Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos are a healthy take on traditional tacos, made with fresh and whole ingredients. Only the cauliflower is roasted so there is minimal cooking time— all you need to do is chop the toppings while it cooks! And you'll have a healthy, guilt-free vegetarian dinner in 30 minutes.
Buffalo cauliflower tacos are a wholesome, refreshing alternative to traditional cheesy meat-filled Mexican tacos.
Tortilla shells are packed with roasted cauliflower that's been tossed in buffalo sauce, then stuffed with fresh red cabbage, peppers, onions, and lettuce.
Top them with blue cheese crumbles, blue cheese dressing, or mozzarella cheese to complete the recipe.
You control the heat of your tacos. Like them spicy? Use hot buffalo sauce. Like them with just a little zap, go with mild or medium.
Because cauliflower is one of our favorite vegetables and buffalo is one of our favorite sauces, we often combine them.
Buffalo cauliflower dip is a fantastic vegetarian alternative to classic buffalo dip that's always a hit at parties (hint: the Super Bowl is right around the corner!). It's a great way to combine 2 of our favorites!
I am always looking for ways to make our favorite recipes even healthier, so you should also try taco-stuffed zucchini boats or taco salad for another healthier version of tacos.
When you're done trying buffalo cauliflower tacos, of course!
Ingredients
Plus you'll need a head of cauliflower and your favorite buffalo sauce.
Yellow or orange bell peppers are the best to use, in my opinion, but red might be great too. I'd stay away from green since they are more bitter than sweet.
I'd also stick with red onions instead of yellow, since they are less potent.
Nutrition
Buffalo cauliflower tacos are chock full of nutritious, whole foods.
Cauliflower is low in calories and high in fiber and vitamin C. It contains no fat and is mostly water, so it keeps you hydrated while providing you with a good amount of vitamins and minerals.
The vegetables— romaine lettuce, bell peppers, and red cabbage —are eaten raw, giving you their full nutritional benefit.
Romaine is packed with vitamin C, vitamin K and folate, along with being high in magnesium and calcium.
Bell peppers are full of vitamin C and antioxidants and red cabbage is full of fiber.
The nutritional profile of these fresh, whole tacos is enough to eat them all week and never feel a darn bit guilty. Now you can enjoy taco Tuesday all week long!
Make it Vegan
Being the by-product of an animal, blue cheese is not vegan.
There are vegan versions of blue cheese on the market. They may not be easily found in the local grocery store. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are a good place to check.
Flour tortillas and all corn tortillas should be vegan. Most are made with vegetable oil now instead of lard. It's a good idea to double-check the ingredients though, to be sure.
And while most buffalo sauces are vegan, some are made with dairy. So also make sure to check the label.
All other ingredients are vegan.
Make it Gluten-Free
Buffalo cauliflower tacos can be made gluten-free with 1 ingredient change— using gluten-free tortilla shells.
Corn tortillas do not contain gluten, so use them instead of flour tortillas.
It's also relatively easy to find special gluten-free tortillas. They are readily available at most grocery stores in the United States.
Most buffalo sauces should be gluten-free. To name a few, Frank's Red Hot and Sweet Baby Ray's declare themselves to be gluten free. It's a good idea to check the label of the brand you're buying. Or, make your own!
While blue cheese crumbles should be gluten-free as well, it's a good idea to check the label. Some, but not many, may be cheese cultures grown from wheat or rye bread.
Step-By-Step Directions
Buffalo cauliflower tacos are incredibly easy to make and take about 30 minutes, with minimal cooking and preparation.
- First, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Chop the cauliflower into small ½ inch florets. Spread in 1 layer on the baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. When finished, toss with the buffalo sauce.
- While the cauliflower cooks, prepare the toppings. Cut the bell pepper into thin strips, dice the onion, and chop the lettuce.
Then assemble the tacos.
Stuff each tortilla, starting with lettuce (so it doesn't fall out while you are eating). Then add the warm cauliflower and crisp bell pepper strips.
Next add the cabbage and onions.
Top with blue cheese (or mozzarella) and drizzle with extra buffalo sauce if desired.
Then enjoy your buffalo cauliflower tacos!
Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower, chopped into small pieces
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 large yellow or orange bell pepper, cut into strips
- 2 cups shredded red cabbage
- 1 cup diced red onion
- 8 medium tortilla shells
- 1 head romaine lettuce
- 2 cups shredded cheese mozzarella, blue cheese, or feta
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Chop the cauliflower into small ½ inch florets. Spread in 1 layer on the baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes. When finished, toss with the buffalo sauce.
- While the cauliflower cooks, prepare the toppings. Cut the bell pepper into thin strips, dice the onion, and chop the lettuce.
- To serve, warm the tortillas for 15 seconds in the microwave. Layer with lettuce, buffalo cauliflower, peppers, onions, lettuce, and top with cheese. Drizzle with additional buffalo sauce or blue cheese dressing if desired.
Nutrition
Serving
Buffalo cauliflower tacos are a hearty, complete meal on their own. If you're not a fan of blue cheese like me, use ranch or mozzarella instead.
If looking for a side dish, a simple rice side, carrots, celery, or fruit salad are great choices.
We love using taco shell holders when we eat tacos. It makes it so much easier to assemble and the tacos stay together much better than when laying them on a plate.
You can find taco shell holders in many stores and on Amazon. I have these metal ones that can hold soft and hard tacos.
Store the leftover cauliflower and toppings in the fridge. They will last around 5 days. This recipe is great for meal prep, too, as you can pack them for work or a quick lunch.
And that's all there is to making buffalo cauliflower tacos! I hope you enjoy this recipe. Please let me know what you thought in the comments below.
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Jessica Stroup
How awesome! I love this so much!
Michele Peterson
Loved this new way to enjoy cauliflower!
Chef Dennis
What a perfect meatless taco! I love the idea of using buffalo cauliflower
Chloe
Yum, I love using cauliflower in dishes instead of meat! Going to omit the blue cheese and try this as a vegan version.
Sara
Great recipe! Thank you!
Audrey
These are perfect for meatless Mondays at our house!