A homemade vegan buffalo sauce recipe that’s ready in 3 minutes. Spice up your favorite sandwiches, veggies, and more!
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When it comes to spice, the more, the better, as far as I’m concerned! I like my food hot!
I’m a big fan of spicy food like these air fryer Buffalo cauliflower bites and pretty much anything with a kick of flavor and heat.
Even when I was a kid, I loved spicy foods. It must have run in my family because my brother and mom were exactly the same way.
With the Super Bowl only a few weeks away, I thought it was time to share with all of you my signature buffalo sauce recipe!
It’s so easy to pull together, and you can adjust the spice level to your taste and preference.
Jump to:
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Buffalo Sauce
- Simple Ingredients: It only takes a handful of simple ingredients you can find in any grocery store.
- Easy: Just whisk the ingredients and enjoy!
- Classic Flavor: This vegan Buffalo sauce is filled with the smoky, hot flavor of classic Buffalo sauce.
- Versatile: You can serve this as a dipping sauce or use it as an ingredient in other spicy recipes.
- Adjustable: You can easily adjust this recipe to make it as hot or as mild as you like.
Ingredients
- Vegan Hot Sauce: I use the traditional Frank’s Hot Sauce, which is vegan. The ingredients are simple and unprocessed.
- Tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce that gives the hot sauce a kick of salty flavor. You can also use soy sauce if you’re not gluten-free.
- Avocado Oil: Avocado oil gives the sauce its rich, luxurious texture without using butter.
- White Vinegar: Adds a bit of tang to the sauce.
- Spices: A combination of paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne gives this sauce a smoky, spicy flavor. If you don’t want more spice, leave the cayenne pepper out.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Substitutions
- If you can’t find tamari, try soy sauce or vegan Worcestershire sauce.
- Olive oil or melted vegan butter can be used in place of avocado oil.
- Omit the cayenne pepper for a less spicy version of this Buffalo sauce.
How to Make Vegan Buffalo Sauce
- Combine the hot sauce, oil, vinegar, tamari, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper in a medium-sized bowl.
- Vigorously whisk to blend the mixture together until all ingredients are combined and creamy.
- Use right away with your favorite recipe, or store it in a glass container in the refrigerator.
FAQ
Frank’s Red Hot Wing sauce uses an ingredient called “natural butter type flavor.” This is vegan. However, I would not recommend using it. Anything with the words “natural flavor” is a bit suspect. So, while it is vegan, it’s unknown what is considered “natural flavor.” This recipe is so easy and quick. It’s just about as easy to buy wing sauce from the store, so try it!
No, vegans cannot eat traditional buffalo sauce. Traditional buffalo sauce is made with butter. So, if you follow a dairy-free or vegan diet, it is unsuitable.
Buffalo sauce is spicy, creamy, and tangy. The hot sauce’s spice and the oil’s natural creaminess combine to create a rich sauce with a hint of tang from the vinegar.
No, hot sauce and buffalo sauce are different. Hot sauce is used to make buffalo sauce. It is made with hot peppers, vinegar, and spices. When you combine hot sauce with butter, then you get buffalo sauce.
If you want to tone down the spice of buffalo sauce, don’t add any additional cayenne pepper. You can also add a teaspoon of maple syrup to bring the spice level down a notch. The sweetness of the maple syrup helps to balance out the intense flavors!
Expert Tips
- Use your favorite hot sauce, but be sure to check the ingredient label to be sure it is vegan.
- Tamari and vegan Worcestershire are gluten-free, but soy sauce is not. If you follow a gluten-free diet, be sure to use Tamari or vegan Worcestershire sauce.
- For an even creamier texture, use melted vegan butter. Earth Balance is my favorite brand.
- If cayenne pepper is too spicy for you, add ground black pepper instead.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe is excellent with buffalo “chicken” cauliflower, my favorite substitute for wings, but there are so many other ways to enjoy it!
Try it with:
- Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
- Buffalo Jackfruit Nachos
- Buffalo Hummus Dip
- Spicy Tofu Bites
- Chickpea Lettuce Wraps
- Vegan Sliders
- Buffalo Vegan Mac and Cheese
- Buffalo Veggie Pizza
- Black Bean Burritos
- Spicy Veggie Quinoa Bowls
- Lettuce Wraps
Storage
Refrigerator: Store for up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge. Whisk vigorously before serving.
Reheat: If you prefer warm Buffalo sauce, microwave it at 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until heated through.
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Recipe
Vegan Buffalo Sauce
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Ingredients
- ⅔ cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- ¼ cup avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon tamari
- 1 teaspoon smoky paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Combine the hot sauce, oil, vinegar, tamari, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper in a medium size bowl.
- Vigorously whisk together until all ingredients are combined and creamy.
- Use right away with your favorite recipe, or store in a glass container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Use your favorite hot sauce, but be sure to check the ingredient label to be sure it is vegan.
- Tamari can be substituted for vegan Worcestershire or soy sauce. Tamari and Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free, however, soy sauce is not, so if you follow a gluten-free diet, be sure to use Tamari or vegan Worcestershire sauce.
- For an even creamier texture, use melted vegan butter.
- Store in the refrigerator in a glass container for up to one week.
- When ready to use whisk vigorously.
Claudia Lamascolo
I love Franks and use it all the time, bet those other ingredients really make it much better will have to get some of that oil. thanks
Gina
Great recipe to have in your back pocket when the buffalo craving strikes! We love this with roasted cauliflower and dipping with tofu.
Amy
Wow 3 minutes!!! I need to try this ASAP
Danielle Wolter
I looooove buffalo sauce but have never tried a vegan version. I will definitely be giving this a try as it sound incredible!
Jack
I have been wanting to make this buffalo sauce for ages now! Can’t wait to try this recipe on the weekend!