A homemade Vegan Buffalo Sauce - A delicious versatile hot sauce perfect as a dip, spread, to add to your appetizers, sandwiches, tacos, pizza, and a lot more. Less than 5 minutes and less than 5 ingredients.

Buffalo sauce is a really simple sauce but loaded with flavors. This is a spicy hot sauce. Traditionally this is a mixture of hot sauce with butter. But here we are making this dairy-free or vegan. But this sauce is equally delicious. I use 2 - 3 ways to make my veganized buffalo sauce.
I love spicy food. Really spicy ones. And probably that's the reason I have fallen in love with this spicy buffalo sauce. And I love to add them to my cauliflower (buffalo cauliflower), broccoli (buffalo broccoli), and my eggplant meatballs more often.
What is Buffalo Sauce?
Buffalo sauce is a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce used as a dip or to coat finger foods. Originally the sauce contains melted butter and hence this is vegetarian. This is a hot sauce but you can definitely make them medium to mildly spicy.
The hot spicy sauce is popular as buffalo sauce because it has been first made in a restaurant situated in Buffalo City, Newyork. In the beginning, this was made to coat the chicken wings. But it goes very well with any vegetables too, e.g. buffalo cauliflower, buffalo broccoli, etc.
Is buffalo sauce vegan?
Authentic buffalo sauce or store-bought buffalo sauces are not vegan since this has melted butter in them. This is a mix of butter and hot sauce along with other seasonings. Since hot sauces like Frank's Hot Sauce is vegan, you can easily veganize by substituting butter with other substitutes.
Vegan Buffalo Sauce
Vegan buffalo sauce is a flavorful hot sauce that is easy if you are making it at home. I love to make my buffalo sauce at home so that you can choose my vegan ingredients and balance the heat of the sauce as per taste.
This buffalo sauce is made with dairy-free options replacing dairy butter which is an essential ingredient in traditional buffalo sauce. You can veganize it by substituting butter with vegan butter or other plant-based fat.
Frank's hot sauce is perfect for this sauce which is naturally vegan too. To balance the heat, add sweeteners like maple syrup to the sauce. So moreover, you can customize this amazing-tasting sauce to your convenience. Yet it will be equally delicious when add to wings or veggies.
You will love this vegan buffalo sauce because it's -
- vegan and plant-based
- can be customized - spice level as preference
- balanced flavors
- easy and quick - 5 minutes recipe
- versatile to use - appetizers and dips, stir-fried veggies, spreads
- can be used as a base for other dips and spreads
Ingredients + Substitutes -
Vegan Hot Sauce - Frank's hot sauce is vegan and hence perfect for this hot buffalo sauce. If you are considering other hot sauces, check out the ingredients list if they contain any dairy.
Some other hot sauces for this recipe can be - habanero hot sauce, chipotle hot sauce, tobasco sauce, habanero, and peri-peri sauce. Choose yours accordingly. I even use Sriracha sauce to make my buffalo sauce.
Avocado Oil or Olive Oil - These are great dairy-free substitutes for buffalo sauce. These are healthier too as compared to butter or vegan butter or margarine. Here avocado oil is a good option if you are using it at high temperatures like baking or air frying where we use it at temperatures 400 F to 425 F. If the sauce is for a dip or spread, then olive oil is the best option.
White Vinegar - This brings a tangy flavor and balances the heat because of its acidic nature. Apple cider vinegar is a great substitute for white vinegar.
Tamari or soy sauce - Tamari is gluten-free as well. This is a substitute for Worcestershire sauce. You can also add vegan Worcestershire sauce.
Spices - garlic powder and smoked paprika for a smoky flavor. To make it a little spicier add cayenne pepper. However, paprika and cayenne pepper are completely optional. You can also add liquid smoke for a smoky flavor substituting paprika.
Optional - If you want this to be a little sweeter to balance the heat of the spicy hot sauce, add a little maple syrup. Even tomato ketchup adds a nice sweeter, tangy flavor to the spicy hot buffalo sauce.
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, add hot sauce, oil, garlic powder, vinegar, and seasonings. Add 1 tsp maple syrup to give a sweeter flavor to balance the heat.
Whisk them vigorously till all ingredients are mixed well. You can also use a blender or food processor to whisk all ingredients till they come out smoothly blended.
This does not require simmering of the sauce unlike you do when you make the sauce with butter or vegan butter.
How to store?
This sauce stays good for a month or more when packed properly in a glass jar or mason jar with a closed lid. Also in the freezer, it stays good for up to 5 - 6 months.
For individual serving sizes, transfer to the ice tray and let it freeze completely. Then remove from the ice tray, transfer to a freezer pouch, and store sealed. Remove the cube as and when required. You don't need to defrost the whole jar of sauce for single use.
F A Qs
Is this Spicy Buffalo Sauce Vegan?
Yes, absolutely. This spicy sauce is vegan. This vegan buffalo sauce is homemade and we are trying to substitute the butter with healthier plant-based substitutes. If you are making your vegan cauliflower, must try this homemade buffalo sauce.
Is Frankโs Red Hot Vegan?ย
Yes, Frank's red hot buffalo sauce is vegan though it has a buttery smooth texture and flavor, originally this is vegan and without any dairy in it.
What is vegan buffalo sauce made of?
Traditionally buffalo sauce is made of butter and hot sauce. However, to veganize it, there are many substitutes for butter we can use in making the sauce. To add more flavor, add some garlic powder, and soy sauce or tamari. This will give an umami flavor to the sauce.
Does buffalo sauce have dairy?
Though originally the Buffalo sauce has dairy (butter) in it, this is a vegan buffalo sauce recipe where we have substituted butter with other fats and flavors. So the vegan buffalo sauce is absolutely dairy-free.
Does Buffalo Sauce Have Animal Products?
No, the vegan buffalo sauce has no animal product in it. Even the name "Buffalo" is after the Buffalo city in Newyork and not the animal "buffalo".
Is buffalo sauce made of buffalo?
No, it doesn't have any connection with buffalo and buffalo fat. The name Buffalo Sauce is named after Buffalo City, Newyork. It has no buffalo fat or buffalo meat in it.
Recipe: Vegan Buffalo Sauce
Vegan Buffalo Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup hot sauce
- ยผ cup avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tbsp white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ยฝ tsp tamari or Worcestershire sauce
- ยฝ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tsp smoked paprika or liquid smoke optional
- ยฝ tsp cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add hot sauce, oil, garlic powder, vinegar, seasonings.
- Add a tsp maple syrup to give a sweeter flavor to balance the heat.
- Whisk them vigorously till all ingredients are mixed well.
- Transfer to a mason jar and serve or refrigerate.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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