If you’re ever in need of a hot dip that goes with pretty much everything, you need to make this healthy vegan buffalo sauce made without butter or oil!
Our recipe features simple plant-based staple foods to make it deliciously bold with hints of tangy and a touch of sweetness. It’s rich in essential fatty acids, low in sodium and sweetened only with dates!
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Only 5 minutes and 8 ingredients are needed to make this crowd-pleasing condiment that might be the next best thing after our sugar-free ketchup and cashew mayo!
Make your healthy dishes taste fantastic with this savory buffalo sauce and be sure to try our garlic yogurt sauce, healthy peanut sauce or quick vegan cheese sauce next.
Look at the recipe
- Vegan, sugar-free & oil-free
- Transforms any bland dish
- Made with 8 simple ingredients
- Bold, tangy and slightly spicy
- Works perfect for meal prep
- Dairy-free and gluten-free
- Deliciously rich flavors
This vegan buffalo sauce will hook you with the very first bite and doesn’t leave you with that heavy feeling in your belly that usually follows a fatty meal.
Ingredients needed
- Tomato paste — our whole food plant-based replacement for store-bought hot sauce.
- Hemp seeds — adding some creaminess & healthy omega-3’s!
- Dates — for a touch of natural sweetness to balance out the flavors.
- Apple cider vinegar — simple vegan staple food that adds a hint of tanginess.
- Soy sauce — we want some deep & savory Umami in this sauce!
- Chili, garlic & smoked paprika — the perfect spice combination to round out the rich flavors of the vegan buffalo sauce
Since we’ll use whole dates to sweeten this buffalo sauce, you need a blender to puree and combine them with the other ingredients.
How to make sugar-free buffalo sauce
- Soak your dates in warm water for 15 minutes if you don’t have a good-quality blender before you start.
- Add all ingredients to your blender and blend on high until smooth.
- Adjust to taste preferences by adding more vinegar, salt, chili or smoked paprika.
- Smother your food with this delicious homemade buffalo sauce!
Storage & serving
You can store this sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze it for longer storage.
Let it thaw in the fridge overnight and give it a stir before using it!
Serve it during Game Day alongside vegan chicken wings, chips and crunchy veggies. We also like it with quesadillas, mashed potatoes, bean burgers, French fries, baked potatoes or sliders.
Use it for these Buffalo cauliflower tacos, nachos, to make pizza or over mac and cheese!
Tips & FAQs
Is buffalo sauce usually vegan?
Buffalo sauce is usually made with dairy (tons of melted butter) and is therefore not vegan. You also need to look out for Worcestershire sauce.
However, there are some brands like Frank’s RedHot Sauce that you can use to make your own vegan buffalo sauce at home by mixing it with vegan butter.
If you follow our recipe, you don’t need any dairy, sugar or processed foods!
How to thicken buffalo sauce
What’s usually used to thicken buffalo sauce is some kind of starch (often cornstarch or arrowroot powder) that is being mixed with cold water and then heated on the stove.
If you’re not set on an authentic buffalo sauce recipe, simply use some whole nuts or seeds to replace both the butter and starch but still end up with a thicker consistency. In our recipe, we use whole dates which are nicely sticky and fibrous, adding even more thickness.
Is this buffalo sauce spicy?
Slightly spicy and perfectly flavored, if you ask us! But your own spice tolerance must be considered, so we recommend that you start with just half a teaspoon of chili powder and work your way up from there.
Additionally, if you are looking for a spicy vegan buffalo sauce, you can add some Frank’s RedHot Sauce (check the label to make sure it’s vegan!) or another vegan-friendly brand.
Nutrition & adjustments
Our buffalo sauce recipe is much healthier than traditional ones or store-bought versions because we use only whole food plant-based ingredients.
Other buffalo sauces are made up of around 90% calories from fat (or 10 grams of fat per 100 calories), while our wholesome version has just over half that — 54% calories from fat, or 6 grams per 100 calories.
You can increase the fat content by using more hemp seeds, adding cashews, almonds or vegan butter to the sauce.
If you don’t have dates or a blender, swap this ingredient for 2 teaspoons maple syrup.
More easy vegan condiments
If you liked this buffalo sauce, be sure to check the following goodness next!
- Sugar-Free Mango Chutney
- Simple Almond Ricotta
- Creamy Herbed Ranch Dip
- Creamy Green Goddess Hummus
- Cashew Sour Cream
Did you try this recipe and like it? Be sure to share your experience with us in the comments below and leave a rating. You can also Pin it here!
Sugar-Free Buffalo Sauce (Vegan)
Healthy & sugar-free buffalo sauce made with 8 everyday ingredients in a matter of seconds! Surprisingly nutritious, naturally sweetened and vegan, this flavorful condiment is really versatile and easy to make. Serve with crispy cauliflower chicken wings!
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 dry dates, pitted
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½-1 tsp chili powder
- 1 cup water (240 ml)
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients for the vegan buffalo sauce into a blender and blend on high until smooth.
- Starting with just a little bit of chili powder, taste-test the sauce once blended and see if you want more spiciness, salt or tanginess. Adjust accordingly.
- Use immediately or place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to one week.
- Try the vegan buffalo sauce with some delicious cauliflower bites!
Notes
- For a low carb vegan buffalo sauce, replace the dates with any calorie-free sweetener.
- If you want a spicier sauce, use more chili powder or add some Frank’s RedHot!
- Instead of hemp seeds, you can use soaked almonds or cashews.
- For a creamier and higher fat buffalo sauce, simply use more hemp seeds or add some tahini.
- If you don’t have a high-speed blender, we recommend you soak your dates for at least 30 minutes before making the sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: ⅓ recipeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 74Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 385mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 4g
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated automatically, their accuracy is not guaranteed. Just focus on whole plant-based foods and eat until satiety!
Alena Schowalter is a Certified Vegan Nutritionist who has been a vegetarian since childhood and vegan since 2012. Together with her husband, she founded nutriciously in 2015 and has been guiding thousands of people through different transition stages towards a healthy plant-based diet. She’s received training in the fields of nutrition, music therapy and social work. Alena enjoys discussions around vegan ethics, walks through nature and creating new recipes.
This vibrantly red sugar-free buffalo sauce isn’t like most others! Fully vegan, low in fat and rich in tomato flavor, it’s both healthy and delicious.