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Ranking Buffalo Wild Wings Sauces from Mildest to Hottest (Plus Calories!)

Buffalo Wild Wings started as a way for two former Buffalo natives to enjoy their hometown’s signature, crave-worthy bar food after moving to Ohio. Since its inception in 1982, Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) has reinvented the humble buffalo wing and taken it to the masses.

With 20 signature sauces and 5 dry rub seasonings to choose from, there’s a wing for everyone. No matter what your tolerance for heat or your preference for a wet sauce or a dry rub, Buffalo Wild Wings has curated an impressive offering of wing options.

In this article, we’ve ranked them all from mildest to hottest and included some key ingredient information to make your next wing order as safe or as daring as you’d like!

BWW SAUCECALORIES (PER SERVING)ALLERGENS
Salt and Vinegar Seasoning5No Common Allergens
Lemon Pepper Seasoning5No Common Allergens
Sweet BBQ Sauce70No Common Allergens
Teriyaki Sauce100Soy, Wheat, Gluten
Lemon Pepper Sauce270Egg
Mild Sauce70Egg
Parmesan Garlic Sauce190Egg, Milk
Smoky Adobo Sauce35No Common Allergens
Honey BBQ Sauce100No Common Allergens
Medium Sauce50Egg
Chipotle BBQ Seasoning5No Common Allergens
Spicy Garlic Sauce70Egg
Orange Chicken Sauce90Soy, Wheat, Gluten
Asian Zing Sauce130Soy, Wheat, Gluten
Caribbean Jerk Sauce110No Common Allergens
Buffalo Seasoning5Milk
Jammin’ Jalapeno Sauce130No Common Allergens
Thai Curry Sauce220Egg, Milk, Soy, Coconut, Wheat, Gluten
Nashville Hot Sauce60No Common Allergens
Original Buffalo Sauce170Milk, Soy
Hot Sauce70No Common Allergens
Mango Habanero Sauce110No Common Allergens
Wild Sauce70No Common Allergens
Desert Heat Seasoning5No Common Allergens
Blazin’ Carolina Reaper Sauce60No Common Allergens

Buffalo Wild Wings sells all their sauces and seasonings separately and serves on any of their signature wings. All their in-house wings, boneless, traditional, and cauliflower, contain wheat and gluten.

25. Salt And Vinegar Seasoning (Mild)

Simply stated on their website, everything you need to know about this dry rub seasoning is in the name. The mildest of all the sauce and seasoning options at Buffalo Wild Wings, Salt and Vinegar is a safe bet for anyone looking to add a little flavor to their wings without any heat.

With only 5 calories per serving and no allergens, this salty and subtly tangy seasoning is easy on the palate and a great option for anyone with an aversion to spicy foods.

24. Lemon Pepper Seasoning (Mild)

Described as “pucker up” citrus with a “pinch of pepper,” this dry rub celebrates a popular flavor combination. While this dry seasoning is considered mild, the pepper does lend itself more than a pinch to the flavor profile.

The sour notes of lemon and a kick of pepper make this a mild but bold option without any lingering heat.

It is allergen-free and has only 5 calories per serving, making this safe for anyone with dietary restrictions.

23. Sweet BBQ Sauce (Mild)

Buffalo Wild Wing’s take on the traditional BBQ sauce flavor with some added sweetness. This is the mildest of all their wet sauce offerings. Sweet BBQ Sauce has no heat and is a rich and flavorful alternative to spicy wings.

You won’t find any allergens in this sauce, and it only has 70 calories a serving. This sauce is an excellent choice on boneless wings for a delicious chicken meal or snack.

22. Teriyaki Sauce (Mild)

BWW describes their Teriyaki Sauce as “bold and savory.” This soy sauce-based is a Japanese classic with salty and umami flavors balanced with sweetness.

In addition to soy, those with dietary restrictions should note that this flavor also contains wheat and gluten.

You can enjoy this sweet and sour, tangy sauce without the risk of surprise heat. At 100 calories per serving, Teriyaki wings are the perfect marriage of Eastern flavors and a Western bar classic.

21. Lemon Pepper Sauce (Mild)

Everything there is to love about Buffalo Wild Wings Lemon Pepper Seasoning blended with butter to create a full-flavored experience. Lemon pepper wings may have originated in Atlanta, but Buffalo Wild Wings makes them a fan favorite worldwide.

Lemon Pepper Sauce is still a mild option with no capsaicin heat. It is a rich blend, with 270 calories per serving, and does contain eggs. If you’re looking for a flavorful new favorite, lemon pepper wings have it all.

20. Mild Sauce (Mild)

Buffalo Wild Wings ranks their sauces from “Smilin” to “Screamin.” Mild Sauce is the last in line and rounds out their mild category of sauces. Buffalo sauce traditionally blends butter, vinegar, garlic, and other spices to create a tangy, deep, and intense flavor profile.

Buffalo Wild Wings has taken everything that makes Buffalo Sauce so wildly popular and created a version that substitutes the signature heat for a more subtle hint of spice.

Often compared to training wheels on a bike, this signature sauce finally makes buffalo wings an all-inclusive option.

This mild all-star does contain egg products but only adds 70 calories per serving.

19. Parmesan Garlic Sauce (Mild-Medium)

Parmesan Garlic Sauce is the first sauce outside of Buffalo Wild Wing’s green zone. Still considered mild on the heat index, this creamy, cheesy, garlicky favorite has no shortage of flavor or kick!

This thick sauce contains both eggs and milk and comes in at 190 calories per serving.

It is worth the indulgence for both heat seekers and those seeking a great-tasting wing without the intensity of hot peppers. The cool and tangy parmesan cheese cools down the intense garlic flavor. It pairs well with their spicier options to cleanse and cool off your palate.

18. Smoky Adobo Sauce: (Mild-Medium)

One of the newest sauces to join the signature sauce list in 2020, Smoky Adobo features rich chile notes with gentle heat. This Buffalo Wild Wings sauce is a blend of smoky and sweet flavors balanced with a bit of chile spice.

Chipotle, cumin and garlic bring this flavor profile together, celebrating a Mexican classic with a BBQ sauce finish.

This sauce has a kick that puts it slightly closer to the medium side than mild, but Smoky Adobo sauce is still a few sauces away from Buffalo Wild Wings’ “Sizzlin’” rating.

Smoky Adobo sauce contains no allergens and is low in calories at 35 calories per serving.

17. Honey BBQ Sauce (Medium)

Honey BBQ is the most popular wing sauce at Buffalo Wild Wings. Not to be confused with Sweet BBQ Sauce, this sauce is packed with all the flavors you expect in a traditional BBQ, with the addition of honey to add sweetness and balance the spice.

Honey BBQ also features red chili peppers, jalapenos, and chipotle peppers, elevating this BBQ sauce on the heat index. In addition to the sweetness from the honey, molasses helps rich and thicken this fan favorite.

With no allergen ingredients and 100 calories, you won’t want to make a trip to BWW and not include an order of Honey BBQ wings.

16. Medium Sauce (Medium)

Once you’ve reached the Medium Sauce, you are entering Buffalo Wild Wings’ “Sizzlin’” category, and with perhaps the most well-known and most recognized offering.

Medium is a traditional buffalo wing sauce. It has the heat you would expect and the flavors and pungency you’ve grown to love from a buffalo wing.

If you are heat-timid but looking for the right way to introduce your taste buds to a more subtle but noticeable kick of cayenne peppers, this sauce will become your staple wing sauce.

There is egg in Medium, and this homage to the original Buffalo classic will add 50 calories per serving to your order.

15. Chipotle BBQ Seasoning (Medium)

This dry rub starts to turn up the heat on your wings. The rich, smoky flavors of the chipotle peppers are blended with traditional BBQ flavors. The peppers are fire-roasted and may surprise you with the spicy kick it delivers.

You’ll taste all the components of this rub, making each bite full-flavored and satisfying. The slight heat featured in this rub is less heat and more of a spice.

Chipotle BBQ Seasoning has only 5 calories per serving and has no allergens in its ingredients, making it a crowd-pleasing option.

14. Spicy Garlic Sauce (Medium)

Rounding out your medium sauces and kicking off the “Sizzlin’” level, Spicy Garlic Sauce is and fresh take on your traditional buffalo sauce. It features the heat and buffalo flavors you want on a buffalo wing kicked up with the addition of garlic.

BWW advertises this sauce as “buffalo with a kick of garlic.” This spicy and garlicky option delivers on that promise. If you’re a fan of traditional buffalo sauce, this sauce is the perfect way to try something you love in a new way.

Spicy Garlic Sauce contains eggs and will add 70 calories per serving to your wing order.

13. Orange Chicken Sauce (Medium)

Buffalo Wild Wings introduced this take-out classic-inspired sauce in 2020. This sauce features all the flavors you would expect, soy, orange, and cayenne peppers. It has the sweetness Orange Chicken is famous for, a sweet and sour flavor profile, and a nice kick from the peppers.

The spiciness in the Orange Chicken sauce is more spice and less heat and is described as mild chili pepper.

Orange Chicken Sauce has 90 calories per serving, and if you have dietary restrictions, soy, wheat, and gluten may make Orange Chicken Sauce a no-go for you. Otherwise, this is a fun way to enjoy one of your favorite Chinese food menu items BWW style.

12. Asian Zing Sauce (Medium-Hot)

Asian Zing is one of Buffalo Wild Wings’ classic signature sauces. Its sweetness comes from traditional Asian flavors like ginger, rice vinegar, and sugar. There is plenty of garlic, soy, and chili pepper to balance out this sauce.

The sweetness is the first thing you taste. The “zing” comes later, making this sauce not just flavorful but an experience.

It is thick and sticky and contains soy, wheat, and gluten. Even with 130 calories per serving, Asian Zing is a must-have on your next Buffalo Wild Wings trip.

11. Caribbean Jerk Sauce (Medium-Hot)

Caribbean Jerk Sauce is one of Buffalo Wild Wings’ less traditional wing sauce offerings. If you are looking for a tangy and somewhat spicy wing flavor that isn’t BBQ or Buffalo-inspired, then this is the sauce for you.

With the traditional jerk seasoning flavor of Allspice and Scotch Bonnet peppers, this island classic is a must-try.

There are no allergens in Caribbean Jerk Sauce and only 110 calories per serving. Traditional wing lovers will appreciate how the heat builds with each bite, and fans of jerk seasoning will want seconds of this very distinct and original BWW sauce.

10. Buffalo Seasoning (Medium-Hot)

Buffalo Wild Wings has taken all the flavors we love in Buffalo Sauce and made it into a dry rub. This 5-calorie, “less messy” alternative to the traditional Buffalo Wing Sauce delivers the signature heat you expect and captures the rich, buttery finish all in a dry rub.

As with all their Buffalo flavored options, this seasoning contains milk. Buffalo seasoning is the perfect way to enjoy the heat and flavor of buffalo wings on BWW’s fries, tots, or onion rings.

9. Jammin’ Jalapeno Sauce (Hot)

With a blend of tequila, lime, and jalapenos, Jammin’ Jalapeno Sauce was initially discontinued by Buffalo Wild Wings. However, it was such a fan-favorite that after customer requests and demands, BWW brought this spicy, tangy, and citrusy sauce back to its menu in 2018.

The jalapeno heat is not subtle in this sauce, and it has a sticky and jam-like texture.

With 130 calories per serving and no allergens, one order of Jammin’ Jalapeno wings is all you’ll need to understand the demand from loyal BWW patrons.

8. Thai Curry Sauce (Hot)

Buffalo Wild Wings describes Thai Curry Sauce as “spicy and savory with curry flavors.” This sauce is on the spicier side. With cayenne peppers and red curry, Thai Curry wings will offer you a depth of flavor and a lingering kick.

Everything you love about Thai flavors comes together in this rich and flavorful sauce. The heat and the spice are balanced with cooling coconut. It is a full-flavored sauce with no holding back on seasoning.

There are 220 calories per serving in Thai Curry, and it contains egg, milk, soy, coconut, wheat, and gluten, making this the highest in calories and allergens. 

7. Nashville Hot Sauce (Hot)

Nashville Hot Sauce celebrates the difference between hot and spicy. This flavor-packed sauce knows how to bring the heat. It is sweeter than a traditional Buffalo Sauce and doesn’t feature the signature vinegar flavors.

Nashville Hot Sauce is the perfect way to enjoy the heat on your wings other than with a Buffalo or BBQ sauce.

Introduced initially as a sauce for their chicken sandwiches, Nashville Hot quickly became a hot wing classic.

With 60 calories per serving and no allergens, Nashville Hot Sauce is a guilt-free way to enjoy satisfyingly hot wings, Nashville style.

6. Original Buffalo Sauce (Hot)

The Original Buffalo Sauce was added to the BWW menu to reignite the wing-lovers passion for the type of heat and vinegary flavor that made Buffalo Wings famous in the first place.

This homage to the original hot wing has all the makings of a signature Buffalo Sauce.

Butter, garlic, vinegar, cayenne peppers, and hot sauce come together to make this 170-calorie sauce.

It contains milk and soy, both adding to the richness and the pungency you are looking for from this reimagined New York staple.

5. Hot Sauce (Hot-Hot)

Coming in right after the Original Buffalo Sauce, Hot Sauce takes the intense heat and cranks it up. Hot Sauce is the hottest buffalo sauce offered on the Buffalo Wild Wings menu, and it does not hold anything back.

There is an element of smokiness that makes this sauce a blend of buffalo heat with BBQ smoke. The heat is perfect for true lovers of capsaicin heat but still want the traditional buffalo flavor.

And with no allergens and only 70 calories per serving, there is no reason to hold back on trying this fired-up Hot Sauce.

4. Mango Habanero Sauce (Hot-Hot)

Few flavor combinations compliment each other the way sweet mangos and spicy habaneros do. This well-known sauce is always a crowd-pleaser. The heat of the habanero peppers is almost immediately tempered with the sticky sweetness of mango.

With no allergens and 110 calories per serving, Buffalo Wild Wings Mango Habanero is one of those perfect flavors that will have you reaching for more while not even being aware of the building heat. It is perfectly balanced and a must-have on every trip to BWW.

3. Wild Sauce (Hot-Hot)

The hottest sauce before the incomparable Blazin’ Carolina Reaper, Wild Sauce, is the hottest buffalo sauce on BWW’s menu.

Wild Sauce has Buffalo Wild Wings’ signature Buffalo Sauce base and introduces a powerful combination of cayenne pepper, red chili pepper, jalapeno pepper, and habanero pepper.

The intense flavor combination delivers the quintessential hot wing experience with no allergens and only 70 calories per serving. This is the ultimate Buffalo Sauce for bold wing connoisseurs!

2. Desert Heat Seasoning (Hot-Hot)

“Fiery pepper with a touch of smoke” is how Buffalo Wild Wings describes the hottest of their dry seasonings. Desert Heat Seasoning has the smokiness featured in their Chipotle BBQ with the addition of some intense heat.

Like all BWW’s dry seasonings, you can enjoy this heat-forward rub without worrying about allergens or calories. At 5 calories per serving, Desert Heat Seasoning is a guilt-free way to enjoy one of the hottest wings offered at Buffalo Wild Wings.

1. Blazin’ Carolina Reaper Sauce (Hot-Hot-Hot)

In 2021, Buffalo Wild Wings replaced their original Blazin’ sauce with their newest and hottest sauce to date. Featuring the hottest pepper, the Carolina Reaper, measuring at 2 million Scoville units, the heat in this sauce builds up with every bite, intensifying its “Scorchin’” abilities.

This sauce is not for the faint of heart, and true heat seekers can participate in BWW’s famous Blazin’ Challenge. The goal is to eat 10 Blazin’ Carolina Reaper wings in 5 minutes.

Of course, if you’re this fearless, the 60 calories per serving and allergen-free ingredients may not even matter. Still, it does make the experience of the Reaper more accessible to wing-lovers everywhere.

Conclusion

Buffalo Wild Wings has something for everyone in their signature sauce and seasoning menu. So no matter what your taste or tolerance for heat and spice is, you’re guaranteed to find a sauce that checks all your boxes.

With 20 sauces and 5 dry rubs to choose from, your new favorite buffalo wing is waiting for you at Buffalo Wild Wings!

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About the Author

Alison Valsamis is a content creator with a passion for food, specifically cultural cuisine, family-friendly meal planning, and sustainable eating. When she is not working, she enjoys tending to her plant collection and having movie nights with her family.

 

By Alison Valsamis

November 10, 2022