Crispy Cauliflower Bites

Turn a bag of frozen riced cauliflower and a few simple ingredients into these extra-delicious Crispy Cauliflower Bites! These low-carb appetizers are always a hit!

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients You’ll Need
• Step-By-Step Instructions
• Expert Tips
• Serving Ideas
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Recipes
• Crispy Cauliflower Bites
• Subscribe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Here’s a great recipe for a hand-held appetizer that’s easy, cheesy and crispy and high on my “must eat” list every year. Cauliflower is having a “moment” and why not? This recipe will convince you if you’re on the fence about it.

Vegetable-based recipes are always popular at gatherings, and this is a good option instead of chicken nuggets or wings, next time try these instead!

Here’s why you’ll love them:

• These irresistible, crunchy cauliflower bites are full of flavor, and taste almost like a tater tot, but made with cauliflower instead of potatoes.

• Other recipes call for a whole head of cauliflower florets that have to be chopped in a food processor and then rolled in Panko, but this recipe uses convenient frozen riced cauliflower. Available in most grocery stores.

• This easy recipe makes a lot! Made in a mini-muffin tin, it makes about 24-30 crispy, cheesy, absolutely delicious bites.

Looking for more party snacks? Try these Sweet and Spicy Almonds and Goat Cheese Toasts with Cranberry Compote.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are the key ingredients you’ll need, but for the full recipe and list of instructions, please scroll down to the recipe card below.

• Cauliflower: Frozen cauliflower rice is what we’ll use, and most every grocery store has this in the frozen food section now.
• Petite Peas: For color and texture, petite peas look and taste great.
• Cheese: Parmesan cheese tastes perfect in this recipe.
• Egg: One large egg helps hold the mixture together.
• Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, Italian parsley.

Step-By-Step Instructions

For the full list of instructions, please scroll down to the recipe card.

1. Defrost the riced cauliflower and drain it, squeeze dry by using a clean kitchen towel or a paper towel to remove any excess water. This is an important step as ensures the bites turn out crispy.
2. Set aside a quarter cup of the parmesan cheese in a small bowl to sprinkle on top before baking.
3. Combine the cauliflower, egg, peas, the rest of the parmesan cheese plus the seasonings in a large mixing bowl. Mix well so that all of the cauliflower is coated with the mixture.
4. Spray a non-stick mini muffin pan (24 cup size) with baking spray, and if using paper liners, be sure to spray the insides of the liners too. (I used natural, non-stick mini muffin liners like these).
5. Fill each cup about three quarters of the way full, then top with a little sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
6. Bake until the edges are crispy and tops are a little brown, then arrange on a platter and serve. These tasty bites are delicious hot from the oven, but just as good at room temperature.

Expert Tips

• Be sure to spray the non-stick muffin tin with baking spray (or olive oil spray) to make sure the cauliflower bites come out easily. If you plan on using paper baking liners, spray the insides of the liner too in case of sticking.
• Use a small cookie scoop to portion out the cauliflower mixture into each muffin cup. This helps them cook evenly and ensures a consistent size.
• You can use a mini-muffin tin with 24 cups for this recipe, and it’ll make a few more too. Expect about 24-30 pieces out of this recipe.
• If you hate peas, just leave them out! Try adding a bit more Italian Parsley (another two tablespoons or so) for color and contrast.
• When baking the bites, put the muffin tin on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper to make it easier to remove from the oven.
• You could make these with orange cauliflower instead of a white cauliflower head. The bites will be darker but still golden brown.

Serving Ideas

• These are a fun side dish for parties or tailgating since they’re good at room temperature. They’d be a nice starter for almost any entree too, like a Baked Pasta with Chicken Sausage or a Turkey Burger with Pepperjack, this easy and delicious Taco Pie with Crescent Rolls or (my favorite) easy Cast Iron Pizza recipe.
• Serve a platter of these with your favorite dipping sauce, maybe one spicy sauce and also a side of ranch. Sounds so good!
• My favorite meal is a really good salad plus an appetizer. Here’s a couple of slarecipes if you Rotisserie Chicken Salad or Strawberry Asparagus Salad.
• Why not serve a bunch of different appetizers? Serve with these festive Party Olives, Lemon Artichoke Dip, some easy prosciutto appetizer recipes, these Veggie Hummus Cups, some Butternut Squash Bruschetta, this easy and amazing recipe for Stuffed Celery with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Cheese, and these very good and easy Crunchy Crab Sushi Rolls.
• Add a shake of hot sauce to the mixture if you’d like them spicier before baking.
• A great way to serve these bites is to pile them on a serving tray with some celery sticks and cut carrots and a side of ranch dressing too.
• Make some festive snowflake cookies for dessert!
  

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes

• Party Olives: Obsessive and so, so delicious, better double this recipe!
• Best Snacks for Wine and Mocktails: A list of appetizer and drink favorites.
• Roasted Cauliflower with Yogurt Sauce: You won’t believe how good this is.
• Crunchy Green Bean, Pea and Walnut Salad: So fresh and pretty, delicious too.
• Healthy Vegetable Frittata Recipe: So versatile, so totally delish!
• Favorite Hot Chocolate: This non-dairy wonder will warm you right up!
• Tiny Chocolate Chip Cookies: You definitely can’t eat just one!
• Rice Pudding with Rhubarb: So comforting and creamy…yum!
• Cookie Dough Bites: No-bake with healthy ingredients.
• Egg White Bites, Starbucks copycat: These wonderful bites are easy to make at home.
• Italian Frittata: A veggie-packed recipe, breakfast or brunch.

If you’ve made Crispy Cauliflower Bites or any recipe on Studio Delicious, leave a recipe rating and tell me all about it in the comments below!

Looking for more tips and fresh, homemade recipes?  Join my email list, tag and follow me on Instagram using #studiodeliciouseats, follow my boards on Pinterest, and see what I’m up to on Facebook and Twitter!