Old Bay Cauliflower Tots

Why You’ll Love Old Bay Cauliflower Tots

Known for its roots in coastal cooking and seafood feasts, Old Bay brings a unique blend of spices to so many dishes. The most popular way to use it, particularly in Maryland where it originates, is on steamed crabs. Despite being a Marualy resident, I’m actually not a fan of crab. Luckily, Marylanders aren’t shy about using it to spice up basically anything and everything else, from roasted potatoes to Old Bay Popcorn, and, of course, Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits!

So I decided to add them to my favorite Cauliflower Tots, and it turns them into a veggie side dish that is anything but ordinary. Here’s why you’ll love them…

• Crave-worthy flavor and texture. These cheesy tots turn folder and crispy. And the Old Bay gives them a nice pop of spice that’s really not spicy but just full of flavor that complements the cheddar cheese.
• Naturally gluten free. I’ve always made my tots with cornmeal as a binder. Not only does it give them a tater tots texture despite being made from veggies, but it also makes them gluten free without any swaps or expensive ingredients.
• Versatile serving options. Of course, if you do like crab, you can serve them with your favorite crab or other seafood dishes. But this finger food is also tasty with family-friendly meals or to put out on a spread of party snacks, especially if you are watching the Baltimore Ravens or Orioles! I’ve got lots of ideas for you down below in the post.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a little rundown of what you need to know about the ingredients to make this Old Bay Cauliflower tots recipe. Read to get all the info. Then scroll down to the recipe card to get the full amounts and step-by-step instructions.

• Cauliflower. You’ll need about half of a large head. I use the shredding blade on my food processor to shred cauliflower. You can use the stems as well as the florets, since it is all being shredded and mixed together.
• Salt. This helps extract the moisture from the cauliflower so you can more easily squeeze out the excess.
• Cheddar cheese. I like sharp cheddar but you can use your favorite.
• Egg.
• Cornmeal. Ground oats or breadcrumbs can work as a substitute. I’ve also made them with almond flour. This works as a low carb option, but the tots do end up a little softer and more tender.
• Old Bay Seasoning. Feel free to use the lower sodium version if you prefer.
• Black pepper.

Make it a Meal

No matter what you fancy, I’ve got serving suggestions for you to enjoy with these Old Bay Cauliflower Tots.

• Serve with seafood. It’s the natural pairing, so try Old Bay Cauliflower Tots with BBQ Shrimp Quinoa Bowls, a lovely Salmon Wellington, or even a Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil.
• Enjoy with chicken. Make a meal of finger foods by whipping up some Gluten Free Popcorn Chicken or juicy Air Fryer Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets. It’s also perfect to pair with Baked Blackened Chicken.
• Have with salad. Keep the seafood theme going with a Lobster Cobb Salad or embrace summer vibes and have Grilled Steak Salad.
• Pair with party apps. From Air Fryer Fried Pickles to Shrimp Jambalaya Dip to Gluten Free Pretzel Nuggets to Bell Pepper Nachos, it’s easy to make a delicious spread of appetizers and savory snacks.