This post was originally published on December 27, 2023 and has been updated with new photos and helpful tips to make the recipe even better.
If you're as big a fan of buffalo wings as we are, you've got to give this sauce a try. I've played around with a lot of versions over the years, but this one has earned a permanent spot in our kitchen.
What makes it work is the balance-it's spicy without being overwhelming, a little sweet, and loaded with garlicky flavor. Cayenne brings the heat, brown sugar smooths it out, and fresh garlic ties it all together. It clings to the wings perfectly and always gets rave reviews.
Everyone has their favorite way to cook wings. If it's just Ken and me, I usually go with the air fryer. But if you're cooking for a crowd, it's easier to deep-fry, bake, or even grill them (as long as the weather cooperates).
If you're already deep-frying wings, go ahead and toss in a batch of homemade cheese sticks. The oil's hot-might as well make the most of it!
No matter how you cook your wings, this tangy sauce is the finishing touch that makes them unforgettable.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Better than bottled - Forget the store-bought stuff. This homemade sauce is fresher, spicier, and has way more flavor.
- Perfect balance - A little heat, a touch of sweetness, and plenty of garlic so every bite is bold but not overwhelming.
- Works with any cooking method - Whether you fry, bake, grill, or air fry your wings, this sauce clings beautifully.
- Game-day favorite - It's the kind of sauce that has everyone reaching for "just one more wing" all football season long.
- Quick & easy - No fancy ingredients or complicated steps-just a simple sauce that comes together fast.
Let's Gather Up the Ingredients
Organizing all of your ingredients ahead of time not only streamlines the cooking process but also ensures you have everything required to complete the dish successfully. You can find the exact ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.
- Chicken wings
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- Salt
- Cayenne Pepper- Optional
- Butter
- Garlic- I use fresh garlic cloves in my recipe, but you could substitute granulated garlic in a pinch.
- Frank's Hot Sauce- or your favorite brand
- Brown sugar
- Worcestershire Sauce
How to Make the Best Buffalo Wings
For the wings
Cut the chicken wings at the joint into sections. Discard the tips or save them for chicken stock later. Wash the wing sections and pat them completely dry.
Add the dry wings to a large bowl and season with the cayenne pepper (if you are using it), salt, and lemon pepper seasoning. Allow the meat to sit for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to permeate.
Cook the wings per your favorite method.
For the sauce
Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter along with the garlic in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer gently for about 1 minute so that the garlic can infuse into the butter.
Add the hot sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and vinegar to the garlic butter. Simmer for another 3 minutes and then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of cold butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, allowing each tablespoon to melt completely before adding the next. This will help to emulsify the sauce.
Add the cooked wings to the large bowl of sauce and toss until the wings are well coated. Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing!
This sauce is also great on these Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp!
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Wing Sauce
Yes! You can make this sauce a few days in advance and store it in the fridge. Just warm it gently on the stove or in the microwave before tossing it with wings.
If you like a thicker sauce, whisk in a little cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) while it's simmering. It will tighten up without changing the flavor.
Cool ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks make classic accompaniments. This versatile sauce also goes great with chicken fingers or tenders!
Hot sauce is just peppers, vinegar, and seasoning. Buffalo sauce takes it up a notch by adding butter and a few extras like garlic and brown sugar for a richer, smoother flavor.
Absolutely. Just reduce the cayenne or use a milder hot sauce. You can also add a little extra butter or brown sugar to mellow out the heat.
More Game Day Recipes
Give this easy wing sauce a try-you might just find a new favorite. I have a feeling your friends and family will be requesting these wings all football season (and especially on Super Bowl Sunday).
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?
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Our Favorite Buffalo Wing Sauce
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds chicken wings
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons cold salted butter divided
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed through a garlic press or grated with a micro-plane
- ½ cup of your favorite hot sauce I prefer Franks Original Hot Sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Cut the chicken wings at the joint into sections. Discard the tips or save them for chicken stock later.Wash the wing sections and pat them completely dry.
- Add the dry wings to a large bowl and season with the salt, cayenne pepper, and lemon pepper seasoning. Allow to sit for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to permeate the meat.
- Cook the wings per your favorite method
For the sauce:
- Melt 2 tbs of the butter along with the garlic in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer gently for about 1 minute so that the garlic can infuse into the butter.
- Add the hot sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and vinegar to the garlic butter. Simmer for another 3 minutes and then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk in the remaining 2 tbs of cold butter, 1 tbs at a time, allowing each tbs to melt completely before adding the next. This will help to emulsify the sauce.
- Add the cooked wings to the large bowl of sauce and toss until the wings are well coated. Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing!
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Tayler says
We used this sauce to make buffalo chicken dip for the games yesterday and it was delicious! Definitely my new go to sauce!
Holley says
This homemade buffalo wing sauce is a winner! Great combination of flavors!
Lauren says
Our buffalo wings turned out so great for the party we had for the game yesterday! Everyone loved them - thanks for such a great recipe!
Kerri says
Love this sauce!! It's so delicious with just the right blend of seasonings!
Ned says
The Franks hot sauce really made this pop. I loved it so much and can't wait to make it again for the big game!
Dane says
Most of the time, I just use store bought buffalo sauce, but I guess I have to ditch that habit now. This homemade sauce was amazing! I hosted a watch party last weekend and made some wings with this recipe and all of my friends loved it!
Jim says
I've tried so many buffalo sauces before and this one made it to my top 3. It had a nice balance of spice and sweetness and the garlic flavor stood out but wasn't too overpowering. I think I could use this recipe as a dipping sauce for fries.
Helen says
I'm generally not a fan of spicy foods, but Frank's Hot Sauce is the exception. That's the only hot sauce I'll ever consider using for this recipe. It's so good I feel like I could eat a million of these wings, except I'd have to fight my family for them! I always double this recipe so we can all get our fill.
Julia says
This buffalo wing sauce is one of the best ones I've ever tried! The cayenne adds a nice kick without being too overpowering, and the brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness. I'll be using this recipe every time I make wings from now on.
Holly Coppedge says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as we do!
KC says
Just had made this recipe last night and went all out with cayenne! This household is crazy for anything spicy.
Love this recipe so much! We paired it with some bleu cheese and it was just perfect.