Homemade Buffalo Sauce

Homemade Buffalo Sauce, a simple DIY buffalo sauce with an easy secret ingredient that puts this version over the top! This from-scratch sauce is great for chicken wings, sandwiches, burgers, and more! You’ll want a jar in your fridge at all times.

You won’t believe how EASY it is to make Homemade Buffalo Sauce right in your own kitchen! This simple Buffalo sauce recipe has only six ingredients and is ready in less than 10 minutes. Mix everything together, heat until smooth, and DONE.

Once you see how easy it is to make Buffalo sauce from scratch, you may want a jar in your refrigerator at all times.

My family LOVES wings, so having an easy homemade hot wing sauce around is always a good idea. I’ve been known to throw some wings on the grill, toss them with homemade sauce, and call it dinner. Quick, easy, and everyone is happy. Win-win!

This homemade Buffalo Sauce starts with Frank’s RedHot sauce, butter, and a few simple ingredients. But instead of using vinegar for the extra tang, I add my little secret ingredient: lemon juice. The lemon adds a little freshness and brightness that I really love.

The other great thing about making a DIY Buffalo sauce is that you can customize it. Keep it mild to medium, add cayenne for a spicy Buffalo sauce, stir in honey for something sweeter, or turn it into a creamy Buffalo sauce with ranch, sour cream, or mayonnaise. Or make a copycat version of your favorite bottled Buffalo sauce.

And Buffalo sauce isn’t just for chicken wings! Use it for Buffalo chicken dip, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, cauliflower, pasta, shrimp, meatballs, tacos, and LOTS more.

What I Love About This Recipe

• It’s incredibly easy. This Homemade Buffalo Sauce is ready in about 7 minutes from start to finish. Everything goes into one microwave-safe bowl, and you don’t need any complicated cooking techniques. If you can stir, you can make this sauce.
• You only need six ingredients. No mile-long ingredient list here! Frank’s mild hot sauce, unsalted butter, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder are all you need for this recipe. You may already have most of the Buffalo sauce ingredients sitting in your kitchen.
• It’s easy to customize the heat. As written, I’d consider this Buffalo Sauce about mild to medium, although everyone’s definition of spicy is different. Add less hot sauce for a milder version or cayenne pepper for extra heat. Making Buffalo Sauce from scratch means YOU get to decide how spicy it should be.
• The lemon juice makes it special. Traditional Buffalo sauce recipes often contain vinegar, but I like using fresh lemon juice instead. It gives the sauce a little brightness and freshness while still adding that tangy flavor you expect. It’s my simple secret ingredient that puts this version over the top.
• It’s good on WAY more than wings. Buffalo chicken wings might be the obvious choice, but don’t stop there. This zesty sauce is also delicious with burgers, pizza, Buffalo chicken dip, roasted cauliflower, pasta, shrimp, sandwiches, tacos, meatballs, and more. Make a batch and you’ll find plenty of excuses to use it!

What is Buffalo Sauce

First things first, Buffalo sauce has nothing to do with the animal. Haha!

Basic Buffalo sauce is the spicy sauce most commonly associated with Buffalo chicken wings. What’s in Buffalo sauce? Classic versions generally combine a cayenne pepper hot sauce with butter and may include vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and other seasonings. There are LOTS of variations.

Some Buffalo sauce recipes are mild, some are medium, and others will practically set your mouth on fire. You can also find sweet Buffalo sauce, honey Buffalo sauce, creamy Buffalo sauce, and countless bottled versions.

The sauce is especially famous as a hot wing sauce, but today you’ll find Buffalo flavor on everything from cauliflower and pizza to burgers, pasta, dips, and sandwiches.

Equipment You May Need

• Microwave-Safe Bowl – Use a bowl large enough to hold all the sauce ingredients with extra room at the top to help prevent splattering.
• Whisk or Spoon – Stir the Buffalo Sauce after each 30-second heating interval so the butter, sugar, and other ingredients combine smoothly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons – Accurate measurements help balance the spicy, tangy, buttery, and slightly sweet flavors.
• Small Saucepan – Don’t want to use a microwave? Heat the ingredients gently in a small saucepan instead.
• Glass Jar or Airtight Container – Perfect for storing leftover Homemade Buffalo Sauce in the refrigerator.

(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)

Homemade Buffalo Sauce Ingredients

• Frank’s Hot Sauce – The spicy pepper sauce that forms the base of this homemade Buffalo Sauce. Frank’s is my favorite for this recipe because it gives the sauce that familiar Buffalo flavor. Other hot sauces can work, but the results can vary considerably.
• Unsalted Butter – Gives Buffalo sauce its rich, buttery flavor and smooth consistency. Cut the butter into cubes or thin slices so it melts quickly and evenly.
• Brown Sugar – Adds just a touch of sweetness to balance the spicy and tangy flavors. The finished sauce isn’t particularly sweet, but you can substitute honey, granulated sugar, another favorite sweetener, or leave it out.
• Lemon Juice – My secret ingredient! Instead of additional vinegar, lemon juice adds tang and a little freshness to this homemade hot wing sauce.
• Worcestershire Sauce – Adds savory depth and another layer of flavor. A little goes a long way.
• Garlic Powder – Adds easy garlic flavor and rounds out the simple Buffalo sauce ingredients.

How to Make Homemade Buffalo Sauce

Step One: Combine the Buffalo Sauce Ingredients
Place the Frank’s hot sauce, cubed unsalted butter, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover slightly so the sauce doesn’t splatter but steam can still escape.

Step Two: Heat the Buffalo Sauce
Microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the butter has melted, the sauce is heated through, and the brown sugar has dissolved.

Step Three: Use or Store the Sauce
Use the Homemade Buffalo Sauce as desired, or cool and store it covered in the refrigerator.

(Full printable recipe card is at bottom of post.)

Uses for Homemade Buffalo Sauce

Once you have a jar of Homemade Buffalo Sauce in the refrigerator, you’ll find LOTS of ways to use it.

• Chicken Wings: Toss cooked chicken wings with the warm sauce for an easy homemade hot wing sauce like these Grilled Chicken Wings.
• Buffalo Chicken Dip: Stir Buffalo Sauce into your favorite Buffalo chicken dip for plenty of spicy flavor.
• Buffalo Cauliflower: Toss or drizzle it over roasted cauliflower for an easy veggie version of classic Buffalo flavors.
• Pizza: Drizzle it over chicken pizza or use it to add a little heat to your favorite homemade pizza.
• Burgers: Mix a little into burger patties or drizzle Buffalo Sauce over cooked burgers like these Killer Burgers.
• Sandwiches: Add it to chicken sandwiches, wraps, sliders, or grilled cheese.
• Pasta: Stir a little Buffalo Sauce into a creamy pasta sauce for a spicy Buffalo pasta.
• Shrimp: Toss the sauce with fried, baked, or grilled shrimp.
• Tacos: Drizzle Buffalo Sauce over chicken or shrimp tacos.
• Meatballs: Add some to cooked meatballs for a fun appetizer.
• Meatloaf: Mix a little into meatloaf or drizzle it over the top.
• Marinade: Use it as part of a marinade for chicken, beef, or pork.
• Salad Dressing: Mix a small amount into ranch or another creamy salad dressing.
• Dip: Combine with ranch, blue cheese dressing, sour cream, or mayonnaise for an easy Buffalo dip.

Quick Tips for Best Results

• Use Frank’s hot sauce if unsure what hot sauce to use. Different hot sauces can vary dramatically in heat and flavor.
• Cut the butter into cubes. Smaller pieces melt faster and help the sauce come together more quickly.
• Heat in short intervals. Microwave in 30-second intervals and stir after each one.
• Cover the bowl slightly. This helps contain splatters while still allowing steam to escape.
• Don’t skip the heating if you have time. You can technically mix everything together if the butter is already melted, but heating helps the ingredients combine.
• Adjust the spice level. Use less hot sauce for a milder sauce or add cayenne for extra heat.
• Don’t substitute Tabasco without expecting changes. Its heat and flavor are different from Frank’s, so it isn’t an ideal direct substitute for this recipe.
• Taste before adding salt. Hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce can already contain quite a bit of sodium.
• Try honey for sweetness. Substitute honey for the brown sugar or add a little extra for a sweeter honey Buffalo Sauce.
• Make it creamy. Mix the finished sauce with ranch, mayonnaise, sour cream, or blue cheese dressing.
• Use the saucepan method if preferred. Gently heat and stir the ingredients in a small saucepan instead of microwaving.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator. The butter will affect the consistency when cold, so gently reheat and stir the sauce before using if necessary.

Homemade Buffalo Sauce FAQ

How should I store Buffalo Sauce?
Store leftover Buffalo Sauce covered in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. Since this homemade sauce contains butter, refrigeration is important. The sauce may thicken or separate a little when cold, so gently warm and stir it before using as needed.

Can I freeze Buffalo Sauce?
I haven’t personally tested freezing this Buffalo Sauce. You probably could freeze it, but the consistency may change because of the butter. Since the recipe is so quick to make and stores well in the refrigerator, I’d generally make it fresh rather than relying on freezing.

How long will Buffalo Sauce last?
It should keep at least a week or two in the refrigerator and potentially longer when stored properly. Use a clean airtight container and always check the sauce for any signs of spoilage before using leftovers.

Substitutions?
Instead of brown sugar, try granulated sugar, honey, another favorite sweetener, or omit the sweetener. You can use another hot sauce instead of Frank’s, but the flavor and heat may change considerably. For a spicier sauce, add cayenne pepper.

Can I use low-fat ingredients?
You could experiment with low-fat butter or margarine substitutes, but I don’t think all of them will work especially well. Butter contributes both flavor and texture to Buffalo Sauce, so changing it can affect the finished result.

What else can I add to this recipe?
Try beer, mustard, paprika, onion powder, ground chipotle, or cayenne pepper. You could also experiment with flavored vinegar. For creamy Buffalo Sauce, add mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing. For a sweeter sauce, try additional honey.

Can I make this vegan/vegetarian/low carb/gluten-free?
Here are some suggestions, but I can’t guarantee results. Be sure as always to check particular brands and ingredients if you’re following a specific diet or have diet restrictions or allergies.

Vegan – Most Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, so double-check the brand. Or make your own homemade vegan Worcestershire. Instead of the butter, you could try a vegetable oil or butter substitute.

Vegetarian – Again, check the Worcestershire sauce. It generally contains anchovies. You could omit it or try a vegetarian substitute.

Low-Carb – You can try a sugar substitute or omit the brown sugar.

Gluten-Free – All the ingredients should be gluten-free; just double-check specific brands, including the Worcestershire sauce.

Other Homemade Condiment Recipes You May Enjoy

• Pickled Jalapeños – Spicy pickled pepper great for tacos, nachos, and other dishes.
• Spicy Pickles – Easy refrigerator pickles that require no canning. Ready the next day, so simple!
• Spicy Cilantro Pesto – Love keeping this in the freezer to add to various dishes.
• Teriyaki Sauce – Easy from-scratch Asian sauce.
• Root Beer BBQ Sauce – A delicious sweet homemade BBQ sauce.
• Boom Sauce – Great “secret” sauce for burgers, fries, and more.

Hope you enjoy this Homemade Buffalo Sauce. Tell me in the comments what you put it on!

You might also like this Spicy Cranberry Spread that is great on crackers and sandwiches, or this Spicy Homemade Taco Seasoning that is great for Taco nights!