Honey Chipotle Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites

Have you ever had Chili’s honey chipotle chicken crispers? They were one of my pregnancy cravings with my son, and if you haven’t had them, you definitely should give them a try.

This recipe for air fryer cauliflower bites is a vegetarian spin on those chicken crispers! Cauliflower bites are also known as cauliflower “wings”, because it’s the meatless version of boneless chicken wings.

A lot of people are eating meatless once a week (or more), and this is definitely a fun way to do just that.

I know cauliflower has been used for anything and everything over the past few years, but when it’s fried with a crispy and light batter, then coated in that mouthwatering honey chipotle sauce… you don’t feel like you’re eating vegetables.

We like to eat them as a side dish/appetizer, but they’re also great used in soft tacos, topped with this tequila lime coleslaw!

How to make air fryer cauliflower bites?

This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.

1. Combine breading. We like to use beer, but you can change that out for seltzer water or plain sparkling water.
2. Batter cauliflower.
3. Let excess batter drip off. I find the easiest way to do this is to use a wire cooling rack.
4. Air fry. Cook for 10 minutes, flip, and cook 5 more minutes.
5. Make sauce. The sauce will be thick, so you’ll need to warm it up (either in the microwave or on the stovetop).
6. Toss. Combine the fried cauliflower with the sauce and serve.

Variations of this recipe

• Alcohol-free – if you’d prefer not to use beer, feel free to use sparkling water, seltzer water, etc.
• No chipotle chili powder – chipotle chili powder is a great addition to any spice cabinet, but if you can’t find it, you can substitute it with an equal amount of the adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce.
• Cauliflower – I like to buy a head of cauliflower so I can control the size of the florets, but if you’d like to get a little help from the store, you can absolutely use a big bag of pre-cut florets.
• Non vegetarian – if you love the idea of this recipe, but are an omnivore, you can replace the cauliflower with chicken. Keep in mind the air frying time will change, so you’ll need to play around to find the perfect time.
• No air fryer – I don’t like to create recipes that absolutely have to be made with a specific kitchen appliance, because I know not everyone has an air fryer. So I’ve also included regular frying instructions in the “chef tips” section right below the recipe.

Making cauliflower wings ahead of time

As with anything fried/breaded, these fried shrimp taste best when made right before serving.

However, there are parts of this recipe that can easily be prepped ahead of time, which will save you a lot of time when making these cauliflower wings.

• Seasoned flour – everything in the batter (except the beer or other liquid), can be whisked together and stored at room temperature until ready to use.
• Honey chipotle sauce – the entire sauce can be whisked together and kept in a container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Florets – the cauliflower can be cut into florets and kept refrigerated in a container until ready to use.

Storage

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6-7 days.

To reheat, preheat air fryer to 350°F and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until crisp.