Learn How to Make Buffalo Sauce to make your Buffalo wings even tastier! This Homemade Buffalo Sauce recipe is super easy and quick to make. It’s hot and tasty, and it’s going to take your Buffalo wings to the next level. You can also use this delicious Buffalo wing sauce on other recipes, or use it as a dip for your favorite appetizers!

How to Make Buffalo Sauce at home

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Why We Love This Homemade Buffalo Sauce Recipe

Homemade Buffalo Sauce is the best way to make Buffalo wings at home. Why buy a pre-made wing sauce at the store when you could just learn how to make Buffalo sauce instead?

  • Simple. This homemade Buffalo sauce recipe is really easy to make. It only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish so you can make it just before you cook your Buffalo wings.
  • Flavorful. Made from hot sauce, butter, vinegar, and brown sugar, this sauce is spicy with just a hint of sweetness.
  • Versatile. This sauce isn’t just for wings. You can use it as a dipping sauce for just about any appetizer you can dream of or as a spread for sandwiches!
Buffalo Wings with buffalo wing sauce on a plate with ranch and celery
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How to Store and Reheat 

This homemade Buffalo sauce recipe should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 1 week. Simply reheat in a saucepan set over low heat.

How to Freeze 

Freeze homemade Buffalo sauce in an airtight container (you can separate it into individual portions) for up to 6 months. Toss into a hot pan to melt, or let larger portions thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.

Serving Suggestions

Now that you’ve learned how to make Buffalo sauce, it’s time to put that knowledge to good use! This is the perfect sauce to use on all of your Buffalo wings, whether your wings are baked or fried.

Believe it or not, Buffalo wings aren’t the only thing you can use this homemade sauce on. Sure, that’s what it’s made for, but this sauce is so yummy that it deserves to be put on all kinds of things. You can mix it into this buffalo chicken pasta salad, use it on these buffalo chicken meatballs, use it as a dip for other appetizers (like avocado egg rolls or chicken tenders), or spread it onto this chicken burger for some added flavor. The possibilities are endless.

Why is it called Buffalo sauce?

Buffalo Wings are (usually) deep-fried chicken wings. They were invented in Buffalo, New York, which is where the name comes from (no, they are not made from buffalo). The sauce that was originally served with these Buffalo wings (hot sauce, butter, vinegar) became known as Buffalo sauce.

What is Buffalo sauce made of?

This tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce is made from hot sauce, butter, and vinegar. We add some Tabasco and dark brown sugar to take ours to the next level.

Are Buffalo sauce and hot sauce the same thing?

Not exactly. Hot Sauce is a vinegar base and hot pepper mix. It’s pretty pure, which is why it’s so spicy. Buffalo sauce mixes hot sauce with butter (and sometimes other ingredients). So while there is hot sauce in Buffalo sauce, the latter isn’t as pure. Some Buffalo wing sauce will still be very hot, but you can dilute your sauce to make it more mild or sweet.

A close up of a glass of buffalo sauce

More Homemade Sauce Recipes To Try

5-Star Review

“Absolutely the best wing sauce ever. I have tried many but this is the “awesome sauce” 😊” -Chrissy

Recipe Card

Homemade Buffalo Sauce Recipe

4.45 from 108 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 16
Author: Becky Hardin
Learn How to Make Buffalo Sauce to make your buffalo wings even tastier! This Homemade Buffalo Sauce Recipe is super easy and quick to make. It's hot and tasty, and it's going to take your buffalo wings to the next level. You can also use this delicious buffalo wing sauce on other recipes, or use it as a dip for your favorite appetizers!
Learn how to make buffalo sauce and you'll never have to use a store-bought sauce again. This homemade buffalo sauce is hot, tasty, and easy to make!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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Ingredients 

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick)
  • ½ cup Frank’s RedHot Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce optional
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • Serve with Buffalo Wings! (click for recipe)

Instructions 

  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add remaining ingredients and whisk until combined. Remove from heat and set aside until ready to use.
    4 tablespoons unsalted butter, ½ cup Frank’s RedHot Sauce, 1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
    how to make buffalo sauce in a saucepan.

Video

Becky’s Tips

Yield: This recipe makes approx. 1 cup of Buffalo sauce. A serving is 1 tablespoon.
  • You can use maple syrup or agave syrup in place of the brown sugar.
Storage: Store homemade Buffalo sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Serving: 1tablespoonCalories: 31kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 0.04gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 252mgPotassium: 4mgFiber: 0.003gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 89IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.02mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make Buffalo Sauce Step by Step

Combine and Heat: In a small saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons (½ stick) of unsalted butter over low heat. Add ½ cup of Frank’s RedHot Sauce, 1 tablespoon of Tabasco sauce, 2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar, and 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and whisk until combined. Remove from heat and set aside until ready to use.

how to make buffalo sauce in a saucepan.

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.45 from 108 votes (105 ratings without comment)
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13 Comments
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Diane
Diane
February 12, 2023 7:13 am

Can I leave out the brown sugar without messing up the recipe?

Samantha Marceau
February 13, 2023 9:20 am
Reply to  Diane

You can leave it out, but the sauce flavor will be less balanced! You can use honey or maple syrup if you’re looking for substitutes!

tasha
tasha
January 22, 2023 11:05 am

How do you store the buffalo sauce? how long does it last?
can you freeze the leftovers?

thanks

Samantha Marceau
January 23, 2023 9:22 am
Reply to  tasha

It should keep for about a week in the refrigerator or in the freezer for up to 6 months!

Nataly
Nataly
November 6, 2021 4:52 pm

This was great! super fast and easy. I’m not sure what I might’ve done wrong though, the butter almost floated to the top of my sauce, like it wasnt mixed well enough. But it still tasted pretty darn great.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
November 11, 2021 1:14 pm
Reply to  Nataly

Oh no! I hope it doesn’t happen again! Sometimes it could just be the brand of the butter.

Nancy De Graff
Nancy De Graff
October 22, 2021 10:10 am

With regards to the butter portion of the recipe, am I reading it correctly 4Tablespoons plus 1/2 stick?

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
October 26, 2021 10:28 am
Reply to  Nancy De Graff

Not plus, just clarifying it is half of a stick of butter! I can see where that’s confusing!

Chrissy
Chrissy
July 7, 2021 7:33 pm

Absolutely the best wing sauce ever. I have tried many but this is the “awesome sauce” 😊5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 9, 2021 11:09 am
Reply to  Chrissy

Thanks for stopping by, Chrissy!

Giselle
Giselle
May 4, 2021 2:17 pm

This is the best sauce ever!!! Thanks for sharing…my daughter loves it! Will definitely make it again…..and again!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
May 7, 2021 11:11 am
Reply to  Giselle

Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Giselle!

Pat
Pat
June 20, 2018 5:42 pm

How do you make mild Buffalo Sauce?