Name: Hot Honey Cauliflower Bowl
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups cauliflower florets, fresh or frozen; 2 tsp avocado oil; 1 tsp chili powder; ½ tsp ground cumin; ½ tsp garlic powder; ¼ tsp red pepper flakes; Sea salt and black pepper, to taste; 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1 large sweet potato, cut into ½-inch moons; 1 tsp avocado oil; Sea salt and black pepper, to taste; 1 cup dry quinoa; ½ cup plain coconut yogurt; 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1 tbsp high-quality honey (optional, as I find the hot honey sauce provides enough sweetness); Sea salt and black pepper, to taste; 4 cups coleslaw mix; ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tbsp high-quality honey; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1 tsp red pepper flakes, plus more to taste; Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

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Last Updated on December 30, 2025 by Christin Gillespie

This Hot Honey Cauliflower Bowl recipe is a plant-based twist on the popular Hot Honey Chicken Plate from Sweetgreen. It features fluffy quinoa, dairy-free coleslaw, roasted sweet potatoes, blackened cauliflower, and a spicy-sweet hot honey sauce. Made right in the comfort of your own kitchen, this viral sweet potato hot honey bowl will become a household favorite!

Hot honey cauliflower bowl with sweet potatoes, dairy-free coleslaw, and quinoa with a fork in it.

Spicy, sweet, and will save you some money. This Hot Honey Cauliflower Bowl is a must-try recipe for all plant-based lovers who desire to enjoy the Hot Honey Chicken Plate from Sweetgreen but without the bird.

By swapping the chicken for roasted cauliflower and using a dairy-free coleslaw, this version gets all the flavors right. The best part about making this viral hot honey sweet potato bowl at home is that it’s completely customizable. That being said, if you want to make it vegan, simply replace the honey with organic pure maple syrup.

No matter if you’re near a Sweetgreen location or not, and whether you follow a plant-based lifestyle, this bowl will be a regular in your meal rotation!

Why You’ll Love This Viral Sweet Potato Hot Honey Bowl

Clean and Customizable: Preparing this viral hot honey bowl at home ensures fresh, clean ingredients and allows you to adjust it to suit your dietary preference.
Healthy Food-Chain Worthy: By swapping the bird for roasted cauliflower and using a dairy-free coleslaw, this plant-based recipe is just as delicious as the Hot Honey Chicken Plate from Sweetgreen.
A Nutrient-Packed, Crowd-Pleasing Meal: Packed with wholesome, plant-based ingredients, this bowl is sure to win over everyone at the table!

Hot Honey Cauliflower Bowl Ingredients

Organic Cauliflower: Instead of chicken, we’ll be roasting cauliflower florets for this hot honey bowl. While it doesn’t technically taste like chicken, the spices take it from bland to grand. Fresh or frozen works equally well.
Organic Blackened Seasonings: A combination of chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and balsamic vinegar brings the cauliflower to life.
Organic Sweet Potato: To provide a pop of color, extra nutrients, and loads of fiber. Scrub well and keep the skin on to maximize the nutritional benefits.
Organic Quinoa: Adds protein, fiber, and minerals to this viral hot honey bowl. White, red, or multi-colored quinoa all work well.
Organic Coleslaw: Grab a bag of pre-packed organic coleslaw mix at your local health foods store instead of preparing your own mix. This will save time and potentially money. After all, what do you do with two whole heads of cabbage when it’s just you?!
Organic Coleslaw Dressing: Traditional coleslaw dressings usually require mayonnaise, but this recipe includes plain coconut yogurt to achieve that creamy, cooling, and tangy taste.
Hot Honey Sauce: A few pantry-staple ingredients to whisk up a spicy yet sweet sauce. Adjust the heat as needed, and feel free to use organic pure maple syrup to make it vegan.
Organic Avocado Oil: The perfect oil for roasting the cauliflower florets and the sweet potato for this viral hot honey bowl.

Sweetgreen hot honey chicken ingredients with dairy-free coleslaw, seasonings, quinoa, hot honey sauce, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower florets.

How to Make the Sweetgreen Hot Honey Bowl

Marinate the Cauliflower. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the marinade ingredients, then add the cauliflower florets to the bowl and combine until fully coated. Set aside for 10 minutes to marinate.
Sheet Pan. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. On one side, place the marinated cauliflower florets. On the other side, toss the sweet potatoes with the oil and seasonings. Roast for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Quinoa. While the vegetables are roasting, prepare the quinoa according to the package instructions.
Coleslaw. In a large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Once the dairy-free base is ready, add the coleslaw mix and stir until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Hot Honey. In a bowl, whisk all of the hot honey ingredients together until smooth and well combined.
Serve. Divide the cooked quinoa, coleslaw, sweet potatoes, and blackened cauliflower between bowls. Pair with the hot honey and enjoy!

Roasted hot honey cauliflower and sweet potatoes on a sheet pan.

Tips to Nail This Sweetgreen Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

Organic Cauliflower: Fresh or frozen will do; just be sure to let the cauliflower marinate for at least 10 minutes for optimal flavor.
Organic Plain Coconut Yogurt: Please use a clean, plain variety. Check out this coconut yogurt post to discover the best brands.
Organic Coleslaw: For convenience, use pre-packaged organic coleslaw mix that includes green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots.
Make It Vegan: Swap the honey for organic pure maple syrup.

Storing and Reheating This Viral Hot Honey Bowl

Storing: Transfer the ingredients to separate glass containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Reheating: To reheat, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the cooked quinoa, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes to an oven-safe bowl. Place in the oven for 15 minutes, until warmed through, then serve with coleslaw and hot honey.

Sweet potato hot honey bowl with blackened cauliflower florets, quinoa, and dairy-free coleslaw.

More Healthy Plant-Based Recipes to Make Next

If you made this Hot Honey Cauliflower Bowl recipe, I would love for you to leave a rating and share a review below! Your feedback not only makes my day, but it also helps others find the blog. Lastly, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok for even more healthy content!

Xoxo.

CMG.

Hot Honey Cauliflower Bowl

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Author: Christin Gillespie
Prep Time: 15
Cook Time: 20
Total Time: 35
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Main Dish
Method: Oven
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Ingredients

Scale

Always opt for organic ingredients.

BLACKENED CAULIFLOWER

2 cups cauliflower florets, fresh or frozen
2 tsp avocado oil
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

SWEET POTATOES

1 large sweet potato, cut into ½-inch moons
1 tsp avocado oil
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

QUINOA

1 cup dry quinoa

COLESLAW

½ cup plain coconut yogurt
2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp high-quality honey (optional, as I find the hot honey sauce provides enough sweetness)
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
4 cups coleslaw mix

HOT HONEY

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp high-quality honey
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Marinate the Cauliflower. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the marinade ingredients, then add the cauliflower florets to the bowl and combine until fully coated. Set aside for 10 minutes to marinate.
Sheet Pan. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. On one side, place the marinated cauliflower florets. On the other side, toss the sweet potatoes with the oil and seasonings. Roast for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Quinoa. While the vegetables are roasting, prepare the quinoa according to the package instructions.
Coleslaw. In a large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Once the dairy-free base is ready, add the coleslaw mix and stir until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Hot Honey. In a bowl, whisk all of the hot honey ingredients together until smooth and well combined.
Serve. Divide the cooked quinoa, coleslaw, sweet potatoes, and blackened cauliflower between bowls. Pair with the hot honey and enjoy!

Notes

Organic Cauliflower: Fresh or frozen will do; just be sure to let the cauliflower marinate for at least 10 minutes for optimal flavor.

Organic Plain Coconut Yogurt: Please use a clean, plain variety. Check out this coconut yogurt post to discover the best brands.

Organic Coleslaw: For clean convenience, use pre-packaged organic coleslaw mix that includes green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots.

Make It Vegan: Swap the honey for organic pure maple syrup.

Storing and Reheating: Transfer the ingredients to separate glass containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the cooked quinoa, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes to an oven-safe bowl. Place in the oven for 15 minutes, until warmed through, then serve with coleslaw and hot honey.