Buffalo Sauce

Homemade Buffalo Sauce is easy to make and oh so delicious! It’s the best dipping sauce for chicken wings and more!

I love making homemade sauces, seasonings and dressings because not only is it easy, but when you make them yourself you can control the ingredients and flavors. Some of my favorite homemade sauces include Stir Fry Sauce, BBQ Sauce and this easy Salsa Recipe.

With this buffalo sauce recipe, you can adjust the ingredients to make it just how you like it, whether that be spicier or with a richer buttery flavor. This recipe is incredibly easy to make, requiring just 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes of your time. 

Buffalo sauce is moderately spicy, with a velvety smooth texture and richness thanks to the melted butter in the sauce. It’s the best dip for wings, perfect for serving on game day with Air Fryer Chicken Wings! You’ll find more ideas for how to use your buffalo sauce below.

Buffalo Sauce Ingredients

The main ingredients in buffalo sauce are hot sauce, melted butter and often vinegar. The butter tones down the spice and adds a rich, smooth flavor. For the hot sauce, I use Frank’s red hot original cayenne pepper sauce, but feel free to use your favorite.

I also add a small amount of garlic powder and a pinch of cayenne to boost the flavor. The cayenne pepper is optional, and will make the sauce even spicier. You’ll also find Worcestershire sauce in some buffalo sauce recipes, to add umami flavor.

So why is it called buffalo sauce anyways? Stories vary, but the most common tale is that buffalo wing sauce was invented by the owners of a bar in Buffalo, NY, hence its name.

How to Make Buffalo Sauce

1. First, melt the butter in a small saucepan on the stove over low heat.
2. As soon as the butter is melted, whisk in the hot sauce, white vinegar and garlic powder. If you’re adding a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat, whisk that in now, too.
3. Next, bring the sauce to a simmer, while whisking constantly. Once it comes to a simmer, remove the pan from the heat. That’s it! Serve it warm or let the sauce cool and serve it with wings or use it in your favorite buffalo recipes.

If you’d like to make honey buffalo sauce (my favorite!), add 1/4 cup of honey along with the other ingredients. The honey balances out the spice and makes the sauce extra irresistible.

Find the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

What to Serve with Buffalo Sauce

Besides serving it with chicken wings, there are so many ways to use buffalo sauce!

• Buffalo Cauliflower: Toss Air Fryer Cauliflower or Roasted Cauliflower in buffalo sauce and then air fry or bake a few minutes more.
• Sandwiches: Toss it with Crockpot Shredded Chicken or Instant Pot Shredded Chicken and serve on toasted buns with blue cheese crumbles to make a buffalo chicken sandwich. Or serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich.
• Eggs: Serve it with Scrambled Eggs or a Breakfast Casserole.
• Chicken: Dip Chicken Tenders or Air Fryer Fried Chicken in it, or serve with Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
• Pizza: Use it to make buffalo chicken pizza with shredded chicken, mozzarella cheese, and crumbled blue cheese on a whole wheat pizza crust.
• Potatoes: Drizzle it over Air Fryer Potatoes, breakfast potatoes or a baked potato. Toss it with shredded chicken and serve in a baked sweet potato with a drizzle of blue cheese dressing. Serve it with Air Fryer French Fries.
• Vegetables: Use it as a dip for fresh veggies, such as carrot sticks and celery.

How to Store

Homemade buffalo sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. The sauce will thicken up in the refrigerator as the melted butter solidifies. Before serving, shake or stir the sauce and then warm the portion that you plan to use for a few seconds on low power in the microwave. Stir and enjoy!

More Sauce Recipes

• Honey Mustard
• Ranch Dressing
• Enchilada Sauce
• Marinara Sauce
• Fish Taco Sauce

Buffalo Sauce Recipe

Servings: 12 tablespoons

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

This Buffalo Sauce recipe is easy to make and so delicious! It's the best dipping sauce for chicken wings, or serve it with buffalo cauliflower, pizza, sandwiches, eggs and more!

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Ingredients

• ▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ▢ ½ cup hot sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot Original
• ▢ 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ pinch cayenne pepper, optional, for extra spice

Instructions

 

• In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
• Once melted, whisk in the hot sauce, white vinegar, garlic powder and cayenne pepper (if using).
• Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking constantly. Once it comes to a simmer remove the pan from the heat.
• Let cool and then serve with chicken wings, etc., or use in your favorite buffalo recipes.

Notes

• To make honey buffalo sauce, stir in 1/4 cup of honey along with the other ingredients.
• Store buffalo sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. The sauce may thicken up in the refrigerator as the melted butter solidifies. Before serving, shake or stir the sauce and then warm the portion that you plan to use for a few seconds on low power in the microwave.
• Recipe makes about 3/4 cup of buffalo sauce.

Serving: 1tablespoon, Calories: 35kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 265mg, Potassium: 16mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 134IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 2mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: American

Course: Sauce

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.