Is Frank's RedHot Vegan?
It Depends
Not certifiedFrank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is vegan: aged cayenne peppers, distilled vinegar, water, salt, and garlic powder, nothing animal-derived. The standard Buffalo Wing Sauce is also vegan, despite listing "natural butter type flavor" (the company confirms it contains no dairy or animal derivatives). However, several other variants in the lineup contain real dairy, eggs, or honey, so you need to pick the right bottle.
The catch: The word "butter" in the Buffalo Wing Sauce is a red herring, that flavor is plant-based. The actual traps are the Ranch and Honey variants: Buffalo N Ranch Thick contains cultured buttermilk, egg yolks, and sour cream, while Stingin Honey Garlic contains real honey.
Category
Condiments
Verdict
It Depends
Brand
Frank's RedHot (McCormick)
The flagship Original and the standard Buffalo Wing Sauce are both vegan. The Buffalo Wing Sauce ingredient list includes "natural butter type flavor", this sounds alarming but the company has confirmed it is plant-based, contains no animal derivatives, and no synthesized milk proteins.
It is also Kosher-certified, which is consistent with a dairy-free formulation. The Creamy Buffalo Squeeze Sauce is also dairy-free; its creamy texture comes from soybean oil and xanthan gum, not cream.
Where the line goes wrong: Buffalo N Ranch Thick Sauce contains cultured buttermilk, egg yolks, and sour cream directly on the label, clearly not vegan. Stingin Honey Garlic Wing Sauce lists honey as an ingredient.
The Chili N Lime and Xtra Hot variants appear vegan by ingredient label. Several newer 2025 flavors (Burger Squeeze, Secret Chicken Dip'n Sauce, Ghost Pepper Ranch) feature mayo or creamy bases and warrant individual label checks.
When in doubt, the Original is the safest pick. Formulations can change, so always verify the label before buying a variant you haven't checked recently.
What makes it non-vegan
- ✕Cultured buttermilk (skim milk, cream)
- ✕Egg yolks
- ✕Sour cream (cream, nonfat milk, cultures)
- ✕Honey
Vegan alternatives
- ✓ Cholula Original Hot Sauce (vegan, simple chile and vinegar base)
- ✓ Tabasco Original Red Sauce (vegan, three-ingredient formula)
- ✓ Crystal Hot Sauce (vegan, aged peppers and vinegar)
- ✓ Siete Fuego Hot Sauce (vegan, made with chile de arbol)
- ✓ Sky Valley Sriracha Sauce (vegan-certified)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Looking to make your own? Browse our vegan swaps.
Other condiments
Frequently asked
Is Frank's RedHot Vegan?
Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is vegan: aged cayenne peppers, distilled vinegar, water, salt, and garlic powder, nothing animal-derived. The standard Buffalo Wing Sauce is also vegan, despite listing "natural butter type flavor" (the company confirms it contains no dairy or animal derivatives). However, several other variants in the lineup contain real dairy, eggs, or honey, so you need to pick the right bottle.
What is the catch with Frank's RedHot?
The word "butter" in the Buffalo Wing Sauce is a red herring, that flavor is plant-based. The actual traps are the Ranch and Honey variants: Buffalo N Ranch Thick contains cultured buttermilk, egg yolks, and sour cream, while Stingin Honey Garlic contains real honey.
What can I use instead of Frank's RedHot?
Vegan options include Cholula Original Hot Sauce (vegan, simple chile and vinegar base), Tabasco Original Red Sauce (vegan, three-ingredient formula), Crystal Hot Sauce (vegan, aged peppers and vinegar), Siete Fuego Hot Sauce (vegan, made with chile de arbol).
Is Frank's RedHot certified vegan?
Frank's RedHot does not carry a third-party vegan certification, so the verdict here is based on its current ingredient list and manufacturer information.
Sources
Last verified June 20, 2026. See how we verify. Always confirm on the current product label, since recipes change. Product photo via Open Food Facts.
Comments