Quick Answer

How do you make buffalo ranch sauce?

Two variations: (1) Buffalo ranch dipping sauce — mix Frank's RedHot into ranch dressing (2 tablespoons Frank's per 1/2 cup ranch). No cooking required. (2) Buffalo ranch wing sauce — emulsify Frank's with butter, then whisk in 2 tablespoons ranch dressing to thicken and add herby flavor. The wing sauce version is richer and better for coating wings; the dipping sauce version is lighter and works as a salad dressing or sandwich spread.

Why Buffalo and Ranch Work Together

Ranch dressing is already a natural companion to buffalo sauce — they're typically served side by side at wing restaurants. Combining them creates a sauce that has the heat and tang of buffalo sauce moderated by ranch's fat and herb character. The result:

  • Heat that builds gradually rather than hitting immediately
  • Herby dill and parsley notes layered with the cayenne-vinegar base
  • Creamy texture from the mayo in ranch that makes the sauce thicker and clingier
  • Slightly lower effective heat level than straight buffalo — the fat in ranch neutralizes some capsaicin

Buffalo Ranch Dipping Sauce

Prep Time 3 min
Cook Time 0 min
Total Time 3 min
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing (good bottled ranch or homemade)
  • 2 tablespoons Frank's RedHot Original
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon dried dill (intensifies the ranch character)
  • Optional: pinch of garlic powder

Method

  1. Whisk Frank's into ranch dressing until combined.
  2. Add optional dill and garlic powder.
  3. Taste and adjust: more Frank's for more heat, more ranch for milder.
  4. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The flavors improve after 30 minutes of rest.

Tips

  • This sauce is very forgiving — the ratio (ranch to Frank's) can range from 4:1 (mild, barely spicy) to 1:1 (genuinely hot). Find your preference.
  • Works as a salad dressing with no modifications — thin with a splash of buttermilk if you prefer a pourable consistency.

Buffalo Ranch Wing Sauce

Prep Time 5 min
Cook Time 5 min
Total Time 5 min
Servings Makes enough for 2 lbs wings

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup Frank's RedHot Original
  • 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried dill

Method

  1. Heat Frank's in a small saucepan over low heat until warm.
  2. Remove from heat.
  3. Whisk in cold butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until emulsified.
  4. Whisk in ranch dressing — it will thicken the sauce slightly.
  5. Add garlic powder and dill.
  6. Toss with cooked wings immediately.

Tips

  • Adding ranch dressing to the wing sauce gives it thicker body and better cling than standard buffalo sauce — the mayo in ranch acts as an additional emulsifier.
  • The dill is optional but very much recommended — it's what makes this clearly 'ranch flavored' rather than just slightly richer buffalo sauce.
  • This sauce doesn't hold as long as standard buffalo sauce because of the dairy in ranch. Toss wings and serve within 15 minutes.

How to Use Buffalo Ranch Sauce

Buffalo ranch is one of the most versatile sauces in this space:

  • Wing coating: Toss crispy wings in the wing sauce version for a thicker, herby coat
  • Dipping sauce: Serve the dipping sauce version alongside wings, chicken tenders, or vegetables
  • Salad dressing: Drizzle over romaine, cucumber, and tomato — a buffalo salad that doesn't need a separate dressing
  • Sandwich spread: Spread on grilled chicken sandwiches, wraps, or club sandwiches instead of plain mayo or plain buffalo sauce
  • Pizza sauce: Use as the base on a flatbread pizza with chicken and mozzarella — the ranch adds herby depth to what would otherwise be just a hot sauce pizza
  • Burger condiment: Spread on burger buns instead of plain ketchup or mayo — adds heat, creaminess, and herb flavor
  • Dipping sauce for fries: Buffalo ranch for fries is better than either ketchup or plain ranch — the heat and herbs elevate a simple side

💡 Buffalo Ranch for Batch Cooking

The dipping sauce version (just ranch + Frank's, no cooking) is ideal for meal prep: make a large batch at the start of the week and use it throughout — as a salad dressing on Monday, a sandwich spread Tuesday, a dipping sauce for meal-prepped chicken tenders Wednesday. It keeps refrigerated for 7 days (limited by the ranch dressing's shelf life after opening). The wing sauce version (butter-emulsified) doesn't store as well — make fresh as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Practically speaking, not much for dipping. But for coating wings or using as a dressing, the difference matters: combined buffalo ranch sauce has the two elements integrated — every bite has both flavors simultaneously. Separate dips means you get one flavor or the other depending on which you dip into. For wings: tossing in buffalo ranch sauce coats the wing with a unified flavor profile. Dipping a buffalo-sauced wing into ranch gives you a layered but not integrated experience. For salad dressing or sandwich spread, a pre-made combination is much more practical than keeping two separate components.