A delicious, healthy vegan buffalo sauce made with no butter and no oil. It’s vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, oil-free, and nut-free. With just 7 ingredients, this one-step recipe is quick and easy to make. From start to finish in just 5 minutes! 

a spoon dripping buffalo sauce into a glass cup

What is Spicy Buffalo Sauce?

Buffalo sauce is that orange sauce you see everywhere. It seems like everywhere you turn, something is covered or dipped in buffalo sauce! it‘s spicy, tangy, and creamy, and packs an addictive punch of flavor. It’s a super popular party sauce, but most of the time, party foods aren’t really allergy and lifestyle friendly.

Here’s the thing–traditional buffalo sauce isn’t usually made with the best of ingredients, and the majority of vegan recipes call for vegan butter. So, I took on the challenge and wanted to create one that was free of added oils, refined sugars, and vegan butter AND I made it nut-free too. 

Fear not, because I’ve created a recipe so good, you won’t believe that it’s healthy and free of a bunch of junk!

What Makes This Recipe Great

This velvety healthy, homemade Vegan Buffalo Sauce recipe is the perfect balance of spice, creaminess, and tang and the best part is, it’s so delicious you won’t believe it’s healthy. And we’re using just 7 ingredients, with one super secret ingredient… tahini!

I initially created this sauce to make cauliflower buffalo wings, but I soon realized it was delicious not only on cauliflower but also pasta, salad, and even just dipped into with crackers and veg. I ended up with leftover sauce and it was so good, I ate it with just about everything until it was gone!

You know I love to use tahini in my recipes because it’s velvety smooth and a great way to add healthy, plant-based fats to a recipe. It stands in as an excellent alternative to vegan butter, and also adds plant protein and copper. 

Oh, and before I forget, this recipe takes all of 5 minutes to make!

Ingredient Notes

  • Tahini → This is the base of our recipe, and it adds unbeatable texture and healthy fat to the sauce. As an alternative, you can use cashew butter! 
  • Hot sauce → Of course, this is an absolute must when making buffalo sauce. Traditionally, Frank’s Red Hot is the most popular, but I like using this brand of healthy hot sauce.
  • Maple syrup Sweetness to balance out the spice! I like this liquid sweetener as it’s refined sugar-free, and also adds to the smooth texture of our sauce.
  • Apple cider vinegar → For balance and tang. As a bonus, ACV is wonderful for supporting digestion but if you don’t have ACV, you can opt to use regular vinegar as well.
  • Lemon → We’re adding acidity and brightness with fresh lemon juice, which also helps to keep the sauce fresh!
  • Tamari or gluten-free soy sauce → This not only adds salt to the recipe but also adds depth of flavour. You can use regular soy sauce if you’re not gluten-free, and liquid aminos also work.
  • Smoked paprika → Because we need a little bit of that smokey flavour! Feel free to add extra spices of your choice.
a pink whisk resting inside a bowl of buffalo sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Adjust spices to taste and enjoy.

Secrets to Success

  • This vegan buffalo sauce is very customizable, and with all sauces, I recommend using my recipe as a baseline and adjusting by taste. 
  • If you prefer a saltier sauce, add more tamari, or salt. 
  • If you like it spicier, use a heavier hand with the hot sauce. 
  • Want a thinner sauce? Add water to thin. 
  • This is your time to make your cooking skills shine! Trust your taste buds.
  • If you want to turn this into vegan buffalo cauliflower wings, head on over to this recipe for Healthy Tahini Buffalo Cauliflower Wings.

Serving Tips

  • This vegan buffalo sauce is the perfect complement to so many recipes. You can use it as a dip, a sauce, or a dressing. It jazzes up dishes to have tons of flavor. If you’re someone who likes to explore meat alternatives, this sauce is perfect!
  • Try it with veggie wings, cauliflower, tofu, and vegan meat alternatives like “chicken” nuggets, “chicken” wings, etc. 

Storage Tips

  • Store leftover sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for a while, up to 2-3 weeks because of all the vegan ingredients. 

Recipe FAQs

Is buffalo wing sauce vegan?

The traditional version is not vegan as it is made with butter. Many vegan versions swap the regular butter for vegan butter, but I went a step further to eliminate any source of butter or oil to make it even healthier.

Is Frank’s Red Hot sauce vegan?

It is! However, I actually prefer this brand of healthy hot sauce.

What brands of buffalo sauce are vegan?

If you’re really in a pinch and need to find a store-bought version, Primal Kitchen makes a vegan buffalo sauce that is made with cashew butter and avocado oil. It’s not oil-free, but it’s healthier than other store-bought versions.

More Vegan Sauce Recipes

Best-o Pesto

Homemade Gluten-Free Gochujang

5 Minute Peanut Sauce

Goes With Everything Green Sauce

Garlic Beet Hummus

If you try this recipe out, tag me on Instagram @veggiekins so I can see your delicious re-creations and for a chance to be featured! As always, I love when you share your reviews in the comments below, and if you make any fun substitutions, let me know how it worked out below too!

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healthy vegan buffalo sauce veggiekins

Healthy Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe


  • Author: Remy
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 58 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

A delicious, healthy vegan buffalo sauce made with no butter and no oil. It’s vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, oil-free, and nut-free. With just 7 ingredients, this one-step recipe is quick and easy to make. From start to finish in just 5 minutes! 


Ingredients

Scale

other

  • salt and pepper to taste
  • (optional) splash of liquid smoke

Instructions

  1. Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Adjust spices to taste and enjoy.

Notes

Secrets to Success

  • This recipe is very customizable, and with all sauces, I recommend using my recipe as a baseline and adjusting by taste.
  • If you prefer a saltier sauce, add more tamari, or salt.
  • If you like it spicier, use a heavier hand with the hot sauce.
  • Want a thinner sauce? Add water to thin.
  • This is your time to make your cooking skills shine! Trust your taste buds.
  • If you want to turn this into vegan buffalo cauliflower wings, head on over to this recipe for Healthy Tahini Buffalo Cauliflower Wings.

Serving Tips

  • This vegan buffalo sauce is the perfect complement to so many recipes. You can use it as a dip, a sauce, or a dressing. It jazzes up dishes to have tons of flavor. If you’re someone who likes to explore meat alternatives, this sauce is perfect!
  • Try it with veggie wings, cauliflower, tofu, and vegan meat alternatives like “chicken” nuggets, “chicken” wings, etc.

Storage Tips

  • Store leftover sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. It will keep for a while, up to 2-3 weeks because of all the vegan ingredients.

  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: sauces
  • Method: whisking

Keywords: sauces, dressing, one bowl, healthy, tahini, nut free, oil free, buffalo

This post may contain affiliate links. 

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Filed under: Eat, Oil Free, Sauces and Dressings

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BY Remy • April 27, 2020

Healthy Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe

healthy vegan buffalo sauce veggiekins

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  1. Jess Koehler says:
    BEST BUFFALO SAUCE EVER! Finally a delicious AND healthy buffalo sauce! No butter required - so simple to make and will continue making it forever when I need a buffalo sauce. I made it to go with the cauli wings recipe and it did not disappoint. Also loved how it made the perfect amount. I'm excited to try this sauce over the tempeh tenders recipe on here too! Yum :)

  2. Melly says:
    Best buffalo sauce ever! Amazing over tacos!😍 definitely my favorite.

  3. Ashley Baker says:
    I loved this and I’m not even vegan. I am, however, doing a special diet for my health and was able to tweak this to be diet approved (left out the maple) and it was still great! Also, I wasn’t going to at first because I was afraid it might overpower the flavor, but after I tasted it, I decided to try adding the dash of liquid smoke as suggested. It wasn’t overpowering at all and I think it went really well together! As a word of caution - it DOES matter what kind of hot sauce you use! The first time I made it, I used a super hot habanero sauce. With the ratios given in the recipe I thought my face was going to melt off! And that’s saying something because I love spicy! (Even despite the heat, I still ate it because it tasted delicious) Unfortunately I didn’t have Franks on hand, but a more more mild sauce like that is definitely better. Great recipe!!

  4. Roxanne Savage says:
    This is, hands down, the BEST buffalo sauce I have ever had. I have always battled myself about buffalo as a flavor and almost always it didn't win, but something in me told me to keep trying. I am so grateful to you for creating and posting this recipe! Its brilliant. I will be making this in my home forever now.

    • Remy says:
      Roxanne, thank you for the rave review! It's my go-to whenever I make anything buffalo-y and it's hard to find something it doesn't go well with :P
  5. Jess says:
    I specifically bought tahini to try this recipe (never had tahini before) and it was so worth it! So delicious and easy to put together. I combined all ingredients in a clean jam jar, put the lid on and shook it like a maniac. Worked like a charm and there was virtually no cleanup required!

  6. Mns says:
    It turned out crunchy on outside and soft inside! Really good recipe
  7. Paulette says:
    Am I missing something or is the link not working? I see the blog and then the banner for the recipe but it goes directly to the reviews - which are great. Now I just need the recipe!
    • Remy Park says:
      Hey Paulette, the recipe is definitely there! There's a widget for the recipe that will show an image followed by the ingredients + method. Hope that helps!
  8. Jennifer says:
    Delicious, quick and exactly what I needed for my Cauliflower Wings! And all ingredients I keep on hand regularly.

  9. Amy says:
    This is great!!

  10. Amy says:
    Thank you!First vegan buffalo sauce I’ve ever tried! I was hard craving buffalo sauce. It’s a hit with the adult’s in the house. Will save this recipe.
  11. Jackie Fox says:
    Holy Smokes! This is absolutely awesome! The other reviews aren’t kidding. This is the best Buffalo sauce ever! I made the recipe as is, and it didn’t last more than a day, so I’m doing it up again, doubled. Thanks you very much for this! Love it on potatoes, quinoa, cauliflower “wings”, tofu…..

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Hi there, I’m Remy! Welcome to Veggiekins Blog, home to nourishing vegan + gluten-free recipes and tips to live your best balanced and holistic life. I’m a human on a mission to empower you to be well and be kind to your mind, body and soul with the healing power of plants.

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COPYRIGHT © 2020 Veggiekins   ☼   Website by Sunday Stories