Buffalo Barbecue Sauce Recipe

By
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Editorial Director

Daniel is the editorial director of Serious Eats, where he leads the site's editorial strategy and oversees everything from recipe development to articles on food science, cooking techniques, and more. He's a former food editor at Food & Wine and has cooked in New York City restaurants.

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Updated March 18, 2025
A small bowl of buffalo barbecue sauce.
Photograph: Daniel Gritzer

Why relegate Buffalo sauce to chicken wings? Here, we've borrowed those flavors—namely, Frank's Red Hot Sauce and butter—and worked them into a slightly thicker ketchup base. A pinch of celery salt adds a subtle reminder of the carrot and celery sticks typically served with Buffalo wings, while a splash of cider vinegar helps keep the sauce more firmly in the tart zone where it belongs. Not totally unlike Lexington Dip, this is a slightly thinner, vinegary sauce that's meant as more of a topping than a glaze. Try tossing it with shredded smoked chicken or pulled pork.

Recipe Details

Buffalo Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Cook 15 mins
Active 20 mins
Total 15 mins
Serves 32 servings
Makes 2 cups
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup Frank's RedHot Sauce

  • 1/2 cup ketchup

  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • Pinch celery salt

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine hot sauce, ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, butter, and celery salt. Bring to a low simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until butter melts. Continue to gently simmer, stirring, over low heat, until flavors meld and sauce thickens slightly, 5-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
12 Calories
1g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 32
Amount per serving
Calories 12
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 248mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 6mg 28%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 25mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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