Buffalo Sauce
This classic buffalo sauce is buttery, tangy, and easy to adjust for heat. Use it for wings, cauliflower bites, sandwiches, fries, or a quick spicy dip base.
At a glance
- Total time
- 10 min
- Yield
- Makes about 1 cup
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cuisine
- American
- Category
- Snacks
Buffalo sauce is the bright orange, spicy butter sauce most often tossed with chicken wings. It started in Buffalo, New York, and the basic idea is simple: cayenne pepper hot sauce plus melted butter.
Homemade buffalo sauce takes about 10 minutes and lets you control the heat, salt, and tang. Keep it smooth and glossy by warming it gently, not boiling it hard.
This version is medium-spicy as written. Add honey for a softer heat, extra cayenne for more bite, or a splash more vinegar if you like a sharper sauce.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
9 items · Makes about 1 cup
- 1/2 cup cayenne pepper hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika or sweet paprika, optional
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional, for extra heat
- Pinch of fine salt, only if needed
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey, optional, for a slightly sweeter sauce
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Gather the ingredients
Measure everything before you start. Buffalo sauce cooks quickly, so it helps to have the hot sauce, vinegar, seasonings, and butter ready by the stove.
2. Melt the butter gently
Place the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Let it melt slowly, stirring now and then. Do not let it brown; browned butter will change the flavor of the sauce.
3. Whisk in the hot sauce
Add the cayenne pepper hot sauce to the melted butter. Whisk until the mixture looks even and orange. Whisking means stirring quickly with a whisk to help the butter and hot sauce come together.
4. Add the tang and seasoning
Whisk in the vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne if using. Keep the heat low so the sauce warms through without bubbling hard.
5. Taste and adjust
Taste a small spoonful carefully, since the sauce will be hot. Add honey if you want a rounder, less sharp sauce. Add a little more vinegar for tang, cayenne for heat, or a pinch of salt if it tastes flat.
6. Keep it warm or use right away
Remove the pan from the heat once the sauce is smooth and warm. Toss with cooked wings, cauliflower, shrimp, or roasted potatoes, or serve as a dipping sauce. If it separates, whisk it again before serving.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make-ahead: Buffalo sauce can be made up to 1 week ahead. Cool it, transfer it to a clean jar, and refrigerate.
- Storage: Keep refrigerated in a sealed container for up to 1 week. Because it contains butter, it will firm up when cold.
- Reheating: Warm the sauce gently in a small pan over low heat or in short microwave bursts. Whisk well once melted. Avoid boiling, which can make it separate.
- Hot sauce swap: Use a cayenne-style hot sauce for the classic flavor. Very thick or very sweet hot sauces will change the texture and taste.
- Butter swap: Unsalted butter gives you the most control. If using salted butter, skip the added pinch of salt until you taste the sauce.
- Dairy-free option: Use a plant-based butter you like. Choose one that melts smoothly, and whisk well before serving because some brands separate more easily than dairy butter.
Cook's note
For wings, toss the sauce with fully cooked, hot wings just before serving. The heat from the wings helps the sauce coat evenly. This recipe is a sauce only and does not include instructions for cooking chicken.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Is buffalo sauce the same as hot sauce?
No. Hot sauce is usually a thin chili-vinegar sauce. Buffalo sauce is hot sauce mixed with melted butter and seasonings, which makes it richer and better for coating wings.
Why did my buffalo sauce separate?
It may have gotten too hot or sat for a while. Warm it gently and whisk until it comes back together. A small splash of hot water can also help loosen and smooth it.
How spicy is this buffalo sauce?
It is medium-spicy if made with a standard cayenne pepper hot sauce. For milder sauce, add 1 to 2 teaspoons honey or use a little more butter. For hotter sauce, add cayenne pepper a pinch at a time.
Can I freeze buffalo sauce?
Yes, but the texture may separate after thawing because of the butter. Freeze in a small airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat gently and whisk well.
What can I use buffalo sauce on besides wings?
Try it on roasted cauliflower, crispy tofu, chicken sandwiches, burgers, fries, baked potatoes, scrambled eggs, or mixed with ranch or yogurt for a quick dip.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
Makes about 1 cup
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat94 g
- 121%
- Saturated Fat59 g
- 295%
- Cholesterol244 mg
- 81%
- Sodium86 mg
- 4%
- Total Carbohydrate49 g
- 18%
- Dietary Fiber18 g
- 65%
- Total Sugars1.3 g
- Protein8.5 g
- 17%
- Vitamin D1.7 mcg
- 9%
- Calcium39 mg
- 3%
- Iron0.4 mg
- 2%
- Potassium95 mg
- 2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Values are estimated from the ingredient list; actual amounts vary with brands, portion sizes, and substitutions.
05Keep cooking
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