (okay, maybe not forever).
Ingredients
1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup water
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup panko breadcrumbs (for max crispiness)
Cooking spray or a light drizzle of oil
Optional Sauce Ideas for Dipping or Tossing:
Buffalo sauce
Honey garlic
Spicy mayo
Ranch or blue cheese dressing
Sweet chili sauce
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. (Or preheat your air fryer to 400°F.)
Step 2: Make the Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, water, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Step 3: Coat the Cauliflower
Toss the cauliflower florets into the batter and stir to coat each piece evenly. Then, roll them in the panko breadcrumbs so they’re covered in crunchy goodness.
Step 4: Bake Until Crispy
Spread the coated florets in a single layer on your baking sheet. Lightly spray with oil or drizzle just a bit over the top.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. (Air fryer? Cook in batches for 15–18 minutes, shaking halfway.)
Step 5: Sauce or Serve
You can toss them in sauce, serve them plain with a dip, or just pop them straight into your mouth while standing over the tray. We won’t judge.
Notes
Serve them with ranch or spicy dipping sauce as an appetizer.
Pile onto tacos with slaw and avocado for a veggie twist.
Use them as a crunchy salad topper.
Toss in buffalo sauce and call it cauliflower “wings” night.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~200 kcal per serving
- Fat: ~30g
- Carbohydrates: ~6g
- Protein: ~5g