Buffalo sauce makes everything better, and wings are just the beginning. That bold, spicy kick belongs on fries, mac and cheese, sandwiches, and even cauliflower. This list is packed with ways to drench your favorite foods in buffalo sauce without frying a single wing. Some recipes keep it simple, others go all in, but every single one brings the heat. Game day, weeknight dinners, or snacks in between—there’s no bad time for buffalo sauce.
Buffalo Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Bites
Crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside, and packed with buffalo flavor, these bites make a great snack for game day. The broccoli adds just enough balance to pretend you’re making a good choice. Make extra—these will go fast.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Bites
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Crunchy, spicy, and done in minutes. These tenders deliver all the buffalo flavor without the deep fryer mess. Perfect for dipping in ranch or blue cheese while watching the game.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Buffalo Sauce Beef Jerky
Skip the store-bought stuff and make your own buffalo-spiced beef jerky. It’s chewy, bold, and packed with heat. A great high-protein snack to keep on hand when the game goes into overtime.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Sauce Beef Jerky
Buffalo Cauliflower Steaks
Thick cauliflower slices roasted until golden and drenched in buffalo sauce. Topped with blue cheese slaw, these bring the heat while keeping things fresh. Even the biggest meat lovers at the party will grab a plate.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Cauliflower Steaks
Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet
A one-pan meal that’s quick, easy, and loaded with buffalo flavor. Ground turkey and cauliflower soak up the sauce, making every bite bold and spicy. Perfect for meal prep or a lighter game day option.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Leg Quarters
Pressure cooking locks in all the buffalo sauce goodness, giving you tender, juicy chicken with almost no effort. A budget-friendly way to get big flavor without spending all day in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Leg Quarters
Buffalo Chicken Orzo Soup
Everything you love about buffalo chicken, but in soup form. Cheesy, spicy, and ready in 30 minutes, this is a perfect warm-up for a chilly game day. Serve with crusty bread for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Orzo Soup
Buffalo Chicken Triscuit Nachos
Triscuits piled high with buffalo chicken, cheese, and crunchy celery for a game day snack that’s different from your average nachos. Big flavor in every bite, and way easier to eat.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Triscuit Nachos
Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip
No game day table is complete without buffalo chicken dip. Five ingredients, minimal prep, and it works in the oven, microwave, slow cooker, or Instant Pot. Perfect for dunking chips, crackers, or veggies.
Get the Recipe: Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Buffalo Cauliflower Flatbread Sandwiches
Roasted buffalo cauliflower stuffed into flatbread with dairy-free ranch for a plant-based sandwich that still brings serious heat. A lighter option that doesn’t skimp on flavor.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Cauliflower Flatbread Sandwiches
Garlicky Buffalo Shrimp
Quick to make and packed with bold flavor, these shrimp cook up in minutes and work as an appetizer or main dish. Toss them on skewers, pile them over rice, or just eat them straight off the tray.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Buffalo Shrimp
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Creamy mac and cheese meets spicy buffalo chicken for the ultimate comfort food mashup. Gooey cheese, a kick of heat, and a crispy topping make this a crowd favorite.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
Buffalo Tofu Nuggets
Crispy, spicy, and completely plant-based, these buffalo tofu nuggets prove that you don’t need meat to bring the heat. Bake or air fry for a crunchy bite-sized snack.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Tofu Nuggets
Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak
Thinly sliced chicken, sautéed peppers and onions, melted cheese, and buffalo sauce packed into a hoagie roll. A messy, bold sandwich that’s perfect for game day.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak
Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
Crispy on the outside, spicy and cheesy on the inside—these buffalo chicken egg rolls wrap everything you love about wings into one easy-to-eat snack.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls
Buffalo Chicken Lasagna Rolls
Everything great about buffalo chicken and lasagna, rolled into single servings and baked until bubbling. Cheesy, spicy, and packed with bold flavor.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Lasagna Rolls
Crispy Buffalo Potatoes
Roasted potatoes coated in buffalo sauce and served with ranch for dipping. Crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and full of bold flavor.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Buffalo Potatoes
Buffalo Chickpea Lettuce Wraps
Spicy buffalo chickpeas wrapped in crisp lettuce for a lighter, but still flavorful, game day bite. Quick to throw together and packed with heat.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chickpea Lettuce Wraps
Grilled Buffalo Tofu Skewers
Marinated tofu grilled until crispy and drenched in buffalo sauce. A solid choice for a meat-free option that still delivers bold flavor. Serve with extra sauce for dipping.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Buffalo Tofu Skewers
Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Buffalo chicken piled onto a bun with crunchy slaw and a drizzle of ranch or blue cheese. Whether you go for sliders or full-size, these sandwiches deliver big on flavor.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Buffalo Chicken Fries
Crispy fries loaded with shredded buffalo chicken, melted cheese, and a drizzle of ranch or blue cheese dressing. Spicy, cheesy, and completely addicting.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Fries
Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Buffalo chicken and melty cheese packed into crispy tortillas. A quick and easy game day snack that’s loaded with flavor and always a hit.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Smoked Buffalo Cream Cheese
Cream cheese infused with buffalo sauce and smoked for extra depth. Perfect as a spread for crackers, pretzels, or veggies.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Buffalo Cream Cheese
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Tots
Crispy, spicy cauliflower tots that swap out potatoes for something different. Made in the air fryer for a crunchy snack that packs heat.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Tots
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Cold pasta salad with buffalo chicken, ranch, and plenty of cheese. A great option for feeding a crowd at any tailgate or watch party.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Buffalo Chicken & Bleu Cheese Slaw Sandwich
Spicy buffalo chicken topped with tangy bleu cheese slaw and served on a bun. A bold, flavorful sandwich that keeps things simple but still delivers.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken & Bleu Cheese Slaw Sandwich
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Calzones
Mini calzones packed with buffalo chicken and cheese, then cooked in the air fryer until golden and crispy. A perfect handheld snack for game day.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Calzones
Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers
Jalapeños stuffed with buffalo chicken and cheese, then baked until bubbling. A spicy, cheesy appetizer that brings big heat.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Jalapeño Poppers
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Juicy meatballs coated in buffalo sauce, great for piling onto a sub, serving as an appetizer, or eating straight from the plate.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Traeger Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
Grilled flatbread loaded with buffalo chicken, melted cheese, and extra buffalo sauce. Easy to slice up and serve, making it great for sharing.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
