• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Diet Type
  • Fall Recipes
  • About
    • Contact

Sunglow Kitchen logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Spring Recipes
  • About
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Spring Recipes
    • About
      • Contact
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Vegan Recipes

    Published: Dec 14, 2021 · Modified: Mar 26, 2024 by Petra · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Tender on the inside, and crispy on the outside, these Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings will be your new favorite appetizer! They're completely vegan, and can easily be made gluten-free!

    A blue bowl filled with teriyaki cauliflower wings, topped with sesame seeds and green onion.

    Even if you're not a fan of cauliflower, these teriyaki wings will win your heart! They're savory, meaty, and chewy, yet still taste fresh and wholesome.

    These bites are easy to make and can be served to a party as an appetizer, or as a side dish to your weeknight dinner.

    For more cauliflower recipes, check out my cauliflower potato leek soup.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients & Subtitutions
    • How To Make Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings
    • 👩🏼‍🍳 Petra's Tips
    • FAQ
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storage & Freezing
    • More Easy Vegan Side Dishes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients & Subtitutions

    Gathered ingredients for making teriyaki cauliflower wings with text overlay on each ingredient.
    • Flour. We use regular flour, but gluten-free all-purpose flour will work as well.
    • Breadcrumbs. We use homemade breadcrumbs (made with whole-wheat bread), but you can use panko breadcrumbs.
    • Milk. We use soy milk, but you can use any unsweetened milk you like.
    • Brown sugar. For making the teriyaki sauce. It can be substituted with white sugar if needed.
    • Soy sauce. This is the main ingredient in the teriyaki sauce. Make sure to use a sodium-reduced one to avoid making your sauce overly salty. You can also use tamari if you're gluten-free.
    • Corn starch. To thicken the teriyaki sauce. Arrowroot starch can work in a pinch.
    • Rice vinegar. Adds tanginess and balances out the teriyaki sauce. If you're out of rice vinegar, lime juice can work as well.
    • Sesame oil. Adds a lovely flavor and aroma, but can be skipped for an oil-free version.
    • Spices like garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

    See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.

    How To Make Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings

    Start by cutting your cauliflower into florets, then give them a good wash and pat them dry with a clean towel or kitchen paper.

    Mix the flour, garlic powder, and milk in a medium bowl until a smooth batter is formed.

    Cauliflower florets on a wooden cutting board.
    Mixing batter in a blue bowl with a stainless steel whisk.

    Dip each floret into the batter first, making sure that any excess batter has dripped off. Then roll in the breadcrumbs. Repeat until all florets are coated.

    Place the wings on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, flipping halfway through. You know they are ready when the coating is lightly golden.

    Rolling a cauliflower floret in breadcrumbs.
    Cauliflower wings on a baking sheet layered with parchment paper.

    In the meantime, prepare the sauce. Add all of the ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once it starts to simmer, bring the heat down and cook the sauce for 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly, until it thickens.

    Transfer the wings to a bowl and coat them with the sauce. Top with some toasted sesame seeds and serve!

    Teriyaki sauce in a saucepan with a stainless steel whisk.
    Cauliflower wings coated with teriyaki sauce and topped with sesame seeds, served in a blue bowl.

    👩🏼‍🍳 Petra's Tips

    • Let excess batter drip off, you want the wings to have just a thin coating.
    • Make sure to whisk the teriyaki sauce constantly once it starts to boil. It tends to burn easily.
    • Serve them right after making them. These cauliflower wings are the best right after they're made. They don't stay crispy for long, so make sure not to make them too far ahead.

    FAQ

    Can you bake them in the air fryer?

    Yes! The air fryer will cook the wings twice as fast, just keep in mind that the texture will be slightly different. Since the oven takes longer to cook, the cauliflower gets soft and chewy on the inside. Whereas, when using an air fryer, it has more of a bite to it.

    Why are my cauliflower wings soggy?

    Adding too much sauce can cause your wings to become soggy. I suggest coating them with ⅔ of the sauce first and reserving the rest if you want to drizzle some more while eating.
    If your sauce is too hot, that may also be a problem. In that case, let it cool for 5 minutes before using.

    Can you freeze teriyaki cauliflower wings?

    No. This recipe is best when fresh and freezing will completely change the texture. I don't recommend it.

    A blue bowl filled with cauliflower wings topped with sesame seeds and green onion.

    Serving Suggestions

    We love to serve these cauliflower teriyaki wings with sesame seeds and chopped scallions as a garnish.

    For sides, I recommend pairing them with coconut rice, chili oil noodles, or smoky tofu.

    For sauces, try our sriracha mayo, or pair them with vegan ranch dressing.

    Storage & Freezing

    • Fridge: Let leftovers cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
    • Freezer: This recipe is not freezer-friendly.

    More Easy Vegan Side Dishes

    • Super Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
    • A white bowl filled with curried mashed potatoes, topped with fresh cilantro leaves and butter.
      Curried Mashed Potatoes
    • Vegan stir fry in shallow a bowl. Topped with coriander leaves and sesame seeds. Wooden chopsticks propped up in the bowl.
      Vegan Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry
    • Vegan tofu ham on a pink platter, served with fresh parsley and lime wedges.
      Vegan Smoky Glazed Tofu Ham

    📖 Recipe

    A blue bowl filled with teriyaki cauliflower wings, topped with sesame seeds and green onion.

    Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings Recipe

    Tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, these Teriyaki Cauliflower Wings will be your new favorite appetizer! They're completely vegan, and can easily be made gluten-free!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Gluten-free, Japanese-Inspired, Vegan
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Author: Petra
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Air fryer or oven

    Ingredients

    For the cauliflower wings

    • 1 medium cauliflower head, chopped into florets
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 cup flour (either all-purpose flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour)
    • 1 ¼ cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (we use soy milk)
    • 2 cups breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
    • Cooking spray

    For the teriyaki sauce

    • ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari if gluten-free)
    • 1 cup water
    • 2 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 tsp minced ginger
    • 2 tablespoon corn starch (or sub with arrowroot starch)
    • ⅛ teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for heat)
    Step-by-step imagesScroll back to find detailed recipe photos!

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven or air fryer to 350F (180C). If using an oven, lay a piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet.
    • To a medium mixing bowl, mix flour and garlic powder together. Then slowly pour the milk, stirring constantly to prevent clumps. The mixture should be smooth and creamy.
      ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 cup flour, 1 ¼ cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
    • To another bowl, add the breadcrumbs. Start coating the cauliflower florets by dipping each one in the wet mixture first, letting any excess batter drip off. Then roll it in the breadcrumbs. Repeat until all florets are coated.
      2 cups breadcrumbs

    Oven

    • Add florets to a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray or oil. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip and bake for 15-20 more minutes, until golden.
      Cooking spray

    Air fryer

    • Spray the air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray. Add florets to the basket in a single layer, then spray them with oil. Cook for 12-15 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Make sure to stop and shake the basket halfway through.

    Teriyaki sauce

    • In the meantime, make the teriyaki sauce. Add all of the ingredients to a saucepan- soy sauce, water, sesame oil, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, cornstarch, black pepper, and chili flakes (optional). Heat over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. When the sauce starts to boil, turn the heat to medium-low and start whisking constantly, simmering the sauce for 2-3 minutes until it thickens. Remove from the heat.
      ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 2 teaspoon minced ginger, 2 tablespoon corn starch, ⅛ teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper, ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
    • Add wings to a bowl and pour ⅔ of the sauce. Mix gently. Use the rest of the sauce to drizzle on spots that didn't get coated well. Top with toasted sesame seeds (optional) and serve right away!

    Video

    https://www.instagram.com/p/C3DU9pgoNMJ/

    Notes

    Storage
    • Fridge: Let cauliflower wings cool to room temperature. Transfer to a container and cover with a lid. Save in the fridge for up to 4 days.
    • Freezer: This recipe is not freezer-friendly.
    Reheating
    • Oven: Pre-heat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Add cauliflower wings to a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until warmed through.
    • Air fryer: Pre-heat air fryer to 350ºF (180ºC). Spray basket with oil or cooking spray, and add the cauliflower wings in a single layer. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until warmed through.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 42.7g | Protein: 9.9g | Fat: 4.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 952.2mg | Potassium: 407.6mg | Fiber: 4.2g | Sugar: 7.7g | Vitamin C: 35.9mg | Calcium: 107.3mg | Iron: 2.9mg

    Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.

    Tried this recipe?Leave me a rating and a comment telling me how it went. Or tag me at @sunglowkichen and hashtag #sunglowkitchen on Instagram!

    More Easy Vegan Recipes

    • Tomato orzo in a white Dutch oven.
      Tomato Orzo with Chickpeas and Spinach (No Chop)
    • Sweet potato soup served in a blue bowl, placed on a round wooden chopping board.
      Carrot Sweet Potato Soup
    • Pumpkin tomato soup served in a bowl and topped with cream, olive oil and fresh basil.
      Simple Pumpkin Tomato Soup
    • Vegan chickpea cheesecake topped with stewed strawberries.
      Vegan Strawberry Cheesecake (with a secret ingredient!)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julia says

      February 09, 2022 at 9:08 am

      5 stars
      We LOVED these!

      Reply
      • Petranka says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:11 am

        Amazing!

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Petra!

    I'm a professional chef and a certified nutritionist! Sunglow Kitchen is all about easy vegan and vegetarian recipes that anyone can make at home, even if you're a beginner. Learn more about me here!

    Popular Posts

    • A collage of four photos of silken tofu recipes.
      40 Amazing Silken Tofu Recipes (Sweet & Savory)
    • A tall glass filled with green smoothie, placed on a wooden cutting board.
      Avocado Fruit Smoothie Recipe (3 Ways)
    • Five carrot cake cupcakes on a marble platter, topped with carrot cake frosting without cream cheese.
      Carrot Cake Frosting Without Cream Cheese
    • A few pieces of naan bread without yogurt served in a white bowl layered with parchment paper, topped with chopped cilantro.
      Naan Recipe without Yogurt (Vegan)
    • Fried silken tofu cubes served on a piece of parchment paper, and topped with sea salt and fresh cilantro.
      Super Crispy Fried Silken Tofu (Vegan)
    • Overnight oats without yogurt served in a white bowl and topped with fresh berries, crushed pecans, and a drizzle of honey.
      Easy Overnight Oats without Yogurt (4 Ingredients!)

    🐰 Easter Favorites

    • The Best Savory Fried Leek & Kale Tart (Vegan + Gluten-Free)
    • Super Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
    • Pea pesto pasta in a white Dutch oven topped with burrata.
      Pea Pesto Pasta with Burrata
    • Vegan tofu ham on a pink platter, served with fresh parsley and lime wedges.
      Vegan Smoky Glazed Tofu Ham
    • Five carrot cake cupcakes on a marble platter. On one of them was taken a bite out of it.
      Gluten-free Carrot Cake Cupcakes
    • Vegan lemon pie in a white pie dish topped with lemon slices, blueberries, and fresh mint leaves.
      Vegan Lemon Pie Recipe (Gluten-free)

    Featured In

    A collage of logos of brands Sunglow Kitchen has been featured on.

    Footer

    Legal & Contact

    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Get your FREE eBook!

    Follow

    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.

    Copyright © 2025 Sunglow Kitchen. All Rights Reserved.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.