There are many cities in the U.S. known for their take on a type of food. Chicago has its deep-dish pizza, Philadelphia has its cheesesteak. But there’s one city that’s coined a food so hyped, it’s gone beyond just “known-for” — it’s certified iconic.
Buffalo wing sauce, the spicy-but-not-too-spicy sauce invented in Buffalo, New York, has become pretty much synonymous with chicken wings, (the most popular vehicle for consuming buffalo sauce), but it’s earned its right as a condiment, too. From mac and cheese creations to just a straight-up dipping sauce, the game day staple flavor certainly isn’t a one trick pony.
A Contested Crown
Buffalo wing history begins in the 1960s, when restaurateur John Young opened Wings and Things in Buffalo, according to History.com. Around the same time, and about a mile away, a couple named Frank and Teressa Bellissimo started selling chicken wings at their restaurant, Anchor Bar. Flash forward 20 years, and the Bellissimos were given credit for inventing the Buffalo wing — much to Young’s surprise.
Serving chicken wings wasn’t a new phenomenon to Buffalo. The first recorded mention of fried chicken wings appeared on a bill of fare dated 1857 from the Clarendon Hotel. By the 1960s, a flavorful tomato-based recipe called mumbo sauce had emerged in Chicago and later Washington, D.C. It was a version of this sauce that Young reportedly used on his whole and breaded deep-fried wings. The Bellissimos, on the other hand, also fried their wings, but chopped them into halves and tossed them in hot sauce afterward.
While the Bellissimos received national attention for their version of the Buffalo wing, Frank Bellissimo may have gotten the idea after eating at Young’s restaurant. Whoever’s version of the story you believe, one thing is for sure: We’re just glad Buffalo wings were invented, period.
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Read nowHow To Make Buffalo Wing Sauce
To make homemade Buffalo wing sauce, you’ll need two base ingredients: hot sauce and butter. The rest just depends on your taste.
Take, for example, this easy Buffalo sauce recipe from Love and Lemons, for which uses honey, garlic powder and paprika to spice things up. Another take from All Recipes uses white vinegar and Worcestershire sauce to punch up the flavor and make something really unique. To make your Buffalo sauce mild, medium or hot (and beyond), add your spices slowly and taste test in between to make sure it’s to your liking. Remember, you can always add more but you can’t take away!
What To Make With Buffalo Sauce
Chicken wings may be the most well-known way to use buffalo sauce, but it’s a more versatile ingredient than you might think. Try using your homemade Buffalo sauce to whip up one of the following:
- Buffalo cauliflower, Feel Good Foodie
- Buffalo tofu bites, Naturallie Plant-Based
- Buffalo chicken dip with Frank’s Buffalo Sauce, McCormick
- Buffalo mac and cheese, Sugar Spun Run
- Buffalo grilled cheese, Erhardt’s Eats
- Spicy Buffalo hot dogs, Street Smart Nutrition
- Buffalo chicken pizza, The Cozy Cook
- Slow cooker Buffalo chicken tacos, A Bright Moment
What’s your favorite way to enjoy Buffalo wing sauce?
Based in Rhode Island, Sarah has been a copywriter and content producer with AAA Northeast since 2021. When she’s not scouring the best spots for all things food and drink or whipping up her own versions of tasty meals, you can often find her in the garden, planning her next trip or sipping on (another) hot coffee.
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