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Crunchy Baked Hot Honey Cauliflower. I turned a favorite chicken dinner that’s loved by all into an even better vegetarian appetizer/dinner! Cornflake-crusted cauliflower baked up on a sheet pan until crispy and delicious. Each cauliflower “wing” is tossed in my sweet honey sauce with the perfect combination of spices and sea salt. Then serve these little delicacies with a homemade creamy sauce. Together they make a delicious appetizer to serve up to family and friends.
I wasn’t going to make this recipe. Wait, let me rephrase. I was always going to make this recipe, but I wasn’t thinking I would share this recipe. It felt, at the time, a little too soon after the very popular crunchy hot honey chicken recipe that I shared just over a month ago.
These “wings” are basically the same, but swap the chicken for cauliflower.
So it wasn’t rocket science to think this recipe up. But then I made the recipe and the entire family just couldn’t get over how delicious the cauliflower was. My mom said it was stupid not to share this, especially with the Super Bowl coming up on Sunday. And when my mom disagrees with my decisions, I almost always end up doing what she says.
Moms always know, have trust in that.
So here we are, the Monday before Super Bowl Sunday, and I have the best game-day appetizer. Really, the best.
Why are cauliflower “wings” better than chicken? It’s simple, the cauliflower soaks up all the sauce…like all of the sauce.
The chicken just has sauce as a coating…of course, still delicious. But the cauliflower acts differently when paired up with my creamy wing sauce. Oh so yummy!
The details
Start with the coating. Cornflakes are the star, they give the chicken that perfect crunch. I’ve tested other cereals, but everyone in the family agrees cornflakes have the best taste and crunch. Even over Panko.
I use Nature’s Path, Organic Corn Flakes Cereal, which is naturally gluten-free and non-GMO. I order it online, but if you’re looking for something in-store, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are both good options.
You can also just use a box of basic cornflakes too.
Crunch the cornflakes up in a food processor with paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Then add the parmesan cheese, this is secret #2, especially when talking about using cauliflower versus chicken. The cheese adds a salty flavor that melts over the cauliflower and helps coat and flavor each floret.
Next, dredge the florets through eggs beaten together with hot sauce. Nothing fancy, just bake, flip, and bake again.
Totally no fuss.
While the wings are baking, warm the honey on the stove with hot sauce, cayenne, and chipotle chili powder. The chili powder adds a very subtle smokiness to the sweet, spicy, and salty sauce.
Use as little or as much of the sauce as you’d like. But personally, I end up drizzling every last drop of sauce over the cauliflower because it’s SO DELICIOUS.
Oh, and the wing sauce!! Do not skip this. It adds so much to the recipe. The spicy, saucy “wings” need a creamy sauce to cut the heat. I make my sauce with yogurt, then a squeeze of lemon juice, Worcestershire, chives, and then either crumbled blue cheese or parmesan. Well, I always, always use blue cheese, it’s just kind of a non-negotiable for us.
So yummmy with the spicy sauce!
And then serve!! Lots of sauce on the side for dipping. The perfect game day appetizer, but equally great when served over rice to make a meal.
Either way, each “wing” is delish.
Looking for more game day recipes? Here are a few to try:
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Soft Pretzels
Fried Buffalo Goat Cheese Balls
Baked Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Buffalo Cauliflower with Spicy Tahini Ranch
Crispy Jalapeño Cream Cheese Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Lastly, if you make these Crunchy Baked Hot Honey Cauliflower, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crunchy Baked Hot Honey Cauliflower
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 370 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 6 cups cornflakes (gluten free, if needed)
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 large eggs,
- 3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 4-5 cups cauliflower florets
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Hot Honey
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley, for serving
Creamy Wing Sauce
- 1/2 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup olive oil mayo
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or grated parmesan
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. In a food processor, combine the cornflakes, parmesan, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Pulse until you have fine crumbs. Alternatively, you can crush the crumbs in their package, or a ziplock bag by stepping on them. Dump the crumbs into a shallow bowl.3. Beat the eggs in a bowl, add the hot sauce and cauliflower, and toss well to coat.3. Dredge the cauliflower through the crumbs, covering fully. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip and bake another 10-15 minutes, until crisp all around.4. To make the honey sauce. In a sauce pot, warm together the honey, hot sauce, cayenne, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder, plus a pinch of salt. 5. To make the creamy wing sauce. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar. Season with salt and pepper. If needed, thin with milk or water. 6. Drizzle the warm honey sauce over the cauliflower. Add the herbs. If the sauce thickens, warm for 5 seconds in the microwave. Serve with the wing sauce for dipping. Enjoy!
Delicious recipe and hot and honey sauce. I would grind the crumbs a bit more next time but they were super delicious!!
I just learned about you and your recipes from a gifted cookbook and found this recipe and had to make it for superbowl! Eating them right now and they are so incredible. Perfect recipe and easy to follow. Thanks for a great gluten free game day snack!
Hey Annie,
Happy Monday!! 💘 Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
Hey Jocelyn,
Happy Monday!! 💘 Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
Made these as a side tonight, and we couldn’t stop eating them. Didn’t even eat the main dish lol. They’re so good!
Hey Katie,
Happy Sunday!!🏈 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
Do you think this could be done with broccoli? (Following the same directions.)
No would be totally different, cauliflower holds shape as broccoli gets soggy.
Hi! Is the cauliflower cooked prior to baking.
Hi Misty,
Nope, the cauliflower will cook in the recipe:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Hey Lisa,
Sure, I don’t see why not! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it turns out well for you! xT
This was delicious. Made the sauces a day ahead. Prepared the cauliflower and put in egg mixture in ziplock in the fridge. Pureed the cornflake mixture. Easy peasy the day of entertaining.
Hey Melanie,
Happy Sunday!!🏈 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
If I wanted to be especially lazy and use the little steamer bags of frozen cauliflower, could I steam those first and use for my cauliflower florets? Instead of chopping fresh :)? Thanks!
Hey Jamie,
You could try that, I would just make sure any extra liquids have been drained from the cauliflower. xT
In the description leading up to recipe it sounds like you put cauliflower in cornflakes then egg but is the recipe description it says to put cauliflower in egg first??
Hey Debbie,
Yup, you need the eggs for the crumbs to adhere to the cauliflower:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Hi, can I swap the cornflakes for Panko breadcrumbs?
Hey Charlene,
Sure, I bet that would work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
could you convert this to use an air fryer?
Hey Ed,
I’ve not tested this recipe in the air fryer, but I bet it would work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
This looks amazing! How much hot sauce to add to the eggs? I didn’t see that in the recipe but may have missed. Thanks!
Hey Allison,
You will want to use 3 tablespoons of hot sauce in step 3. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This looks so good! I am allergic to corn, have you tried any other “crunchy” coating that works well that I could replace this with?
Hey Courtney,
How about Special K? That would work well for you! Let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
Thanks! This looks great – could you do it in the air fryer?
Hey Elizabeth,
I bet that would work well for you, I haven’t tested it but let me know if you give that a try! I hope you love this recipe! xT
After you crush the cornflakes how much do they measure out to? I have conflake crumbs already. How much hot sauce do you mix with thd eggs?
Hey Karen,
I would say it’s about 3 cups of crushed corn flakes and then you are going to use 3 tablespoons of hot sauce with the eggs. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Any suggestions to make these using an air fryer?
Hey Kathryn,
So sorry, I’ve not tested the air fryer with this recipe, but I bet it would work well for you! Let me know if you give it a try! xT
Would it work to “shake and bake” by putting the egg coated “wings” into the baggie of corn flake mixture to coat and then bake?
Hey Melissa,
Sure, I don’t see why not! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it turns out well for you! xT
Looks delicious! I think hot sauce was forgotten in List of ingredients to add to eggs. Can you clarify amount to use? Thanks!
She uses 2 tablespoons hot sauce mixed with the eggs in her Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken., and the 2-3 tablespoons in the Hot Honey sauce. It is basically the same recipe- and absolutely delicious! I would just adjust it to taste.
Hey Corie,
Sorry about that, you will want to use 3 tablespoons! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
So how much hot sauce do we add to the cauliflower so that there is some left over for drizzle?
Hey Anne,
You will want to use 3 tablespoons of hot sauce in step 3. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Thank you. I have been following you for about 10 years and my family loves everything you make. We are now eating a plant based diet, but I continue to use your recipes..I “veganize” them.