The first time I had Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce, it was at a barbecue with friends. Someone brought crispy fried chicken, perfectly covered in sauce, and I fell in love instantly with its tangy, spicy taste. As we sat there eating plates filled with soft, tender chickens, fries, and burgers, I couldn’t stop thinking about how this delicious sauce was one of the main factors that made the food awesome. Being a huge fan of bold flavors, I knew I had to try creating a copycat version to enjoy it more often.

After a fun disagreement with a friend—who insisted a chipotle ingredient was needed—I was convinced to try adding it. Experimenting with recipes, I turned to Reddit for information and discovered a mix of ingredients that seemed promising. As I played around, tweaking and testing, I kept tasting until I had managed to recreate something almost perfectly like the original. I was overjoyed, feeling like I had won a free meal without spending a penny. Now, I can easily make this super delicious sauce in my kitchen, whether for chickens, chips, or even shrimp and beef dishes. The experience of creating something new has left me inspired, and I’m ecstatic to share my journey of this awesome recipe.

What is Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe?

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce is the star of the food chain that serves it with every meal, making it a perfect addition to your plate. This tasty sauce, with its sweet, tangy, and little bit spicy taste, is loved by a lot of people. Most fans use it for dipping chicken tenders and chips, as its delicious, creamy texture and smoky flavor elevate any dish. Restaurants often make it with a mix of chipotle sauce, mayonnaise, honey, and sugar, creating a balance that’s pretty famous among food lovers. With many searching for the secret recipe, it’s clear why this sauce goes with just about everything.

Ingredients for Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce

To make Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce, gather the following ingredients:

5 red chili peppers

4 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 teaspoon of salt

A dash of black pepper

1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup of mayonnaise

1 cup of chipotle sauce

Sugar (adjust to taste)
Honey (optional, for sweetness)

These ingredients blend perfectly to create the sweet, smoky, creamy, and spicy flavor of the sauce.

Kitchen Equipment Needed

Here’s what you’ll need to prepare and store Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce:

Saucepan (for cooking the ingredients)
Wooden spoon (for stirring)
Whisk (for blending the sauce)
Measuring cups and spoons (for accurate measurements)
Medium blender or immersion blender (for a smooth consistency)
Sterilized glass bottles or jars (for storing the sauce)

These tools make the process simple and ensure your sauce is stored safely for future use.

How to Make Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe

Step 1:

Take 5 red chili peppers, remove the stems, and chop them. Peel 4 garlic cloves and heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan. Cook the garlic and peppers for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.

Step 2:

Add salt, black pepper, and 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar to the pan. Let the mixture simmer before transferring it to a blender. Blend until smooth.

Step 3:

In a bowl, combine the chili mixture with 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, regular mustard, paprika, onion powder, cayenne, dried parsley, and a drizzle of pickle juice. Add a little sugar to taste and stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly dispersed.

Step 4:

Pour the sauce into a jar and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend. Once chilled, serve it with your favorite food like chicken tenders, burgers, or fries, and enjoy its spicy, sweet, and creamy taste.

Tips for Making Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce

Remove the seeds from the chili peppers before chopping to control the heat level.
Chop the garlic evenly to ensure it cooks properly and releases its flavor.
Cook the ingredients slowly, and blend smoothly for a uniform sauce.
Add salt and black pepper gradually, tasting as you go to balance the flavor.
For a creamy texture, use mayonnaise, and adjust the sweetness with honey or sugar to match your preference.
Once mixed, refrigerate for at least one hour to improve the flavor and create a smoother texture.
If you’re in a hurry, you can eat it immediately, but the taste deepens with time.
Add a pinch of cayenne for a smoky kick, adjusting the heat to your liking.

How to Store Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Leftovers

To store leftovers of Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce, transfer the sauce to a clean, airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. This will keep it fresh for up to one week. If you’re using an open bottle, the sauce will stay good for a while, but it’s best to use it quickly. Always shake the bottle before using to wake the flavors and enjoy the sauce at its best!

What to Pair with Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce is so versatile it can be served with meals of all kinds. It’s perfect with tender, fried chicken or crispy French fries, adding that missing taste you crave. A spicy sandwich becomes irresistible with a dollop of this sauce, and it’s equally delicious drizzled over nachos or Baked BBQ Wings. Surprisingly, it even goes well with vegetarian dishes like a flavorful wrap with veggies or as a dip for roasted vegetables. For seafood lovers, try it with Shrimp Scampi or Fritta—it’s a fun and yummy way to enjoy famous foods or create new favorites!

FAQs

How Spicy is Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce?

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce has a bit of spiciness, but it’s not overwhelmingly spicy. It delivers just the right amount of heat to enhance your dish without overpowering it.

What Does Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Taste Like?

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce has a sweet, tangy, and spicy taste that blends beautifully. Its unique flavor is what makes it perfect for enhancing any dish you try it with once!

Is Freezing Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce a Good Idea?

Although it’s possible to freeze Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce, it’s best enjoyed fresh. To maintain its optimal flavor, store it in the refrigerator and consume within a week.

Can I Make Substitutions in the Recipe?

Yes, you can make substitutions in Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce. Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for a lighter version of the sauce. You can also replace white vinegar with apple cider vinegar if that’s what you have on hand.

What’s in Dave’s Hot Sauce?

Dave’s Hot Sauce is made with 5 red chili peppers, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, a dash of black pepper, 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar, and 1/4 cup of mayonnaise. For added sweetness, a touch of honey is optional.

Is Mayo Used in Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce?

Yes, Dave’s Sauce is a mayonnaise-based dip that combines flavors of Dijon mustard and pickle juice, complementing the toasty chicken seasonings. Unlike Cane’s Sauce, it has no notes of ketchup, offering a creamy, full flavor that’s slightly less zesty.

How Does Dave’s Sauce Taste?

Dave’s Sauce offers a tangy, sweet, mayo-based flavor, making it an ideal condiment for fried foods. It’s a delicious addition often found at popular fried chicken joints.

Conclusion

If you liked this recipe for Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce, don’t forget to share it with your family and friends! This perfect copycat recipe is easy to make at home, bringing the creamy, spicy superstar flavor of one of the most famous sauces in the world straight to your kitchen. Whether you love heat, bold spices, or just enjoy adding excitement to your dishes, this sauce will be a hit for your taste buds. Subscribe to the blog for more easy and delicious recipes delivered to your inbox, and if you try this, let us know in the comments—your journey into food excitement won’t leave you disappointed!

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe

Recipe by flavorechoooCourse: SAUCESCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

Cup

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

kcal

Total time

minutes

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce is a creamy, smoky blend of chipotle, mayo, honey, and sugar, adding a sweet, tangy kick to chicken tenders, chips, and more. It’s the perfect dipping sauce fans can’t get enough of.

Ingredients

5 red chili peppers
4 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of salt
A dash of black pepper
1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup of mayonnaise
1 cup of chipotle sauce
Sugar (adjust to taste)
Honey (optional, for sweetness)

Directions

Take 5 red chili peppers, remove the stems, and chop them. Peel 4 garlic cloves and heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan. Cook the garlic and peppers for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
Add salt, black pepper, and 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar to the pan. Let the mixture simmer before transferring it to a blender. Blend until smooth.
In a bowl, combine the chili mixture with 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, regular mustard, paprika, onion powder, cayenne, dried parsley, and a drizzle of pickle juice. Add a little sugar to taste and stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly dispersed.
Pour the sauce into a jar and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend. Once chilled, serve it with your favorite food like chicken tenders, burgers, or fries, and enjoy its spicy, sweet, and creamy taste.

Notes

Remove the seeds from the chili peppers before chopping to control the heat level.
Chop the garlic evenly to ensure it cooks properly and releases its flavor.
Cook the ingredients slowly, and blend smoothly for a uniform sauce.
Add salt and black pepper gradually, tasting as you go to balance the flavor.
For a creamy texture, use mayonnaise, and adjust the sweetness with honey or sugar to match your preference.
Once mixed, refrigerate for at least one hour to improve the flavor and create a smoother texture.
If you’re in a hurry, you can eat it immediately, but the taste deepens with time.
Add a pinch of cayenne for a smoky kick, adjusting the heat to your liking.