Buffalo Cauliflower Casserole

Perfect for a flavorful and comforting dinner any night of the week, this Buffalo Cauliflower Casserole is made with simple ingredients and ready in an hour!

This nutrient packed casserole inspired by buffalo chicken dip still boasts all the bold and spicy flavor but has cauliflower hidden inside to make it a more well-balanced meal.

Why you will love this buffalo cauliflower casserole recipe

Craving something savory, filling, and satisfying, but not too heavy? This cauliflower casserole is a fantastic comfort food option! It combines chicken and veggies with melty cheese and a tangy buffalo dressing. Best of all, it’s hot and ready in under an hour.

This cheesy recipe is ideal for an easy weeknight dinner, and you can even prepare it ahead of time to streamline the whole process! It’s fantastic for meal prep and leftovers reheat nicely.

If you’re looking for appetizers to make for game day or a dinner party, you can serve this casserole as a buffalo cauliflower dip with chips on the side!

If you love this recipe but want something better suited for an appetizer, check out this air fryer buffalo cauliflower. Or for another casserole, enjoy this lazy lasagna casserole!

Buffalo cauliflower dip ingredients

Cooked Chicken: This is a fantastic way to use leftover chicken breast if you have it. Another good option is to buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it yourself, or just oven-bake a couple of chicken breasts.

Fresh Cauliflower Florets: Use fresh cauliflower for best results, but you could use frozen in a pinch.

Sauce: For the creamy buffalo sauce, you’ll need hot sauce (I like to use Frank’s red hot sauce or Noble Made buffalo sauce), cream cheese, sour cream, and ranch dressing mix.

Green Onions: Add a bit of oniony flavor that pairs perfectly with the homemade buffalo sauce.

Cheese: A combination of sharp cheddar cheese and gouda cheese will get melty and gooey as your casserole bakes.

Panko Breadcrumbs: Provides a nice crispy topping for the perfect finishing touch.

Chives: An optional garnish that adds some color variation and a bit of additional herbal onion flavor.

How to make cauliflower casserole

1. Roast the cauliflower. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl with olive oil and salt, then bake for 20 minutes.
2. Prepare the sauce. Meanwhile, in a separate large bowl, combine the hot sauce, sour cream, cream cheese, ranch seasoning, green onions, and black pepper.
3. Assemble the casserole. Add the shredded chicken and roasted cauliflower to the spicy buffalo sauce and give it a good stir until thoroughly coated. Transfer the mixture to a prepared casserole dish, then top with bread crumbs and cheese.
4. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and melted. Top with fresh chopped chives and serve!

The best thing about this casserole is you can serve it in a bowl for dinner time or with chips on the side as a hearty dip for an appetizer.

I served this casserole at a dinner party and it was gone within minutes! For dessert I put out these Raspberry Twists…also gone in a flash!

Recipe tips and variations

• Make this dish vegetarian by omitting the chicken, or using chickpeas instead. You could also use shredded seitan.
• For a heartier version of this casserole, stir in some cooked rice (or even cauliflower rice). Another option is to serve the casserole over top of white rice, brown rice, or mashed potatoes.
• Use a different kind of breadcrumb, like Italian style seasoned breadcrumbs, for additional flavor. I like to use Panko because of how light and crispy it is but you can mix in seasoning with it too.
• Feel free to try other kinds of cheese. Blue cheese crumbles, pepper jack cheese, or shredded mozzarella are all great options.
• You could also use nutritional yeast instead of cheese to make this casserole more vegan-friendly. You’ll also want to omit the chicken and use vegan cream cheese.
• Drizzle with extra buffalo sauce or hot sauce if you want a spicier result.
• Add extra flavor by mixing in seasonings like garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, or red pepper flakes.
• Substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream if you want a slightly lighter ingredient.

Storing and reheating

To store your buffalo cauliflower casserole, allow it to cool and transfer to an airtight container. In the fridge, it will last 3-4 days. You can also keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheat in the microwave, or heat in the oven until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is gooey and melty again.

You can also prepare this buffalo chicken recipe ahead of time and store covered in the fridge or freezer until it’s time to cook it. If cooking from frozen, you may need to add a few extra minutes of cooking time to account for the temperature difference.

Does this recipe work with frozen cauliflower?

I recommend using fresh cauliflower for the best results with this recipe. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have access to fresh, or have frozen cauliflower florets that you need to use, just be sure to thaw them first. Give them a good pat dry before roasting as well to ensure golden brown and crispy results.

Why do you soak cauliflower before cooking?

This is an optional step, and won’t change too much about the finished result. Soaking cauliflower is a good way to clean it from any potential dirt or debris.

If you do soak it, be sure to thoroughly dry the cauliflower before roasting. If there’s excess moisture, it may lead to soggier or softer florets.

How to thicken buffalo sauce

1. Reduce: Simmer the buffalo sauce over low heat until some of the liquid evaporates, resulting in a thicker consistency.
2. Cornstarch Slurry: Mix cornstarch with a small amount of cold water to create a slurry, then stir it into the buffalo sauce while heating. Cook until the sauce thickens.

What to serve with cauliflower casserole

While your buffalo casserole cooks, break out your air fryer and make a batch of crispy potato wedges, these easy air fryer biscuits, or even some corn on the cob! If you have extra oven space, you could serve up this baked corn casserole. Another great and classic option is this chopped vegetable salad.

If you’re serving a large group, adding another casserole like this Chicken and Hashbrown Casserole is a good idea to make sure there’s enough for everyone!

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