Looking for the perfect Buffalo Sauce to make homemade Buffalo Wings? We've got the perfect recipe for you! This easy diy sauce is a family favorite, especially on game day.

Why This Recipe is the Best
This homemade buffalo sauce brings bold, fiery flavor that rivals your favorite wing joint! Made with Frank’s RedHot, it delivers that perfect blend of heat, tang, and buttery richness. It’s super versatile—use it on wings, sandwiches, wraps, or even as a dip. We love how quick it is to make and how much better it tastes than bottled versions. Whether you're hosting game day or just want to spice up dinner, this sauce is the real deal!
We also have other homemade sauces like Wingstop Ranch, Cocktail Sauce Recipe, and Easy Tartar Sauce Recipe.
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Key Ingredients
We love how simple the ingredients are for this recipe. It makes for a quick and easy sauce with ingredients you can trust.

- Butter- Use unsalted butter. You can also use salted if that's all you have on hand.
- Hot sauce- Make sure your sauce is cayenne pepper-based. This recipe uses Frank's hot sauce. Depending on how hot or mild you want it, get a hot sauce that works best for your taste preferences
- Worcestershire sauce- We recipe tested so many different flavors, and adding Worcestershire gave the perfect amount of umami flavor to get that yummy flavor.
- Smoked paprika- Use smoked paprika instead of traditional paprika. It adds a subtle smoky flavor.
How to make Buffalo Sauce
Follow these step-by-step process photos to make this homemade sauce. You can use them for clarification and texture.

- Melt the butter on the stovetop and add the hot sauce.

- Add in the smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.

- Mix until smooth and remove from the heat. Pour into a dish for serving.
Hint: Don't leave the heat on too long. The peppers can irritate your nose and lungs.
Common Mistakes
The first time I made buffalo sauce, I was taking my time and had the sauce bubbling on the stove. I soon found myself coughing uncontrollably as the steam from the buffalo sauce was putting cayenne pepper particles in the air. You only need to heat everything together. We recommend removing the sauce as soon as you are done with it to prevent cayenne pepper particles from entering the air you breathe.

Top tip
If you want a thicker sauce, double the butter. Cool the sauce to room temperature before adding it to the refrigerator. After 20 minutes, stir and serve.
Recipe

Buffalo Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons butter unsalted
- ½ cup hot sauce cayenne pepper based, I used Frank's
- ½ teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Melt unsalted butter over low heat in a saucepan. Once it's melted, add the hot suace, worcesertershire sauce, smoked paprika and garlic powder. Whisk to combine. Remove from heat.
Notes
- This is enough sauce for 12 or so wings, depending on size.
- We know it isn't a lot of worcestershire sauce, but it is the perfect amount to add the best umami flavor
- Be careful not to heat the buffalo sauce on your stove for too long. Cayenne pepper particles will release into the air with the steam, irritating the lungs.
- For a thicker sauce, double the butter and allow to cool completely to room temperature. Then refrigerate for 20 minutes and stir before serving.
Nutrition
If you like that spicy buffalo flavor, you'll also want to try our buffalo chicken egg rolls. They make the best appetizer along with our Bacon Wrapped Dates, Jam and Brie Bites, and Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers.
Substitutions and Variations
- Garlic parmesan- This sauce already has garlic in it, so to make it garlic parmesan, all you need to do is stir in ¼ cup grated parmesan. Stir until smooth.
- Buffalo Ranch Sauce-At a 1:1 ratio, mix the homemade sauce with your favorite ranch dressing.
- Vegan/Dairy Free- Make this vegan and dairy free by using vegan butter.
- Honey- For a sweet and spicy taste, add 2 Tablespoons of honey for a lightly sweetened taste. Add up to 4 Tables for more sweetness.
- Lemon pepper- Add 1 tablespoon of our homemade Lemon Pepper seasoning. Add more as desired.
How To Serve
This makes a great dipping sauce as well as the perfect marinade for all things chicken. Try it with chicken wings or chicken tenders. This sauce will really zest things up!
You can also serve it creamy style by adding ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. It makes for a great vegetable or chip dip.
Try adding it to our Turkey Injection Recipe. It will add a great flavor and kick.
Buffalo Sauce Vs Hot Sauce
Buffalo Sauce and hot sauce are not the same. Hot sauce is made with cayenne pepper and vinegar. Buffalo sauce uses hot sauce as a base and then adds extra flavoring like garlic powder, butter, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. It has a creamier consistency than hot sauce.
Storage
Store cool buffalo sauce in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze this recipe. When I make it, I freeze the sauce in a ziplock freezer bag with chicken wings. It makes for a quick freezer meal in the future.
Andrea says
This recipe was a perfect way to use up my Frank's Hot Sauce. It made the perfect marinade for homemade buffalo wings. Everyone loved them!