Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe (2024)

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe – Ready in 15 minutes, you’ll have the best Homemade Barbecue Sauce that is sweet and tangy and made from scratch!!

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe (1)

BBQ sauce is one of those topics that people can become really, really passionate about. There are the regional camps of North Carolina style BBQ sauce, Kansas City style BBQ sauce, white Alabama BBQ sauce, and then the Memphis style with no sauce at all (well, maybe just a smidge). Everyone has their personal favorites.

And you know, I really love them all.

I’ve shared my Mama’s Coca Cola BBQ Sauce with you that is the one that I personally grew up with. I’ve shared our Spicy Mustard BBQ Sauce that we use from time to time, and I’ve also shared my Peach BBQ Sauce that makes everything taste heavenly.

I’ve also included our favorite molasses-based Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce in my cookbook which just takes ribs to a whole new level!

But today friends, I want to share with you this quick and easy, 15 minute BBQ sauce that takes just a handful of ingredients to make and comes out perfect every single time.

We’ve had friends who call this the best BBQ Sauce they’ve ever tasted and it’s pretty easy to see why!

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe (2)

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe Ingredients

This BBQ Sauce comes together quickly with just a handful of ingredients that I generally have in my refrigerator or my pantry and is one that I think you all will fall in love with as well. I’ve had friends ask me to please make extra for them to take home and if I’d bottle it, they’d surely buy it. ♥️

To make this homemade BBQ Sauce, you’ll need:

  • Ketchup – You’ll use 2 cups of your favorite ketchup as the base in this recipe. I prefer to use one with the fewest ingredients and one that does not include high-fructose corn syrup.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – the apple cider vinegar gives the sauce a delicious, tangy flavor that helps to balance it perfectly.
  • Brown Sugar – just 1/4 cup of brown sugar not only helps sweeten the sauce but deepens the flavor adding just a hint of molasses flavor.
  • Honey – use a couple of tablespoons of your favorite honey. If you can find a reliable local honey provider, I always recommend it!
  • Worcestershire sauce – this balances the sweetness with savory flavor in the sauce. If you are gluten-free or sensitive to soy (like me!), you can use coconut aminos in place of the Worcestershire sauce.
  • Stone House Seasoning – this is my favorite, go-to blend of seasonings that I have shared previously. It is a blend of kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic that tastes amazing on so many dishes and adds flavor in a snap! We named it Stone House Seasoning since we use it practically on everything except desserts!
  • Lemon Juice – A tablespoon of fresh or bottled lemon juice adds just the perfect amount of acid to this sauce to make it perfect.
  • Hot Sauce – We love to add just a splash of hot sauce to this BBQ Sauce recipe. It is entirely optional if you’d rather not include it.

How to Make the Best BBQ Sauce

  1. Cook the BBQ Sauce. Whisk together all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Allow the sauce to bubble and then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes. This helps to deepen the flavors and thicken the sauce.
  2. Serve. You can use this sauce immediately on ribs, chicken, pork, salads, and so much more!

How to Store Homemade BBQ Sauce

If you have prepared this sauce as a make-ahead recipe to use for meal prep, you can allow it to cool slightly and then pour it into a quart-size mason jar. Seal it with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator to use for quick and easy meals throughout the week!

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe (3)

Favorite Ways to Use BBQ Sauce

  • Chicken – Use on baked chicken for a flavorful meal or drizzled over shredded chicken for a BBQ Chicken Sandwich.
  • Pork – Delicious with ribs, brisket and definitely with pulled pork. Hello, best pulled pork sandwich ever!
  • Burgers – Delicious on hamburgers in place of ketchup for a tasty BBQ Burger.
  • Pizza – Use in place of pizza sauce for a BBQ Chicken Pizza or a Pulled Pork Pizza. Yum!
  • Dip – as a dip with Sweet Potato Fries and ranch dressing

Here’s my best Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Recipe

15 mins

Easy Peanut Sauce Recipe

5 mins

The Best co*cktail Sauce Ever Recipe

5 mins

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe (8)

PinPrintSave

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe – Ready in 15 minutes, you’ll have the best Homemade Barbecue Sauce that is sweet and tangy and made from scratch!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, or coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Stone House Seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce, optional

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients in a medium saucepan situated over medium heat. Allow to come to a bubble and then reduce the heat to low. Allow to simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.

  • Serve immediately or allow to cool slightly and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Notes

Makes 2 cups of sauce.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 431mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Join today & start saving your favorite recipes

Create an account to easily save your favorite recipes.

Save recipe

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

Categorized as:30 Minutes or Less Recipes, All Recipes, BBQ, Cooking, Dairy-Free Recipes, Egg-Free Recipes, Father’s Day Recipes, Food Gift Recipes, Game Day Recipes, Gluten-Free Recipes, Grilling Recipes, how to, July 4th Recipes, Make-ahead Recipes, Meal Prep Recipes, Recipes, Sauces, Simple Recipes, Videos

Welcome to Add A Pinch

About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

Read more about Robyn

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is homemade barbecue sauce made of? ›

Combine brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce in a blender. Season with mustard, paprika, salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

How to make BBQ sauce taste homemade? ›

What To Add To Store-Bought BBQ Sauce?
  1. Spices like: Smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne, coriander, onion powder.
  2. Fresh herbs like: rosemary, oregano, parsley.
  3. Chipotle chilis in adobo.
  4. Harissa.
  5. Kimchi.
  6. Bacon bits.
  7. Sautéed onions or Jalapeños.
  8. Mop sauce or vinegar.
Mar 8, 2023

Is it worth it to make your own barbecue sauce? ›

Making BBQ sauce is a lot easier than many people think. It requires only a few ingredients most people have already in their homes and minimal cooking! I prefer to make most of my condiments homemade. That way you can control the taste and quality, and it's cheaper than buying store-bought versions.

What are the three types of BBQ sauce? ›

Generally, barbecue sauces is categorized into four varieties: tomato-based sauces, vinegar-based sauces, mustard-based sauces, and mayonnaise-based sauces. Each category can have a range of BBQ sauce styles, ranging from sweet and tangy to hot and spicy.

Is BBQ sauce ketchup and vinegar? ›

Key Flavors

Ketchup is the base of the sauce, Worcestershire sauce adds umami, light brown sugar brings sweetness, vinegar brings tang, and two spices, paprika and cayenne pepper, add a smoky flavor and some heat.

What makes BBQ sauce better? ›

Adding garlic or onion powder are standard flavors for barbecue, but get a little creative and try out different chile powders, peppers, cumin, or dried herbs to add body to the sauce.

What does vinegar do in BBQ sauce? ›

Take a tip from North Carolina and look to vinegar—white vinegar, apple cider vinegar—as the key to great barbecue sauce, cutting its sweetness and lending a little tang.

What gives BBQ sauce its flavor? ›

Ingredients vary, but most include vinegar or tomato paste (or a combination) as a base, as well as liquid smoke, onion powder, spices such as mustard and black pepper, and sweeteners such as sugar or molasses.

What can I substitute for barbecue sauce in a recipe? ›

Here are some alternatives:
  1. **Vinegar-Based Sauce:** You can use a vinegar-based sauce, such as Eastern Carolina-style barbecue sauce. ...
  2. **Mustard-Based Sauce:** Mustard-based barbecue sauce, often found in South Carolina, is a combination of mustard, vinegar, sugar, and spices. ...
  3. **Tomato-Based Sauce:** If.
Jul 26, 2017

Is Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce ingredients? ›

High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Tomato Paste, Modified Corn Starch, Contains Less Than 2% Of Salt, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Natural Smoke Flavor, Spice, Caramel Color, Molasses, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Garlic,* Mustard Flour, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Celery Seed.

What gives BBQ sauce its Flavour? ›

The ingredients vary depending on where you are world, but most barbecue sauces include vinegar or tomato paste as a base, liquid smoke flavouring, onion, spices such as mustard and black pepper, and sweeteners such as sugar, honey or molasses.

What is the best substitute for barbecue sauce? ›

But if you are looking for some alternative sauces with that sweet tinge to prepare baby ribs for your weekend get-together, here are some options.
  • Hoisin Sauce. ...
  • Plum Sauce. ...
  • Mustard Sauce. ...
  • Teriyaki Sauce. ...
  • Fruit-Based Sauces.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 6050

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.