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My Vegan Beer Battered BBQ Cauliflower Wings are perfect for game day but also make for an incredible shared appetizer, side dish or even a fun dinner party menu item.
Get ready for the perfect vegan game day snack! BBQ Cauliflower Wings – saucy, crispy, and crunchy on the outside, with the perfect juicy and soft interior. Trust me, you won’t be able to stop eating these Baked Cauliflower Wings!
Cauliflower is one of my secret weapons when it comes to making snacks, appetizers, and game day food! There are endless ways to turn it into something addictive and I love how the florets take on a “meat-like” quality when you prepare them in certain ways. I’ve prepared cauliflower in every way imaginable but battered in a beer batter and baked until crisp and golden, then covered in a finger-licking-good spicy bbq sauce might be one of my most favorite ways.
Who can say no to a big platter of gloriously golden crunchy cauliflower bites drenched in hot bbq sauce? Not me
Our BBQ Baked Cauliflower Wings are first coated in a spiced gluten-free beer batter made from rice flour and tapioca starch then baked, coated in spicy bbq sauce and baked again! And there you have it – one of the most delicious vegan appetizers or party snacks I’ve ever tasted!
Guys, I know you will love these Cauliflower Wings! No need to fry them – they crisp up nicely in the oven! The ingredients couldn’t be easier and the spice level can be adapted to your taste.
MORE CAULIFLOWER RECIPES
- Kung Pao Cauliflower
- Taco Spice roasted Cauliflower
- Spicy Pepper Cauliflower Bites
- Sticky Sesame Cauliflower
- Aloo Gobi – Baked
- Nashville Cauliflower Bites
Beer Battered BBQ Cauliflower Wings
Ingredients
For the batter:
- 1/2 cup rice flour
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch , or corn starch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons bbq seasoning , or use 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon each of oregano, thyme, and parsley
- 1/2 cup of beer or use neutral club soda, or use water
- 1 tsp oil
For the cauliflower:
- 4 cups cauliflower florets, or 1 small head of cauliflower chopped into florets
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce, or more
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
Instructions
- In a bowl, add all the dry ingredients and mix well. Then add in the beer and 1 teaspoon oil to make the batter. The batter should be not be too thin. If it is not thick enough, you can add in a teaspoon or more of rice flour.
- Once the batter is smooth, add in the cauliflower and toss well to coat.
- Once the cauliflower is completely coated, transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit(220c ) for 25 minutes.
- Check at 21 or 22 minutes to see if the cauliflower is done and is tender inside. If it is, then you can remove the cauliflower.
- Add bbq sauce and hot sauce to a shallow bowl and mix.
- Add the cauliflower to the bowl where you mixed the bbq sauce and hot sauce and toss well to coat.
- Transfer the cauliflower back onto the baking sheet and bake for another 5-7 minutes.
- Serve hot. Garnish with some green onions and serve with ranch if desired
Video
Notes
- if you don't have rice flour, you can use all-purpose flour. I just prefer rice flour because it makes the cauliflower bites really crunchy
- you can use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce or mix some curry powder, bbq seasoning or Cajun spice into ketchup
- you can use club soda or water instead of beer
- if you don't have bbq seasoning, you can blend 1 teaspoon paprika, with 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon each of oregano, thyme, and parsley
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ingredients:
- cauliflower florets – I find 1 small head of cauliflower is the perfect amount
- the batter is made with a mix of rice flour and tapioca starch or corn starch
- we season the batter with salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and bbq seasoning
- baking powder makes for extra crispiness
- beer adds body and lightness to the batter
- a small amount of oil is necessary as we don’t fry but bake these
- we toss our breaded baked wings in a mix bbq sauce and hot sauce for that finger-licking sweet & spicy finish
- Sub some of the cauliflower with firm tofu, rehydrated soy curls, or seitan for added protein.
Tips & Substitutions:
- you can leave a little bit of the stem on the cauliflower florets. It makes for a pretty presentation and it gives you a neat little handle for picking up and eating! Plus, less food waste
- if you don’t have rice flour, you can use all-purpose flour. I just prefer rice flour because it makes it really crunchy
- you can use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce or mix some curry powder, bbq seasoning, or Cajun spice into ketchup
- you can use club soda instead of beer
- if you don’t have bbq seasoning, you can blend 1 teaspoon paprika, with 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon each of oregano, thyme, and parsley
How to make Baked BBQ Cauliflower Wings:
In a bowl, add in all the dry ingredients and mix well.
Then add in the beer and 1 teaspoon oil to make the batter. The batter should not be too thin. If it is not thick enough, you can add in a teaspoon or more rice flour.
Once the batter is smooth, add in the cauliflower and toss well to coat.
Once the cauliflower is completely coated, transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit(220c ) for 25 minutes.
Check at 21 or 22 minutes to see if the cauliflower is done and is tender inside. If it is, then you can remove the cauliflower.
Add bbq sauce and hot sauce in a shallow bowl and mix.
Add the cauliflower to the bowl where you mixed the bbq sauce and hot sauce and toss well to coat
Transfer the cauliflower back on the baking sheet and bake for another 5-7 minutes.
Serve hot. Garnish with some green onions and serve with ranch if desired
How to store leftovers:
Should you have leftover BBQ Cauliflower Wings you can keep them in a covered container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The best way to reheat them is in the oven until warm. For convenience, you could use a microwave but it will mess with the texture a bit.
Easy and delicious!
Thank you Rebecca!
Hi! i made the recipe. Upon completion I found the cauliflower to be remarkably bland inlieu of the spices and bbq sauce. Perhaps the cauliflower and flour were to powerful to allow the spices to shine through. Nevertheless, I enjoy trying your recipes and most often give 5 stars.
Maybe the florets needed to be smaller. There’s a ton of flavor in these bites. Add more of the spices and salt. Right amount of salt also brings more flavor out. And def small florets. The cauliflower inside in any kind of battered baked bites doesn’t pick up much flavor. The sauces and spices coating it are strong and together they balance out. Also the batter. Might have been too thick is no flavor went in. Some should
its been a long time since I have had cauliflower and to be frank I don’t like cauliflower too much, with that said I tried this recipe and wow what a nice surprise so tasty and crunchy texture and I used really hot hot hot sauce I closed my eyes and this could easily be hot wings. LOVE LOVE
Lol
I made this, I found that it was a good amount of batter for about 300g cauliflower, with a couple of tablespoons extra of water to get the batter to just the right consistency. I air-fried them on 400f at both stages, the first stage where crisping the batter I shook the cauliflower every 5 minutes to stop them sticking together. Tasted amazing!
sweet
This looks amazing!! Do you think these could be cooked in an air fryer?
Yes
Can I make this without beer ?
Certainly – just use neutral club soda or use water instead
Made these for a cookout with my family this week. They were delicious. The caramelized bits were crunchy and chewy. There were no leftovers! Thinking of using them as a base for street tacos with a cabbage slaw.
Excellent idea
This looks amazing! What kind of beer do you suggest?
Just anything you drink. I just snagged one from my husbands stash. Prob some IPA
Omg what fabulous texture and flavor! These will be made again and again!!!
That’s awesome.
This looks amazing! Can I leave out the oil?
Yes