Craving a delicious twist on traditional pizza? This buffalo cauliflower pizza combines the spicy kick of buffalo sauce with the satisfying crunch of roasted cauliflower, all atop a cheesy, savory crust. It's a perfect option for those looking to enjoy a meatless meal without sacrificing flavor.
If you don't usually stock cauliflower or buffalo sauce in your kitchen, you'll need to pick these up at the supermarket. Cauliflower is typically found in the produce section, while buffalo sauce can be located in the condiment aisle. Additionally, blue cheese crumbles might be a specialty item found near the gourmet cheeses.
Ingredients for Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza
Cauliflower: A versatile vegetable that serves as the base for the buffalo topping.
Olive oil: Used to coat the cauliflower, helping it roast to perfection.
Garlic powder: Adds a subtle, savory flavor to the roasted cauliflower.
Onion powder: Enhances the overall taste with a hint of sweetness.
Smoked paprika: Provides a smoky depth to the cauliflower.
Salt: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the flavors.
Buffalo sauce: Gives the cauliflower its signature spicy kick.
Pizza crust: The foundation of your pizza, ready-made for convenience.
Pizza sauce: A tomato-based sauce that complements the toppings.
Mozzarella cheese: Melts beautifully, creating a gooey, cheesy layer.
Blue cheese crumbles: Adds a tangy, creamy contrast to the spicy buffalo cauliflower.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When roasting the cauliflower, make sure to spread the florets out in a single layer on the baking sheet. This ensures even cooking and helps achieve that perfect tender yet slightly crispy texture. Overcrowding the pan can cause the cauliflower to steam rather than roast, which can result in a soggy texture.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
cauliflower - Substitute with broccoli: Broccoli florets provide a similar texture and can hold up well to roasting and buffalo sauce.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, making it a good alternative for roasting vegetables.
garlic powder - Substitute with fresh minced garlic: Fresh minced garlic offers a more intense and aromatic flavor compared to garlic powder.
onion powder - Substitute with finely chopped onions: Finely chopped onions can provide a similar flavor profile with a bit more texture.
smoked paprika - Substitute with regular paprika: Regular paprika can be used if smoked paprika is unavailable, though it will lack the smoky flavor.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty and umami flavor, though it will also add moisture.
buffalo sauce - Substitute with sriracha mixed with melted butter: This combination can mimic the spicy and tangy flavor of buffalo sauce.
pre-made pizza crust - Substitute with whole wheat pita bread: Whole wheat pita bread can serve as a healthier and quicker alternative to pre-made pizza crust.
pizza sauce - Substitute with marinara sauce: Marinara sauce can be used as a base sauce with a similar tomato flavor.
shredded mozzarella cheese - Substitute with shredded provolone cheese: Provolone cheese melts well and has a similar mild flavor to mozzarella.
blue cheese crumbles - Substitute with feta cheese: Feta cheese offers a tangy and creamy texture that can complement the buffalo flavor.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store / Freeze This Dish
- Allow the pizza to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the crust soggy.
- Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps maintain freshness and prevents freezer burn.
- Place the wrapped slices in a zip-top freezer bag or an airtight container. Label with the date to keep track of storage time.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- For longer storage, freeze the wrapped slices. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- To reheat frozen slices, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the slices on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and the crust is crispy.
- Avoid using the microwave for reheating, as it can make the crust chewy and the cauliflower soggy.
- For an extra crispy crust, reheat using a pizza stone or a preheated cast-iron skillet.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or additional buffalo sauce after reheating to refresh the flavors.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the leftover Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza on a baking sheet. Cover it loosely with aluminum foil to prevent the crust from getting too hard. Bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly again.
For a quicker method, use a skillet on the stovetop. Heat the skillet over medium heat and place the pizza slices in the skillet. Cover with a lid to help the cheese melt. Heat for about 5-7 minutes, checking to ensure the crust doesn't burn.
If you're in a hurry, the microwave can be your friend. Place a microwave-safe plate with the pizza slices in the microwave. To keep the crust from getting too chewy, place a cup of water in the microwave alongside the plate. Heat on high for about 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
For an air fryer, preheat it to 350°F (175°C). Place the pizza slices in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't overlap. Heat for about 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy.
If you have a toaster oven, preheat it to 375°F (190°C). Place the pizza slices directly on the rack or on a baking sheet. Heat for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is crispy.
Best Tools for Making This Recipe
Oven: Used to preheat and bake the pizza to ensure the cheese melts and the crust becomes crispy.
Baking sheet: Utilized to spread and roast the cauliflower florets until they are tender and slightly crispy.
Mixing bowl: Needed to toss the cauliflower florets with olive oil and spices, and later with buffalo sauce.
Measuring spoons: Essential for accurately measuring the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
Spatula: Handy for tossing the cauliflower with the spices and buffalo sauce, and for spreading the pizza sauce on the crust.
Pizza cutter: Useful for slicing the pizza into serving pieces once it is baked.
Cheese grater: If you are using a block of mozzarella cheese, this tool will help you shred it.
Cutting board: Provides a surface to cut the cauliflower into florets.
Knife: Necessary for cutting the cauliflower into florets.
Serving platter: Ideal for presenting the finished buffalo cauliflower pizza.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Pre-roast the cauliflower: Roast the cauliflower in advance and store it in the fridge. This way, you can quickly toss it with buffalo sauce when ready to assemble the pizza.
Use pre-shredded cheese: Save time by using pre-shredded mozzarella cheese. It melts just as well and cuts down on prep time.
Pre-made crust: Opt for a pre-made pizza crust to eliminate the time-consuming task of making dough from scratch.
Batch cook: Prepare multiple batches of buffalo cauliflower and freeze them. This way, you can quickly assemble the pizza whenever you crave it.
Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 small head cauliflower cut into florets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 pre-made pizza crust
- ½ cup pizza sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- Fresh parsley chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Spread cauliflower on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, until tender and slightly crispy.
- Toss roasted cauliflower with buffalo sauce.
- Spread pizza sauce over the pre-made crust.
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and buffalo cauliflower.
- Sprinkle blue cheese crumbles on top.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts for This Dish
More Amazing Recipes to Try 🙂
- Miso Soup Recipe20 Minutes
- Lemon Tart Recipe50 Minutes
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins Recipe35 Minutes
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings Recipe40 Minutes
- Lemon Basil Sorbet Recipe1 Hours 10 Minutes
- Chocolate Lava Cake27 Minutes
- Chocolate Cake Recipe55 Minutes
- Spiced Carrot Cake Recipe1 Hours 5 Minutes
Leave a Reply