Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe in 3 Minutes

Name: Vegan Buffalo Sauce
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Ingredients: 2/3 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce; 1/4 cup avocado oil (or olive oil); 1 tbsp white vinegar; 1/4 tsp tamari; 1 tsp smoky paprika; 1/8 tsp garlic powder; 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

A homemade vegan buffalo sauce recipe to spice up your favorite sandwiches, veggies, and more! Done in three minutes or less! Perfect for vegan buffalo cauliflower bites!

close up of orange buffalo sauce in glass mason jar

When it comes to spice the more the better, as far as I’m concerned! I like my food hot!

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.

My kids on the other hand, are not too into extra spice. However, my husband has grown to like a bit of kick. Especially when it involves adding it to a sandwich or veggies!

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.

What is buffalo sauce?

Buffalo sauce is a combination of hot sauce, with vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and butter. The butter helps to cool the sauce down, and creates a nice creamy texture. It’s most commonly accompanied with wings.

The typical recipe is not vegan. So, how do you make a vegan buffalo sauce recipe? Simple! All you need are a few substitutes.

Best Recipes to Use Vegan Buffalo Sauce

This recipe is great with buffalo cauliflower, which is my favorite substitute for wings, but there are so many other ways to enjoy it!

air fryer buffalo cauliflower on white plate — Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Buffalo Chickpea Nachos
Buffalo Hummus Dip
Chickpea Lettuce Wraps
Vegan Sliders
Buffalo Vegan Mac and Cheese
Buffalo Veggie Pizza
Black Bean Tacos
Spicy Veggie Quinoa Bowls
Lettuce Wraps

buffalo sauce in jar off to the side beside arugula and white napkin

Why you’ll love this vegan buffalo sauce recipe…

Quick and easy to make
Goes great with a variety of recipes
Spices up your typical vegetables to give them tons of flavor
Smooth and balanced flavors
Adjust the spice level to your preference
Done in three minutes or less
Uses simple pantry ingredients

Recipe Ingredients and Notes

hot sauce, avocado oil, tamari, vinegar, and spices in glass bowls

Vegan Hot Sauce: The traditional Frank’s Hot Sauce is vegan, and this is what I use. The ingredients are simple, and unprocessed.

Tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce. If you don’t have tamari you can opt for soy sauce. Worcestershire sauce is traditionally used, and you can find vegan Worcestershire sauce, it’s just a bit hard to come by in your typical grocery store. I end up buying it online. That’s why this particular recipe calls for tamari or soy sauce. However, feel free to use vegan Worcestershire sauce if you have it!

Avocado or Olive Oil: Avocado oil is great to use if you’re cooking at high heat. If you plan to make cauliflower bites, then avocado oil is a good option since you will roast them at 425 F. However, you can also use olive oil, or even melted vegan butter.

White Vinegar: Adds a bit of tang to the sauce.

Spices: A combination of paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne give this sauce a smoky, spicy flavor. If you don’t want more spice, leave the cayenne pepper out.

Tools and Equipment

All you need to make this recipe is a mixing bowl and a whisk to combine all of the ingredients together. I also recommend a glass mason jar or other glass container for storage.

How to Make Vegan Buffalo Sauce – Step by Step

Step 1: Combine the hot sauce, oil, vinegar, tamari, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne pepper in a medium size bowl.

hot sauce, avocado oil, tamari, and vinegar in jar before mixed together

Step 2: Vigorously whisk together until all ingredients are combined and creamy.

overhead of buffalo sauce mixed together in glass bowl

Step 3: Use right away with your favorite recipe, or store in a glass container in the refrigerator.

hand scooping buffalo sauce on spoon a spoon from glass jar

Top Tips for Making the Best Buffalo Sauce

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 are 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.

RECIPE FAQS

Is Frank’s Red Hot Wings sauce vegan?

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” are 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 give it a try!

Can vegans eat traditional buffalo sauce?

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 not suitable.

What does buffalo sauce taste like?

Buffalo sauce is spicy, creamy, and tangy. The spice of the hot sauce, and the natural creaminess of the oil combine to create a rich sauce, with a hint of tang from the vinegar.

Is hot sauce the same as buffalo sauce?

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.

How do you make buffalo sauce less spicy?

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!

How to Store and Keep

Buffalo sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week. When ready to use, transfer to a bowl, and vigorously whisk until ingredients are well combined. Then use in your favorite recipes!

buffalo sauce in glass mason jar on marble counter top

Check out these other vegan sauce recipes!

If you made this recipe let me know how it turned out by rating the recipe and commenting below. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more vegan plant-based family recipes your whole family will enjoy!