Jordan Myrick
Justine Sterling
Buffalo sauce is a top-tier hot sauce, and it should not be reserved just for wings or tempura cauliflower. In our opinion, the best Buffalo wing sauce can be served on anything that typically welcomes regular hot sauce: Pizza, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, and even avocado toast can all be enhanced with quality Buffalo sauce.
But not all Buffalo sauces taste the same. Don’t risk your reputation as a hostess with the mostess by grabbing just any bottle—some taste like old oil, some taste strangely sweet, some just plain suck. Over multiple taste tests, we’ve tried all manner of Buffalo sauce—including all standards, plus a few new additions to the Buffalo sauce family. So you can trust us to let you in on the best Buffalo sauce to buy.
What we looked for in the best Buffalo sauce:
- Tang. Buffalo sauce is tangy. If it’s not, then it isn’t technically Buffalo sauce.
- Spicy. Even if we’re talking about mild Buffalo sauce, there should be some spice. Buffalo sauce is a hot sauce, after all.
- Butteriness. One of the most unique Buffalo sauce qualities is its creaminess. That’s really what sets it apart from other hot sauces. So we looked for bottled Buffalo sauces that were luxuriously creamy and buttery without tasting fake.
We tasted as many Buffalo sauce brand options as we could so all you have to decide is whether you want a drum or a flat. Here’s the best Buffalo sauce for wings and more. (And if you’re looking for the best frozen wings, the best pre-cooked grocery wings, the best frozen boneless wings, or the best wing sauces beyond Buffalo, boy oh boy do we have you covered.)
Best Buffalo Sauces, Ranked
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- Kinder’s Wing Sauce & Dip
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Kinder’s Buffalo sauce sits somewhere between a Buffalo sauce and a BBQ sauce. I almost didn’t include it because I wasn’t sure it was Buffalo-y enough, but it tastes so good I had to toss it on the list. Use this sauce for smoked wings. Not fried. Not grilled. Smoked. It would also be delicious in a wrap with a rotisserie chicken. The flame-kissed, smoky, roasty meat would be wonderful with this not so Buffalo-y Buffalo sauce. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Primal Kitchen Buffalo Sauce with Avocado Oil
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Anything targeted at the paleo community is typically not for me. Unfortunately, the Primal Kitchen Buffalo Sauce made with avocado oil made me eat my words. It’s delicious and has a spicy, tangy creaminess that makes me want to dip everything into it. I know this is a “healthy,” luxury brand, but I like it because it ironically reminds me of the Buffalo sauce you get at Burger King (which is absolutely wonderful). — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Kroger Medium Buffalo Wing Sauce
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If you’re into a Buffalo sauce that’s on the thicker side, Kroger Medium Buffalo Wing Sauce is the best Buffalo sauce to buy. This would obviously be sensational on a meaty chicken wing, but I think the best way to use this sauce would be to add it to a creamy, cheesy Buffalo chicken dip. It wouldn’t water down your dip like Frank’s. For a generic store brand, this sauce is super flavorful and has a great spice level. Plus, the taste is loyal to the classic Buffalo flavor profile. This sauce is too good to be so cheap. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Kroger
- TRUFF Buffalo Sauce
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Is this your everyday Buffalo sauce? Probably not. But if you’re prepping wings for a certain Big Game or making a platter of wings for your anniversary (remember to wash those hands before you get down to business), then this black truffle infused hot sauce is the best Buffalo sauce to step up your wing game. It manages to balance the fruity tang of Buffalo sauce with the earthy umami of black truffle. And it’s not too crazy spicy. Also, at around $10-$15, it’s a semi-affordable way to get some black truffle flavor into your life. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce
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Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce is so rich and buttery, but my favorite thing about it is the zing. It is so incredibly tangy. In terms of taste, this is close to a Louisiana-style hot sauce, like Crystal or Louisiana brand. It’s not hot so I think this is the best mild Buffalo sauce for flavor lovers, but heat haters. If you’re looking for the best Buffalo sauce for wings—classic Buffalo wings—grab a bottle of Frank’s wing sauce (make sure it’s the wing sauce, specifically!). Their slogan is, “I put that sh*t on everything,” and you could, in fact, put this sh*t on everything: wings, pizza, fried chicken, shrimp cocktail, whatever! It would taste good. — Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Cleveland Kitchen Dill Pickle Buffalo Everything Sauce
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Why hasn’t this been done before?! Unlike so many other pickle-flavored products that try to shoehorn-in that dill pickle flavor, this Buffalo sauce is deliciously harmonious. While it is undeniably pickle-y, it’s also Buffalo-y. You get the creaminess. You get the tang. You definitely get the heat. And intermingling with all those flavors and textures is the briny zip of dill pickle. Seriously, this Buffalo sauce on a fried chicken sandwich would be an absolute revelation. And I think you could really wow folks by tossing some wings in it. This is a Buffalo sauce worth seeking out, and the best Buffalo sauce if you’re looking for something a little bit more exciting. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Cleveland Kitchen
- Buffalo Wild Wings Spicy Garlic Sauce
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While First Street edges it out a little because of the price point, Buffalo Wild Wings Spicy Garlic Sauce is the world’s best buffalo wings sauce in my personal opinion. I will go to BWW just to dip anything and everything on their menu in this sauce. I am elated that they now sell it in a bottle at my grocery store. The garlic flavor is present without being overpowering. It’s not particularly spicy, but it’s mouthwateringly zingy. I have no notes. It’s perfect.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best Buffalo Sauce for Smoked Wings
Best Paleo Buffalo Sauce
Best Budget Buffalo Sauce
Best Truffle Buffalo Sauce
Best Mild Buffalo Sauce
Best Dill Pickle Buffalo Sauce
Best of the Best
Other Buffalo sauces we tried:
Frank’s Original, Wing-Time Medium, Wing-Time Super Hot, 365, Great Value, Sweet Baby Ray’s, Nobel Made by The New Primal Kitchen, Good & Gather, Stonewall Kitchen, Steve’s PaleoGoods, Sweet Baby Ray’s, Kroger Mild, Frank’s Xtra Hot, Yo Mama’s
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