Easy Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe

Dreaming of spicy, sauce-covered dairy-free goodies? This vegan buffalo sauce recipe has you covered. It’s buttery, tangy, and finished with just enough maple syrup to mellow the heat.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This vegan buffalo sauce is fast, foolproof, and packs real flavor. It tastes just like the classic version—bold, buttery, spicy—but without the dairy.

Simply swap dairy-based butter for plant-based butter and add some depth with spices, and you’ve got a delicious buffalo sauce.

It’s incredibly versatile: use it as a dip, drizzle, marinade, or mix-in. Toss it with crispy cauliflower, pour it on tofu, or slather it on burgers. The 10-minute cook time makes it easy to throw together any night of the week, and the balance of heat and subtle sweetness makes it addictive.

If you miss buffalo flavor but eat a dairy-free diet, this sauce checks every box. It’s beginner-friendly, made with pantry staples, and easy to adjust based on your heat tolerance. It’s the kind of recipe you make once and then always keep stocked in your fridge.

Ingredients

This is a brief overview of the ingredients used in this recipe, followed by substitution ideas. Read the recipe card below for exact measurements.

Plant-based butter: This creates the base for the sauce. It gives the buffalo sauce its smooth, rich texture and helps it cling to food. Choose a vegan butter you like the flavor of—this makes a big difference.
Hot sauce: Use your favorite vinegar-based hot sauce. Frank’s RedHot is a popular choice and gives that classic buffalo flavor. Use the Xtra Hot for the spiciest buffalo sauce.
Garlic powder: Adds a mellow, savory flavor that rounds out the heat.
Onion powder: Brings a subtle sweetness and more savory flavor.
Paprika: Adds color and a gentle smoky warmth.
Maple syrup: Balances the heat and rounds out the flavor.

Substitutions

Vegan Butter: Use neutral-tasting vegan margarine if that’s what you have on hand.
Maple syrup: I’m Canadian, so I use maple syrup. Agave syrup or a small pinch of brown sugar should be able to replace the maple syrup. Avoid honey if you’re keeping it vegan.

How to Make Vegan Buffalo Sauce

Prep Tips:

This is a stovetop recipe. You’ll need a small saucepan or skillet.

Set a small saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Let it melt completely.
Stir in the hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and maple syrup.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is smooth and well combined.
Use right away or refrigerate for later.

Note: If refrigerating, you’ll need to warm it before using because the butter will solidify.

Jacqueline’s Tips for Making Vegan Buffalo Sauce

Want it spicier? Use more hot sauce or try Frank’s Xtra Hot Sauce.
Use medium heat. Vegan butter pops and spits and can burn on high heat.
Stir frequently to emulsify the mixture.
Simmer, don’t boil. You just want the ingredients to come together, you don’t need to reduce the sauce.
Adjust to your preferences. You can make it more or less spicy and more or less sweet.

What to Use Vegan Buffalo Sauce with

This vegan buffalo sauce is perfect for coating crispy baked cauliflower wings, tofu bites, or plant-based meatballs for an easy weeknight dinner. Serve them with a creamy vegan ranch and celery sticks to keep it classic.

Add it to your loaded grain bowls for extra heat and flavor—drizzle over rice or quinoa, lentils, roasted veggies, and greens for a spicy buffalo bowl. It’s also great on wraps or tacos made with chickpeas or shredded jackfruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store leftover buffalo sauce?

Store leftover sauce in the fridge in an airtight container. The butter will solidify in the fridge, so when you use it next, warm it briefly in the microwave or in a small saucepan on the stovetop.

If you’ve made this vegan buffalo sauce recipe or another recipe on My Plant-Based Bowl, I’d love it if you’d leave a comment with a recipe rating. I’d love to know how you enjoyed it, and ratings help other people know that the recipe is worth trying.

Rate the Recipe

Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe

A vegan buffalo sauce using plant-based butter with a touch of savory spices and hint of maple syrup.

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 8

Total Time 10

Serving Size

Ingredients

Instructions

Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt.
Once the butter has melted, add the hot sauce, spices, and maple syrup.
Bring to a simmer and heat for 4-5 minutes, so all of the ingredients blend together and create a rich, flavorful sauce.

Notes

Want it spicier? Use more hot sauce or try Frank’s Xtra Hot Sauce.

Use medium heat. Vegan butter pops and spits and can burn on high heat.

Stir frequently to emulsify the mixture.

Simmer, don’t boil. You just want the ingredients to come together, you don’t need to reduce the sauce.

Adjust to your preferences. You can make it more or less spicy and more or less sweet.

Store leftover sauce in the fridge in an airtight container. The butter will solidify in the fridge, so when you use it next, warm it briefly in the microwave or in a small saucepan on the stovetop.

Red sauce in a bowl with the text vegan buffalo sauce.

Love this? Share it!

Rating, commenting, and sharing my recipes really helps. Thanks for taking the time! Mention @myplantbasedbowlblog on Instagram.

Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ingredients

Substitutions