Honey Chipotle Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
35 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
322 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Appetizer
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Cuisine
American
Honey Chipotle Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites
Description
This recipe begins with fresh cauliflower florets dipped in a batter made of flour, smoked paprika, baking powder, garlic and onion powders, with beer or sparkling water added for lightness. The florets are coated evenly, allowing excess batter to drip off for a crisp finish. Air frying at 350°F crisps the coating while keeping the cauliflower tender inside, with a brief spray of nonstick cooking spray enhancing the crust's browning during cooking.
The warm honey chipotle sauce balances sweetness from honey with smoky, tangy, and spicy notes from chipotle powder, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, and cayenne. Tossing the crispy cauliflower in this sauce results in flavorful bites with a pleasing kick.
This dish works well as an appetizer, snack, or side for casual meals and can accommodate batch cooking to serve a crowd. The air fryer method significantly reduces oil use compared to deep frying while still delivering a satisfying texture.
Alternative cooking methods such as deep frying or baking are available and detailed in the notes. Preheating times and cooking durations may vary depending on the appliance and cauliflower batch size.
Ingredients
Cauliflower
- 1 large head cauliflower cut into florets
Breading
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup beer or seltzer/sparkling water
Honey Chipotle Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 Tbsp BBQ sauce
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or less, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a wire cooling rack and set next to the air fryer.
- In a mixing bowl, add breading ingredients (flour, smoked paprika, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and beer), and stir until well combined.
- Add cauliflower florets to the mixing bowl and stir to coat. Add breaded florets to prepared wire rack and allow excess batter to drip off.
- Spray basket of air fryer with nonstick cooking spray, add cauliflower in a single layer (depending on the amount of cauliflower and size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in batches). Spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray and air fry for 10 minutes.
- Flip cauliflower florets over and spray lightly again with nonstick cooking spray. Air fry another 5 minutes.
- While cauliflower is finishing in the air fryer, add all sauce ingredients (honey, bbq sauce, water, vinegar, chipotle chili powder, cayenne), and either microwave for about 3 minutes, or heat in a small saucepan until sauce is a looser consistency so you can easily toss the cauliflower in it.
- Remove cauliflower from the air fryer and toss in the sauce. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, or plain.
Notes
- If preferred, you can deep fry the battered cauliflower in 350-375°F oil for about 3-4 minutes per side until golden and crisp.
- Baking is also an option: bake at 450°F for 20 minutes on a prepared sheet, flipping halfway, for a crispier texture with less oil.
- Preheat your air fryer before cooking to ensure even crisping of the cauliflower bites.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 322 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 322kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 72g | 24% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 503mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 860mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 43g | 86% |
| Vitamin A | 599IU | 12% |
| Vitamin C | 102mg | 113% |
| Calcium | 108mg | 11% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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