Intro

This Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce recipe combines mayo, cayenne, lemon juice, and honey into a fiery, smooth sauce that elevates every bite.

Have you ever waited in the queue at the Hot Chicken by Dave, holding a tray with a bundle of delicious, crunchy chicken strips in your hands and thinking, What is this magical sauce? – You are not alone.

Such was the same thought that I had had the very first time I took that golden, spicy bite of their creamy, tangy, fire-kissed sauce. It is a type of sauce that not only goes well with the chicken but also makes the entire experience. That smoky, sweet, peppery heat that comes to you at the back of the tongue? Pure genius.

So I did what any food-obsessed maniac would do: I got home and wasted too many late nights in my kitchen, with cans of cayenne, paprika, mayo, and vinegar, trying to figure out how to make the exact Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe. And when it had a lot of messy counters and taste tests (which I was glad to go through), I nailed it.

Suffice to say that my version is all you adore about the original version, the heat, the smoky richness, the creamy tang, and that addictive kick that makes you go back to it again and again.

What Is Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce?

The Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce is, in its essence, a creamy, spicy, tangy mixture that is meant to counter the extreme spiciness of the Nashville-style hot chicken.

It is a blend of a Cajun remoulade and a spicy aioli, thick enough to stick to your chicken but thin enough to pour over fries, mac and cheese, or even a breakfast sandwich (trust me, it is awesome on eggs).

Three key pillars of flavor are united in the sauce:

Mayo Creaminess and a hint of buttermilk.
Cayenne, hot sauce, paprika.
Vinegar and lemon were squeezed.
It is a spicy sauce hug in a bottle – hot, and yet somehow soothing.

The Account of my Discovery of This.

Imagine this scenario, it is a Saturday evening, I am hungry, and my friend is urging me, saying, You must have the Hot Chicken at Dave. It’ll change your life.”

We stop, the queue is long (this is always a good sign), and I order the traditional tenders, medium heat. I was dead as soon as the red-orange sauce touched my tongue. Sweet, tangy, spicy, it was perfection.

The following day, I was already searching Google with Dave’s Hot Chicken sauce ingredients as a woman on a mission. It took me a few test batches (and a lot of very spicy failures) before I finally got it. My husband made one bite and said, Wait, it is it.

That was when I realized that I had broken the code.

Equipment List

You do not need much; you need the bare essentials:

Mixing bowl
Whisk or spoon
Measuring spoons and cups
Small food processor or blender (not essential, but will give a smoother texture)
Sauce jar or container made of glass.

Ingredients For Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe

The following ingredients will be required to prepare the Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce recipe at home:

Base:

1 cup mayonnaise (full-fat is best to achieve the best texture)
1 tablespoon buttermilk (not necessary, but adds a smooth tang)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Spice Blend:

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (add to your level of heat)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon regular paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Tang & Sweetness:

1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey or sugar (balances the spice)

Extras:

1 teaspoon hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot or Louisiana-style is the best)
Pinch of salt

Instructions For Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe

Combine the base:

Whisk together mayo, buttermilk, and Dijon mustard in a medium bowl until smooth.

Add the spices:

Add cayenne, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. It should become a warm and fiery orange-red.

Add the tang and heat:

Add the vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, and hot sauce. Blend it thoroughly until it is all mixed.

Taste and tweak:

Take a little spoonful (caution — it is hot!). Add cayenne to make it hot, or add sugar in case it is too hot.

Chill:

Keep refrigerated at least 30 minutes before serving. This aids in the marriage of the flavors and enriches them.

What It Tastes Like

Oh, I will paint you a picture. The first bite is creamy and smoky, then there is a surge of tangy heat, then a touch of sweetness that makes it all smooth.

It is not too heavy or too light, it is spicy, but it does not make your taste buds go overboard. The spice is softened by the mayo, the lemon provides a refreshing touch, and the vinegar offers that desirable sharpness.

And the color? That gorgeous, flaming orange that nearly radiates in your sauce cup. It tastes as good as it appears.

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce is best used in the following ways.

It is not only chicken sauce, but a sauce that will be a flavor explosion that can be used on virtually anything. The following are my top combinations:

Fried chicken (of course)
Chicken sandwiches – slapped on buns, or drizzled over slaw.
French fries — dip heaven
Mac and cheese – stir a spoonful before baking.
Burgers or wraps – it gives it that restaurant flavor.
Fish or grilled shrimp tacos — change of direction.
Breakfast sandwiches -eggs, bacon, toast, and a drizzle of this sauce = perfection.

You will begin to put it on everything after you make a batch.

Variations

Wish to make your Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe a bit personal? Try these:

Smokier: Minor addition of chipotle powder or liquid smoke.

Additional hotness: ghost pepper sauce or red chili flakes.

Lightened version: Greek yogurt can be used in lieu of mayo.

Sweeter twist: To make it a spicy-honey combination that’s unbelievable on wings, a teaspoon of honey can be used.

Lover of garlic: Add roasted garlic to add a more savory taste.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too much vinegar. A small portion goes a long way; it may overwhelm the sauce.
Skipping the sugar or honey. You must have that balance to tone down the spice.
Not whisking enough. Stir to a creamy texture.
Overheating it. There is no need to warm it up; this sauce is served cold or at room temperature.

My Favorite Way to Serve It

Well, time to admit, this sauce is my favorite. I like it with a crispy chicken tender and a plate of pickles. The combination of hot and tangy with crunchy is, literally, on a different level of good.

I even go as far as to put my fried chicken in the sauce to complete the hot chicken in a creamy fire feel. Top with a slice of white bread and a pickle on it- Nashville-style heaven.

Storage

Empty your Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce into a squeezer or squatter. Put it in the fridge, and it will last approximately one week. (At least, it will not take too long, unless you are as like me as you can be.)

It can even be frozen in smaller portions for up to one month. Simply heat overnight and shake before hand.

Final Thoughts

Preparing Dave’s Hot Chicken Sauce Recipe at home is not only a matter of taste, but also the ability to spend some time and replicate that addictive, crave-inducing feeling that makes Dave so special.

It is thick, hot, and rich in character – a sauce which makes even the most basic food bold and memorable.

It may be drizzled, dunked, or slathered, but one thing is certain: you will never again look at plain old mayo. You know, then, take your whisk and we will make some hot, messy, and delicious stuff.

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