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Give your meals a flavorful twist with Old Bay Cauliflower Tots! These crispy, cheesy bites take your veggie side dish to the next level with the bold taste of Old Bay Seasoning. While they’re perfect alongside seafood, their savory, crave-worthy flavor pairs beautifully with all kinds of meals—or even stands alone as a snack for game day or any time you’re craving something fun and delicious.

Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free
- Skill Level: Easy
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.
Tips for Success
I’m going to share my most important tips here, but you can check out my basic recipe for Cauliflower Tots to get all the ins and outs of making the perfect tots.
- Squeeze it well. The salt does help to release the moisture, but you also want to squeeze out the cauliflower extremely well to get rid of as much liquid as possible. Work in batches to make it easier. This ensures they hold together well.
- Don’t let them stick. Squeezing the cauliflower well helps minimize sticking, but you’ll want to spray your pan well. A silicone pan is a good option for less sticking, but I find they don’t brown on the bottom as much, so it’s your call.
- Store and reheat. Leftovers will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for a few days. You can also freeze them, then thaw them in the fridge when you are ready to enjoy them. The cauliflower tots can be reheated in the microwave, but popping them in the oven or air fryer restores the crispiness.
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.
More Cauliflower Recipes
Old Bay Cauliflower Tots
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded cauliflower (about half of a large head), see Note
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Spray a 24-well mini muffin tin or silicone pan with oil or coking spray.
- Place the shredded cauliflower in a kitchen towel and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss slightly and let sit for about 10 minutes. Then squeeze out the excess moisture.
- Combine the squeezed cauliflower, cheese, cornmeal, egg, Old Bay Seasoning, and pepper in a large bowl, and mix together thoroughly. I like to use a fork.
- Using a spoon or scoop, divide the mixture between 24 muffin cups and press down firmly into the cups.
- Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool slightly before using a butter knife to gently remove them from the pan.
I love Old Bay Seasoning, but 1t. salt and 1t. Old Bay is way too much sodium for me. I won’t put down Old Bay or tell anyone “Don’t use it” . I just need to substitute salt-free seasoning for the salt and salt added seasoning. These are great! More cauliflower, less potato!
Old Bay can be pretty salty, especially if you’re not used to having it. I’m glad you were able to make the recipe work for you!
Question on one of the recipe ingredients… Is “cornmeal grount oats” just regular cornmeal?
Hi Jodi!
My apologies for the typo. It’s supposed to say “cornmeal, ground oats, or breadcrumbs”. So the answer is, yes… regular cornmeal. I’ve corrected the error in the recipe. 🙂
Looks like a great way to try cauliflower!
Ha I love crab but not Old bay! But I am pretty sure I love cauli-tots! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Pinned & Sharing on FB! Have a great week!
Kim
Have I told you how happy you make me when you post another cauliflower recipe? I wish I lived next door to you so I could taste them right away.
I aim to please 😉
From another Jersey Girl, these look amazing and I love crab! I will be making these soon!
Thanks and enjoy!
I love Old Bay on fries so this is a must try for cauliflower!
Old Bay adds such great flavor!
Cauli-Tots!! What a great idea! I’m a huge fan of Old Bay Seasoning too, so these are going on my “to-do” list ASAP!
We love cauli-tots! It was only natural to add some Old Bay for amazing flavor!
This looks so good! And of course, everything in Maryland is covered in Old Bay 🙂 I learned that quickly after moving here.
These look so good. I’m also a transplanted Jersey girl. I’m in PA. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you!
I would be happy to eat your portion of crab! Though I don’t really like having to get the meat myself. It is too messy and so much work for such a little bite. But every once in a while I am up for the challenge. These cauiltots look amazing and what a great use for some Old Bay!
You can definitely have my share!
OK, this is probably the world’s dumbest question, but is the seasoning in the Red Lobster biscuits Old Bay? Because if it is, I’m going to kick myself for the years of tinkering with biscuit recipes trying to get it “just right.” And if the cauli-tots taste as good, I’m giving them a try!
I think it is! Or at least a similar seasoning mix!
You’ve done it yet again Brianne!! I love this cauli tot treat, especially the Old Bay addition! Perfect finger food for our Fam!
You have put a great spin on Maryland flavors. I would love these!!
Thanks!
Ohh this sounds sooooo good!!!!
Thank you!