Copycat Chick-fil-A Zesty Buffalo Sauce

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If you’re a buffalo sauce fan, and a Chick-fil-A fan, this Copycat Zesty Buffalo Sauce recipe is for you! This recipe takes just a few ingredients and a few minutes!

Jump to:

• Let's discuss the ingredients:
• The process...
• Substitutions
• Variations
• FAQ
• Related recipes:
• Copycat Chick-fil-A Zesty Buffalo Sauce
• Let's connect?

I’m very excited about this recipe because I struggle to think of two things I enjoy more than a trip to the Chick-fil-A drive-through and buffalo-flavored things! Case in point: these buffalo chicken meatballs and this buffalo crab dip.  Anytime it’s an option, I’m ordering CFA, or something buffalo flavored.  

Now, I don’t have to make that difficult choice, because with the roll-out of CFA’s new Zesty Buffalo Sauce, I’m in heaven!

Let's discuss the ingredients:

• Frank’s Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Sauce - if you don’t have Frank’s you can get it right here.  Use Frank’s Original Cayenne Hot Pepper Sauce (not their buffalo sauce).  The reason is because Frank’s has a unique taste and spiciness level that can’t be replicated with a substitution.  For example, Tobasco sauce will be way too hot, sriracha has a totally different flavor profile.  Just stick with Frank’s! 🙂 
• Butter - for creaminess and flavor. 
• Apple cider vinegar - for a bit of “zesty” zing!
• Dijon mustard - for “zesty” zing and it gives it that unique flavor that CFA’s buffalo sauce has. 
• Garlic powder - for flavor. 
• White sugar - to balance out some of that zing. 

The process...

The process couldn’t be easier: 

This recipe makes about ½ cup.   If you’d like more buffalo sauce please adjust the recipe accordingly!

Substitutions

• Frank’s Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Sauce - Again, this is the one thing I really don’t want you to substitute! if you don’t have Frank’s you can get it right here.  If you want to substitute it for something, perhaps a store-brand version that’s comparable to Frank’s would work! 
• Butter - you can swap out the butter for extra virgin olive oil if you’d like.  
• Apple cider vinegar - you can use white wine vinegar or white vinegar. 
• Dijon mustard - this is another ingredient that gives it that signature flavor, I’d prefer you leave it in the recipe but if you don’t have it you can leave it out. 
• Garlic powder - you can mince a fresh garlic clove if you’d like.  White sugar - you can swap the sugar for 1 tsp of honey.

Variations

Buffalo sauce is known for being tangy, spicy and buttery.  Of course it’s a classic because it’s delicious, but sometimes you want to switch things up a little? 

Try these variations: 

• Garlic buffalo sauce: add minced garlic to the recipe for a more complex, garlicky flavor. 
• Honey buffalo sauce: add a tablespoon of honey to your buffalo sauce.
• Buffalo ranch: after you make the zesty buffalo sauce, cool it down to room temperature and mix in 2 tablespoons of ranch dressing. 
• BBQ buffalo sauce: after you make and cool the zesty buffalo sauce, stir in 2 tablespoons of bbq sauce.  (This is delicious, by the way!)
• Cajun buffalo sauce: add a teaspoon of cajun spice blend to the buffalo sauce. 

FAQ

What’s makes Chick-fil-A Buffalo sauce “zesty”?
Citrus and spice.  Something is considered “zesty” when it has a lively, bold, exciting flavor.  In this recipe the “zesty” flavor comes from the dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar.

Related recipes:

If you're looking for more Chick-fil-A Copycat or spicy buffalo recipes, try these!

Let's connect?

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