This addictive Healthy Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Dip is super creamy, decadent, and secretly healthy! You’d never guess it was vegan, gluten-free, and packed with protein. Make it for the big game or as an appetizer for your next dinner party!
I’m in love I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it!!
You’re going to want to bathe in the creamy dreamy magnificence that is this Healthy Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Dip. It’s like everything you ever wanted in a dip but MORE. AKA fabulous texture and tangy addictive flavor with the added bonus of a stellar nutrition profile.
We can keep that last part secret.
“Mmmmm. Good job, boo! Just don’t tell people it’s vegan. Or what’s in it.”
The boyfriend is a wise, wise man. The second people learn something is vegan, they automatically think it’ll taste like grassy socks. So don’t tell them! Let their innocent tastebuds relish in the sheer cheezy, buffalo-y glory that is this dip without knowing it’s packed with healthy ingredients. Laugh your evil laugh in the background as your guests gather around the TV shoveling cauliflower, chickpeas, and cashews down their pie holes thinking it’s cheez whiz.
Ahhhh the satisfaction!
The best friend to this decadent buffalo cauliflower dip is a chip that’s crunchy and strong. They gotta hold up to the fabulouslness that is this hearty, creamy appetizer sent from the buffalo gods.
Good luck with sharing.
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This addictive Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Dip is super creamy, decadent, and secretly healthy/ You’d never guess it was vegan, gluten-free, and packed with protein. Make it for the big game or as an appetizer for your next dinner party.
Ingredients
- 1–12oz bag frozen cauliflower florets, steamed according to package directions
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked and drained
- 1–15oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ¾ cup original Frank’s Red Hot sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Tortilla chips (I love Beanitos Pinto Bean Chips) and veggies, for serving
Instructions
- Place cashews in a bowl of warm water for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375F. Spray an 8x8in baking dish with cooking spray.
- Add to the bowl of a large food processor the steamed cauliflower, cashews, chickpeas, hot sauce, water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, onion powder, and garlic powder. Process until the mixture is smooth and creamy, which will take several minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
- Transfer dip to baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, turn the oven to broil, (keep the oven open) and cook for 5 minutes longer.
- Serve with chips or veggies for dipping. I like it hot or cold!
- Dip will last at least a week in the fridge.
Kelly @ Eat the Gains says
What a genius idea! I saw this on your snap and wasn’t sure what it was, but this is the best possible outcome!!
Sudhana says
how long do you soak the cashews for before you use them?
Alexis says
Hey there! In the directions I recommend at least 30 minutes or overnight, but in a pinch you can soak in boiling water for 10 minutes.
Caitlyn @SoDamnGood says
Yumm saw your snap yesterday and was hoping for a recipe today. Love me a dip where you can feed to anyone and hide the ingredients!
Alexis says
Eeeeeee it’s so amazing and dreamy!!!
Linda Bowling says
Can you substitute Sriracha or some other hot sauce for Franks? Can we beg Beanitos to go back to the round shape chip for black bean and pinto bean chips???!!! The triangular shape they have switched to comes all broken up now – the round shape seems to hold up to packaging and transport better.
Alexis says
Hey there! I would not recommending substituting sriracha since it’s much sweeter and spicier. Perhaps another similar hot sauce and start with 1/2 cup then add to taste? I’ll let Beanitos know your feedback about the round chip!
ACKTIVE LIFE says
Anything with cauliflower in it these days tastes amazing to me! I am cauliflower obsessed and will eat it anyway that it is prepared. It is so damn good…and yes to bean chips…Beans beans the musical fruit…bring it on fiber!
annie says
Um, YUM! I love buffalo flavored things and much as the next person — but I don’t like that they tend to be deep fried. Perfect way to dig into something spicy without being unhealthy.
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says
What a great dip! Love cauliflower anything.
Nicole Concours says
“Turn the oven to broil (keep the oven open) and cook for 5 minutes longer.”
Hi there. Broil with the foil still on? Or removed?
Cheers,
Nicole
Alexis says
Thanks for catching that! Foil should be removed :)
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Looove this Alexis! Super smart and so tricky. :)
Alexis says
Thanks lady!! I think it would be kiddo-approved, as long as they like hot sauce :)
Shirley says
Thanks for this one, Alexis! We made this as soon as we saw your post – and guiltily, we were eating the dip with spoons straight from the dish! Yummy!!!!!
★★★★★
Alexis says
Awesome! I was totally with you on eating it with a spoon :)
Stefanie Shaffer says
I would like this suggestion also!
Shirley says
I’ve a challenge for you based on this recipe, Alexis. Think you can whip up a vegan “ranch dip” that can be served with the buffalo dip?
Alexis says
Hahah I’m on it!
Jessica Carbon says
Hello!!!!
I would like to ask – is there a nut-free version of this? I’m vegan and I want to bring this to a gathering soon but I have a friend who has a nut allergy. Can I substitute this with something else or leave out the cashews? Will the texture be altered horrifically if I leave out the cashews?
Thanks!
https://www.searedandshameless.com
Stefanie Shaffer says
Meant to comment here!
Jo Peters says
I made an un-healthy un-vegan version of this dip many times in the past. Considering this recipe has less than 25% of the calories (I checked), I can’t believe how delicious and comparable it is! It is just as creamy and spicy, and deliciously guilt-free with celery sticks.
★★★★★
Alexis says
You have no idea how happy this makes me! So happy you found this recipe :)
Esther Paine says
I LOVE this recipe- it is definitely addicting! Do you think I could mix everything up, keep it in the fridge for a day, and bake it right before using? I want to make it the day after thanksgiving!
★★★★★
Kathy says
Any idea of calorie count
★★★★★
Rosey says
Omg! Amazing! I have been veg for 16 years and buffalo chicken dip did not become a thing until after I Was already veg so I have never had it. Until now! This was truly delicious and I am a huge fan!! This will be my new party dip! I also thought of possibly pulsing the cauliflower into the dip to give it a little more texture?! Will try that next time! Mad props to you for this amazing recipe!!
★★★★★
Brittany says
There’s a hair on the food in the first picture….
Alexis says
Indeed there is! My long black hair getting the best of me in the kitchen per usual.
Shelley Sheerin says
What will the cashews add to this -we have a severe tree nut allergy at our house, so the cashews are out. I will probably make this and just leave them out – but wonder what it adds to the dish, other than nutrients?
Alexis says
It adds creaminess to the texture. Could you try sunflower seeds instead?
Sarah says
This totally satisfied my snacky junk food craving after working out. Thank you!
★★★★★
Jill says
Made this and loved it! I only had about half the Frank’s Red Hot sauce so I added some hot sauce and a can of green chile’s and it still turned out great. It was good hot and cold the next day. I actually think this would be great in a 7 layer dip recipe or even tweaked slightly for vegan veggie cream cheese. Awesome recipe!
★★★★★
Krista says
This is delicious !! It is going to be my lunch this week. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Ellen Lederman says
Loved this! So satisfying. Made it with orange cauliflower. used just a little less hot sauce in it and thought it was plenty hot. I did make it a little differently in that I roasted the cauliflower first and then put everything into the food processor and voila. What are the little green leaves you garnished it with? Cilantro?
Many thanks for such a healthy tasty recipe.
★★★★★
Brooke says
Hey there,
I just wanted to clarify — do you recommend using the Original Frank’s Red hot sauce or the Frank’s buffalo hot sauce?
Thanks!
Alexis says
Original :)
Anna says
I’m not sure we have frank sauce in Australia? What can I substitute with?
And does it work with fresh cauliflower?
Alexis says
Any hot sauce should work just fine! Not sure it would work with fresh cauliflower. When it’s steamed it’s softer and gives a better texture.
Christa says
We’re newly vegan and I want to try this recipe. I have two 12oz. bags of green giant RICED cauliflower in my freezer. Do you think that could work fine in place of the frozen florets?
Liz says
I just tested this dish for a family get-together that includes several vegans. IT IS FANTASTIC! Admittedly, I was skeptical when I saw ingredients that I had never tried before (i.e. nutritional yeast), however it had a light, and creamy texture that had all of the right taste notes. Thanks for sharing such a yummy option.
★★★★★
Dave says
I was thinking about adding some drained fresh salsa to this.
Molly says
Does it have to be baked?
Alexis says
It tastes good without being baked but I like it best baked!
Joanne says
Great recipe delicious!
Alexis says
Thanks so much for reporting back! Thrilled you enjoyed it.
Mickey says
Made this today, cannot believe how great it tastes!!
★★★★★
Alexis says
I’m so so glad!!
Jess says
I just made this for a pot luck at work and it IS FANTASTIC! I’m a new vegan and my husband makes cheesy buffalo chicken dip every year for special events and this will be my replacement! It is so yummy! And way less calories! Thank you so much for this recipe!
★★★★★
Alexis says
You made my night! Thanks so much for letting me know :)
Kelly says
THIS DIP IS AMAZING. Thank you so much I have made this multiple times. I usually add a bit more sauce to make it more spicy. I used to eat unhealthy buffalo chicken dip but now recently going vegan this tastes exactly the same and I am so happy
★★★★★
Alexis says
Yayyyy!! So glad to hear that! Thank you!
Judy says
I love hot hot but unfortunately the Frank’s takes over everything so that all this ends up being is a creamy hot dip. there’s really not much else going on as far as flavor- no depth, no subtlety, just Frank’s hot sauce dip … I should’ve known to temper the hot sauce and then add later but I had it all at once …
★
Alexis says
Hmmm sorry you didn’t love it! It is a creamy buffalo dip so my intention was to be heavy on the hot sauce. Feel free to use this recipe as a guide and adjust to your tastes!
Helaine says
Made this for tailgating before a spring training game and it was delicious!! Even the meat eaters were asking for the recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Alexis says
The ultimate compliment!! Thanks Helaine :)
Mer G says
How much fresh cauliflower would one use?
Cheryl says
I can’t wait to make this! Can you prepare everything the day before and put in the fridge until you are ready to bake?
Alexis says
I’ve never done that so I’m not sure, sorry!! I think it will work just fine :)
Cheryl says
I made it the night before and kept in the fridge covered. Baked the next afternoon (left on counter for about an hour and added a few minutes to the cooking time) and got many compliments and asking for the recipe so thank you for sharing!
Samantha Meiklejohn says
Arghhh!!! I get so disheartened when I see recipes that make me sing!!!! Then I see cashews in the ingredients list and I break down to a heap….. god damn tree-nut allergy!!! Any recommendations for a substitute instead of nuts? Please? Pretty please….
Alexis says
I’m sorry but I don’t know how to make it without cashews—maybe a dairy free cream cheese?
Louisa says
WHAT DOES A BEAN MEAN?? ????
Coco says
a this is amazing!
★★★★★
Amy says
Can you use almonds instead of cashews?
Alexis says
Hmmm I don’t think it would be as smooth and creamy!
Jaime says
This was so easy to make, I didn’t even need to go out and buy any unusual ingredients. I had everything already and it came out great!!
★★★★★
Alison Nulty says
Made this last night before the Superbowl and loved it! It was delicious-will definitely make again!
★★★★★
Heather says
This is delicious!! I made this tonight but subbed coconut milk for the cashews (I didn’t have any on hand) and it’s so creamy and tasty!
★★★★★
Faith says
This turned out so good! My friend and I have a tradition of making buffalo dip every time we see each other, so I’ve missed out since going vegan. Not anymore! So happy this vegan recipe exists!
★★★★★
Krista says
I found this recipe on pinterest a couple years ago and often make it for potlucks. Loved by all, including kids and meat eaters! I also just realized that you graduated from Ohio State too! I spent most of my days at Stillman Hall, Baker West, or Burritos Noches.
And I went to Alchemy before!! Yum! Anyways, just thought I’d tell you how awesome this blog is. ?
★★★★★