Breaded Cauliflower [Baked + Air Fried]

Make crispy Panko Breaded Cauliflower without deep-frying it! All you need are 5 ingredients and an oven or air fryer for this versatile, 100% plant-based appetizer, snack, or side!

Make Crispy Breaded Cauliflower with Panko

Cauliflower is an amazingly versatile, budget-friendly ingredient growing in popularity thanks to its ability to transform into cauliflower rice, gnocchi, mashed ‘potatoes,’ pizza, and even battered buffalo wings. Have you tried a simple recipe for breaded cauliflower yet, though?

Using an oven or air fryer, breaded cauliflower wings are far healthier than deep-fried versions while maintaining a soft interior and crunchy exterior. They’re also highly versatile (season them with all your favorite herbs and spices) and really simple to throw together—just dredge in batter, bread, and bake/air fry until perfectly crispy.

Once cooked, panko cauliflower is perfect for meatless Mondays (and week-round), and a dish the entire family will enjoy. Plus, this recipe is vegetarian, vegan, and optionally gluten-free.

The Ingredients and Substitutes

• Cauliflower: Use a fresh, medium-sized cauliflower head.
• All-purpose flour: Or a gluten-free alternative (like Bob’s Red Mill). Other flour types will work, too, like chickpea flour or lower-carb almond flour.
• Plant-based milk: Use any. I.e., soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, etc. This will create a batter to dredge the cauliflower florets instead of egg.
• Panko breadcrumbs: Regular or gluten-free. Panko breadcrumbs are lighter than regular ones but ultra-crispy. Use regular/Italian breadcrumbs if preferred, though.
• Garlic powder
• Sea salt & black pepper
• Spray oil: To coat the breaded cauliflower bites before baking/air frying.

Flavor Variations

• Dried parsley: For a subtle yet fresh, enhanced flavor in the breadcrumbs.
• Vegan parmesan: To mix into the breadcrumbs for ‘a cheesy’ flavor.
• Other seasonings: Experiment with flavoring breaded and baked cauliflower using any combination of the below.
  • Nutritional yeast
• • Onion powder
• • Smoked paprika
• • Dried thyme, sage, or oregano
• • Cayenne pepper/ chili powder
  • Red pepper flakes

You can also use pre-mixed Italian seasoning, Cajun, Creole, curry powder, etc.

How to Make Baked Breaded Cauliflower

Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions.

• First, wash and thoroughly dry the cauliflower. Then, mix the flour, plant-based milk, garlic powder, and salt and pepper in a large, wide bowl until it reaches a thick, batter-like consistency.

• Separate the cauliflower head into bite-sized florets and toss them in the bowl of batter, using a spatula to coat them well. Set aside to allow them to absorb the batter flavor.

• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425F/220C and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
• Then, add a cup of panko breadcrumbs to a small, deep bowl, give the battered cauliflower another stir, then, working one at a time, dip each cauliflower floret into the center of the bowl and use your fingers to sprinkle it all over with panko.

If you move it around the bowl too much, the batter will come off and create a mess. This method works the best for us.

• Repeat with the remaining cauliflower florets, adding them to the baking sheet as you go.

• Spray the cauliflower thoroughly with oil, then bake for 30-35 minutes, carefully flipping them after 15 minutes.

If there are florets of different sizes, you may need to remove the smallest ones first and allow the larger ones to continue baking for several more minutes until golden.

• Finally, remove the baked breaded cauliflower from the oven and enjoy!

Air Fryer Breaded Cauliflower

Complete steps 1-5 as written above, then transfer the florets in a single layer, with space in between, to your air fryer and spray with oil.

Air fry breaded cauliflower for 9-13 minutes at 375F/190C, flipping them halfway.

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Use even-sized florets: This ensures they’ll cook at the same rate.
• For the best breading: Sprinkle and/or press the breadcrumbs into the battered cauliflower rather than tossing it around the bowl of crumbs; otherwise, the batter can come off, and it will become a mess.
• Spray thoroughly with oil: This will achieve the crispiest panko cauliflower while still only containing a fraction of the fat used if frying.
• Don’t overcrowd the tray/basket: Place the cauliflower in a single layer with space between to allow air to circulate for ultra-crispiness.

Storage Information

Allow the panko cauliflower to cool, then store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Reheat the panko-crusted cauliflower in the oven or air fryer until piping hot (10-15 minutes in oven or 5-8 minutes in air fryer at 350F/177C). Spray with some oil for the crispiest results.

Serving Suggestions

Just like our breaded tofu, vegan breaded cauliflower is a versatile addition to all your favorite meals, such as:

• With dipping sauce (BBQ sauce, maple mustard, vegan ranch, vegan blue cheese, buffalo sauce)
• With fries – regular or sweet potato fries
• Wraps, pita, and burritos
• In tacos
• In a curry
• In a stir-fry – tossed with teriyaki, sweet & sour, sticky sesame, etc.
• Add to vegan grain bowls and salad bowls
• Over pasta – like pasta primavera, pesto pasta, and spicy tomato basil pasta

More Vegan Cauliflower Recipes

• BBQ cauliflower wings
• Cauliflower stuffing
• Cauliflower casserole
• Crispy baked cauliflower
• Cauliflower potato curry
• Cauliflower sweet potato mushroom curry

Photos by Alfonso Revilla