Learn how to make buffalo sauce! Rich, spicy, and tangy, this easy homemade version rivals any store-bought wing sauce I've tried.
Let’s talk buffalo sauce! This famous wing sauce is rich, tangy, and spicy. I recently tested out a homemade version for this buffalo cauliflower recipe, and I love the bold flavor so much that I’ve been using it in other ways too. As a dip for sweet potato fries or air fryer French fries, slathered on a black bean burger… If you love punchy flavors and lots of heat, then I think you’ll go nuts for this buffalo sauce recipe.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
What is buffalo sauce, anyway?
I’ll start by saying that it has nothing to do with the animal. Buffalo sauce gets its name from its city of origin, Buffalo, New York, where Teressa Bellissimo is said to have invented buffalo chicken wings at the Anchor Bar in 1964.
In its simplest form, buffalo wing sauce is a just a combination of cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter. My recipe calls for a few additional ingredients to help balance the flavors, but it’s still very straightforward. If you keep a bottle of Frank’s RedHot in your fridge, you can whip it up anytime!
Buffalo Sauce Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:
- Cayenne pepper hot sauce – Which basically just means Frank’s RedHot. It’s super spicy and tangy!
- Butter – For richness and buttery flavor. Vegan butter works too!
- Honey – Its sweetness balances the sharp hot sauce, and it makes the buffalo sauce thick and glossy. Swap in 1 tablespoon agave if you’re vegan.
- Garlic powder – For savory, umami flavor.
- And paprika – It adds earthy, peppery complexity.
To make the sauce, melt the butter and place it in a medium bowl. Add the hot sauce, honey, garlic powder, and paprika, and stir to combine. That’s it!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Use Homemade Buffalo Sauce
Of course, this homemade buffalo sauce is fantastic on buffalo wings, cauliflower or otherwise. Serve them with a side of vegan ranch dressing (or blue cheese dressing, if that’s more your thing) for an insanely delicious appetizer or snack.
Not in a wing mood? There are other ways to use this tasty sauce!
- Serve it as a dipping sauce with sweet potato fries, air fryer French fries, potato wedges, or crispy air fryer cauliflower.
- Toss it with crispy tofu. The tofu is great in a buffalo-themed grain bowl with quinoa, roasted cauliflower, crispy chickpeas, and vegan ranch dressing.
- Slather it on a black bean burger.
- Dot it onto a breakfast sandwich.
- Drizzle it over crispy smashed potatoes.
The sauce will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, so you’ll have plenty of time to experiment with it. Let me know your favorite ways to use it in the comments!
More Favorite Sauce Recipes
If you love this homemade buffalo sauce recipe, try one of these tasty sauces next:
- Creamy Chipotle Sauce
- Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette
- Remoulade Sauce
- Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- Gochujang Sauce
- Tartar Sauce
- Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Honey Mustard Dressing
Buffalo Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup cayenne pepper hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted*
- 2½ tablespoons honey*
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the hot sauce, melted butter, honey, garlic powder, and paprika. Season to taste.
If I’m gonna buy franks red hot, I’ll buy their buffalo sauce no?
This was a little too sweet for my liking. I think the honey cut the vinegar/tang from the Frank’s red hot sauce a little too much for me.
I made this today before I even saw your recipe, I just wanted something different. I though why not add some paprika. And then it was, Hmmmm… Honey sounds really good! I must say that this was the best wing sauce I have ever made. Thank you for having the courage to step outside the norm and go for full on deliciousness!