These Buffalo Cauliflower Meatballs are perfect for anyone who wants a little spice in their life! You can serve them as an appetizer, side dish, snack, or even as a vegetarian option for a buffalo salad! The recipe is simple, easy to make, and only requires a few healthy ingredients!
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Why I love this recipe!
The base of the "meatballs" is cauliflower rice, almond flour, and egg which makes them a great gluten-free, Whole30, and Paleo option! You can top them with whatever Buffalo Sauce you prefer, but if you're looking for a dairy-free option you might want to check out Primal Kitchen's Buffalo Sauce. If you follow me on Instagram, you're probably familiar with this brand because I talk about them all the time! I've been cooking with Primal Kitchen's products for almost four years. I love that they use high quality, organic ingredients, and are free from soy, dairy, and sugar!
Love Primal Kitchen?! Check out some of my other recipes that include their sauce!
- Baked BBQ Chicken Dinner
- Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites (Paleo)
- Healthy BBQ Chicken Salad (Whole30)
- Gluten-Free BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Crispy Teriyaki Chicken Wings (Whole30)
🍴Ingredient Notes
- Cauliflower Rice - You can make your own, or buy it from the store! They usually have it at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and I've also seen it at Stop and Shop. If you want to make it yourself, see directions below!
- Almond Flour - I have tested with cassava flour, and the consistency did not come out right - I wouldn't recommend.
- Egg - I have not tested with an egg-free option! If you do, leave a comment below!
- Olive Oil - You could also use avocado oil!
- Buffalo Sauce - I use Primal Kitchen's Buffalo sauce because it has minimal quality ingredients, but you can use any brand you want!
🍴Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Making the Meatballs
Start by adding the cauliflower rice and almond flour into a mixing bowl. If you don't have pre-made cauliflower rice, see directions below on how to easily make it yourself! Use a fork or whisk to whip your egg. Add the whipped egg, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder into your cauliflower mixture. Mix with a fork until fully combined.
Step 2: Baking the Meatballs
Roll the mixture into about 1 inch meatballs, and add them to your air fryer. Set the air fryer to 375 degrees (or high) for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Toss Meatballs in Buffalo Sauce
Once they're out of the oven, add them to a mixing bowl with a few tablespoons of buffalo sauce. Mix with a large spoon until fully coated. (If you like them spicy.) You can also add them to a plate, and drizzle buffalo sauce on top for a less spicy option.
What makes these Cauliflower Meatballs Healthier?
With less than 10 ingredients, these Cauliflower Buffalo Meatballs are a delicious & healthy choice! Cauliflower has been having a moment for the last year - it's versatile, full of fiber, and a great source of antioxidants! Plus it's lower in carbohydrates which makes it a great option for anyone on a lower carb or keto style diet. If you're looking for a healthy Buffalo Sauce, I highly recommend the one I mentioned above. Primal Kitchen is known for their quality ingredients, and they don't use soy, dairy, sugar, or gums/fillers!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they can cooked in the oven if you don't have an air fryer. Just make sure to place them on a non-stick baking sheet or line your baking sheet with parchment paper. You can bake them at the same temperature - 375 degrees. Baking will take a bit longer. I would set the timer for 30 minutes, but it will probably need closer to 40 minutes. You'll know they're done with the outside is golden brown.
You can of course purchase pre-packaged cauliflower rice from the grocery store, but it's a lot less expensive to make it yourself! Purchase a start by chopping a head of cauliflower in half. Take one half and chop it into small bite size pieces. Add about two cups of chopped cauliflower into your food processor. Pulse on and off until it becomes a rice consistency. (Takes about 30 seconds.) Repeat until you have enough for the recipe!
That my friend, is completely up to you! If you're planning to eat them all you can toss the whole batch in Buffalo Sauce when they get out of the oven. If you're planning to save some for later, I would hold off on tossing the entire batch. They will store better without sauce. You can add the sauce after you reheat them! If don't want them super spicy, you can drizzle a little on top or serve them with the sauce on the side to dip. I've also served them with BBQ Sauce for my friends who don't like super spicy food!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Ninja Kitchen Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven - This is what I used to air fry these meatballs! I have a traditional air fryer as well, but I like this one because it's so versatile! You can bake, broil, toast, air fry, and dehydrate. In traditional air fryers, you can't fit a flat sheet pan inside. I like that I can still spread them out easily on a regular baking sheet, even when I use the air fry function.
- Non-Stick Baking Sheet - If you want to bake them I would recommend you using a non-stick baking sheet, or lining your baking sheet with parchment paper.
How to store leftovers
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer! I store mine in an air tight glass container. They will store well for about 5 days in the refrigerator. I have not tested how long they store well for in the freezer, but I would say a couple months if they're in an air tight freezer bag or Tupperware container.
How to reheat meatballs in the air fryer
You can reheat the Cauliflower Buffalo Meatballs in the microwave, in a frying pan, or in an air fryer. I recommend using your air fryer to reheat them because it will heat quickly, and keep the meatballs nice and crispy on the outside.
More air fryer recipes!
- Crispy Teriyaki Chicken Wings
- Sweet Potato Tots with Cinnamon & Sugar
- Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Tots
- Italian Vegetable Meatballs
- Whole30 Lemon Thyme Chicken Wings (Air Fried)
After you make these Cauliflower Buffalo Meatballs, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe! Your feedback is helpful for me, and for anyone planning to try this recipe. I hope you love them as much as I do!
Recipe
Cauliflower Buffalo Meatballs
Equipment
- Air Fryer or Oven
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 2 + ½ Cups Cauliflower Rice
- ½ Cup Almond Flour
- 1 Egg
- 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¼ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
Buffalo Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Buffalo Sauce I use Primal Kitchen's Buffalo sauce because it has minimal quality ingredients, but you can use any brand you want!
Instructions
- Start by adding the cauliflower rice and almond flour into a mixing bowl. If you don't have pre-made cauliflower rice, see directions in notes on how to easily make it yourself!
- Next use a fork or whisk to whip your egg. Add the whipped egg, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder into your cauliflower mixture. Mix with a fork until fully combined.
- Roll the mixture into about 1 inch meatballs, and add them to your air fryer. Set the air fryer to 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes. If you're baking, place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. You'll know they're done when they are golden brown on the outside.
- Once they're out of the oven, add them to a mixing bowl with a few tablespoons of buffalo sauce. Mix with a large spoon until fully coated. (If you like them spicy.) You can also add them to a plate, and drizzle buffalo sauce on top for a less spicy option.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
How to store leftovers
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer! I store mine in an air tight glass container. They will store well for about 5 days in the refrigerator. I have not tested how long they store well for in the freezer, but I would say a couple months if they're in an air tight freezer bag or Tupperware container.How to reheat leftovers
You can reheat the Cauliflower Buffalo Meatballs in the microwave, in a frying pan, or in an air fryer. I recommend using your air fryer to reheat them because it will heat quickly, and keep the meatballs nice and crispy on the outside.Nutrition
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Gina
Hi! I got here via Primal's insta! These sound yummy and I plan to give them a try, but I'm a little confused. Are they really supposed to be formed into half inch meatballs?
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Hi Gina!! Thanks for checking out the recipe. (: They can be any size meatball you want - around bite size works best! Usually mine are around 1/2-1 inch. (Probably closer to 1 inch.) There's a how-to video link to an Instagram post that you might find helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions. - Mariah
Jenni
Made these twice now. I omitted garlic so I could just play with it. Primal Kitchen buffalo sauce and Hidden Vally ranch dipping sauces plus side of celery sticks-perfect. Second time added Italian seasoning, served over zoodles, and topped with marinara- different and delicious. Love how the balls are crispy on the outside and somehow have a really great flavor in every bite without much seasoning or anything fancy. I’ve shared the recipe with several people, but no one has tried it yet.
Mariah Mandile
That sounds amazing!! So glad you're enjoying them. You would probably like my vegetable meatball recipe - they're made with a combination of broccoli and cauliflower rice. Thank you for sharing with friends, I truly appreciate it!!