This homemade Buffalo Wing Sauce Recipe can easily be made in under 5 minutes with 4 simple ingredients! Frank’s hot sauce, melted butter, garlic, and my secret ingredient—a sweetener!—are quickly mixed together to create the best spicy flavor. Use it to add a kick to baked and fried chicken wings or to any of your favorite game day or Super Bowl recipes!

Buffalo sauce is lifted out of a mason jar with a spoon.

Homemade Buffalo Wing Sauce Recipe

My friends, Super Bowl Sunday is almost upon us.

And for me the best part of the Super Bowl isn’t the football.

It’s not the halftime show or even the fun commercials.

Oh no! It’s actually the spread of finger foods, dips, and appetizers.

Especially the Buffalo Chicken Hot Wings.

And those wings wouldn’t be complete without a spicy and bold buffalo wing sauce to douse or dip them in. (And then lick off of your fingers after you’re done munching!)

Thankfully, the best homemade buffalo sauce recipe with a spicy kick is super simple to whip up.

What is Buffalo Sauce?

Classic Buffalo Wing Sauce is not just bottled hot sauce. To get a delicious and creamy sauce, the main ingredients you need are hot sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot Sauce) and butter. These are sometimes mixed with other things you can easily find at the grocery store, like white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, honey, or garlic. But store-bought sauce can have a lot of additives.

While you can go crazy and add in a ton of different ingredients, the easy homemade version you’ll find here is a great basic recipe without a lot of extras. You’ll only need 4 ingredients with an optional fifth. That’s it!

Butter, Hot sauce, honey, garlic, and salt are the ingredients used for this homemade buffalo sauce.
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Ingredients

  • Butter. Melting the butter will make it easier to whisk the ingredients together. If you are vegan, use a vegan butter substitute. You can also swap it out for olive oil. It doesn’t get as creamy, but it will still give you that rich taste and luxurious mouth feel.
  • Hot sauce. You want to select your favorite hot sauce for this recipe. Frank’s RedHot Sauce is the classic hot sauce used in most homemade wing sauce recipes. You can also use the Buffalo flavor if you prefer a little less spice. Crystal Hot Sauce is a Louisiana-style hot sauce with a brighter, sweeter taste than the others. Sriracha sauce is perfect for an Asian-style wing. Be aware that it is a bit spicier and sweeter than the other ones mentioned. The spice level will depend on the hot sauce you choose.
  • Garlic. A little bit of garlic goes a long way to add even more flavor. Don’t want to use fresh garlic? Substitute ½ teaspoon of dried garlic powder instead.
  • Salt. Yet again, you only need a little. Most hot sauces are a bit salty so make sure you taste between each small addition. Also, if you use unsalted butter you may need to sprinkle in a little extra.
  • Honey. This is totally optional and it tastes great with or without it. But if you don’t mind a few extra carbs, the floral sweetness really helps to balance out the spicy flavors. You can also mix in agave nectar or pure maple syrup, if vegan.
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How to Make Buffalo Wing Sauce?

Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

1. Combine Ingredients

Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until it is melted. This will make it easier to mix in with the other ingredients.

Measure the hot sauce, garlic, salt, and honey, if using, into the bowl with the melted butter.

Mix together until smooth. A whisk will ensure everything disperses evenly.

Homemade buffalo sauce is made in a glass bowl.

2. Use the Sauce

This recipe makes enough to coat up to 3 pounds of wings or meatballs.

Use in recipes like Buffalo Chicken WingsBuffalo Chicken Meatballs, or Buffalo Cauliflower Wings.

Buffalo wing sauce is poured into a mason jar.

FAQS

Is Buffalo sauce and Buffalo wing sauce the same?

Buffalo sauce and wing sauce are two terms for the same condiment. They are a mixture of hot sauce, butter, and sometimes vinegar and seasonings.

What goes best with chicken wings?

The classic pairing for buffalo wings is carrots and celery sticks, along with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping. You can also serve them with more appetizers, a crisp salad, or french fries.

Is buffalo wing sauce spicy?

Buffalo sauce normally has a medium heat level, about a 5 out of 10. You can make it more mild by choosing a mild hot sauce, or using less in the recipe. For a spicier flavor, add in a dash of cayenne pepper.

Recipe Tips

  • Pick your favorite. Choose a hot sauce you love the flavor of since it makes up the majority of the sauce!
  • Adjust to taste. Sprinkle in just a little salt at a time until you reach your desired results.
  • Heat it up. Melted butter mixes with the other ingredients better than softened.
  • Add more kick. Mix in cayenne pepper for an extra spicy sauce.
Buffalo sauce is poured on chicken wings.

Ways to Use Buffalo Sauce

Try this spicy sauce on a few of these easy recipes.

Keep if healthy with Homemade Buffalo Cauliflower Bites or Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks.

Both Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip are hands-off recipes, perfect for a party.

Everyone loves Buffalo Baked Chicken Wings.

More Homemade Super Bowl Recipes

There are so many different recipes that are perfect for game day, from crispy wings to dips. Try any of these favorite recipes next time you’re watching a game.

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4.78 from 9 votes

Best Buffalo Wing Sauce Recipe

This homemade Buffalo Wing Sauce Recipe can easily be made in under 5 minutes with 4 simple ingredients! Frank's hot sauce, melted butter, garlic, and my secret ingredient—a sweetener!—are quickly mixed together to create the best spicy flavor.
Spicy buffalo wing sauce is lifted up with a spoon before putting on wings.
Yield 16 servings
Prep 5 minutes
Total 5 minutes
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Ingredients 

  • ½ cup hot sauce such as Frank’s Original
  • 6 Tbsp. butter melted
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • 1 Tbsp. honey optional
  • ¼ tsp. salt to taste

Instructions 

  • Combine Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl whisk together ingredients until smooth.
    ½ cup hot sauce, 6 Tbsp. butter, 1 clove garlic, 1 Tbsp. honey, ¼ tsp. salt
  • Use or Store: Store buffalo sauce for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use in your favorite Buffalo Chicken Wings, Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, or Buffalo Cauliflower Wings recipes.
  • This recipe makes enough sauce for 3 pounds of wings or meatballs.
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Tap stars to rate!

4.78 from 9 votes

Video

Notes

  • Recipe yields 1 cup of sauce.
  • Nutritional information is for 1 tablespoon of sauce and is calculated without honey.
  • A vegan butter substitute can be used to make this recipe dairy-free and vegan.
  • ½ teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted for the fresh garlic.
Prep Ahead Instructions:
This sauce can be entirely made a few days or even a week before you need it.
Storage Directions:
Place in an airtight container or glass mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks. To freeze, seal in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 6 months.
Recipe Tips
  • Pick your favorite. Choose a hot sauce you love the flavor of since it makes up the majority of the sauce!
  • Adjust to taste. Sprinkle in just a little salt at a time until you reach your desired results.
  • Heat it up. Melted butter mixes with the other ingredients better than softened.
  • Add more kick. Mix in cayenne pepper for an extra spicy sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 41kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Sodium: 268mg, Potassium: 11mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 151IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 1mg

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

Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!
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Tips & recipes for getting yummy — and healthy — meals on the table.

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Comments

    1. Hi Kathy! It should begin to thicken up once the butter cools slightly. Hope you saw that on your end 🙂