Healthy Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe

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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!

Healthy Vegan Buffalo Sauce Recipe

5 from 8 votes
Servings: 5 -8 servings
Cook: 5 minutes
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 

  • 2 tbsp tahini
  • 3-4 tbsp hot sauce
  • 1-2 tsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp gluten free soy sauce tamari or liquid aminos
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
  • other
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • optional splash of liquid smoke

Instructions 

  • 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.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this recipe?Tag @veggiekins on Instagram and hashtag it with #veggiekins

This post may contain affiliate links. 

About Remy

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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20 Comments

  1. 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…..

    5 stars