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My easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe comes together with no fuss and a few simple ingredients! This versatile condiment outshines its store-bought counterparts, and it’s ready in under 20 minutes.
With a perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavor, this BBQ sauce recipe is a must-try. Simply add the ingredients to a saucepan and cook until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. It’s really that easy! Use the homemade barbecue sauce anywhere you would store-bought. Slather onto Instant Pot ribs or BBQ chicken with a side of potato salad or coleslaw for a classic summertime meal.
My BBQ sauce recipe is on the thicker, sweeter side of the spectrum. If you like Kansas City-style barbecue sauce, this one will be right up your alley! The sweetness is tempered by tangy apple cider vinegar and yellow mustard for a sauce you’ll want to make again and again. Plus, it is so easily adaptable! You can play around with the ingredients depending on your flavor preference.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the main ingredients you need to make the best barbecue sauce! You can find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below.
Ketchup — forms the tomato base of the easy BBQ sauce recipe. Any ketchup you enjoy will work great.
Apple cider vinegar — adds the irresistible tang. Swap it for white wine vinegar or white vinegar if you don’t have ACV on hand.
Brown sugar — I regularly use light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar would work as well for a deeper molasses flavor.
Mustard — classic yellow mustard is all you need for extra tanginess and deep flavor. Feel free to swap it for Dijon mustard for a sharper flavor, or if you want a spicier barbecue sauce.
Molasses — during recipe testing, I found this ingredient to be one of the key components in creating a classic barbecue sauce flavor and texture for the homemade sauce. Molasses adds a slightly bitter sweetness to balance the flavor of the sharper ingredients in the sauce. Plus, its consistency is key for a thick, sticky barbecue sauce.
Worcestershire sauce — a must for an umami hit! If you don’t have it, swap it for low-sodium soy sauce. While not a perfect flavor match, soy sauce complements the other ingredients in this barbecue sauce.
Seasoning — smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper ensure the sauce has plenty of savory flavor to balance out the sweetness and tang.
Why You Should Make Your Own Barbecue Sauce
Making BBQ sauce from scratch is so easy, and it tastes fresher than the store-bought bottles. But one of my favorite reasons to make-your-own bbq sauce is controlling the flavor profile! In less than 20 minutes, you can make a condiment completely tailored to your specific tastes. You can add or remove ingredients and adjust the quantities as you see fit. Plus, it lasts for 2 weeks in the refrigerator and is also freezer-friendly, so you can always have the best BBQ sauce on hand.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
Adjust the seasoning based on your taste. This easy recipe is super adaptable. Love spicy BBQ sauce? Add hot sauce, hot chili powder, or cayenne pepper. Like it extra tangy? Increase the vinegar or add some lemon juice. Prefer a sweeter sauce? Just increase the amount of sugar or molasses. You can even add a few drops of liquid smoke for a pit-barbecue flavor. The possibilities are endless! Simply taste as you go and adjust for your perfect balance of flavors.
To make a bigger batch, double the recipe. This BBQ sauce recipe makes 3 cups, or a generous 8 servings of sauce for dipping or slathering on grilled meat. You can easily make a bigger amount by simply doubling the recipe!
How To Make BBQ Sauce
1. Add all the ingredients, plus ½ cup water, to a medium pot.
2. Whisk until all of the ingredients are well combined.
3. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until thickened to your desired consistency. Cook for at least 10 minutes so the flavors meld together, but cook for under 20 minutes for a thinner sauce and more than 20 minutes for a thicker sauce. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container or Mason jar in the fridge.
BBQ Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- Medium sauce pan
Ingredients
- 1½ cups ketchup (408g)
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar (80mL)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar (65g)
- 3 tablespoons mustard
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Hot sauce optional
Instructions
- In a medium pot, combine the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, ½ cup (120mL) water, brown sugar, mustard, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, salt, paprika, garlic and onion powders, and pepper. Whisk together until well combined.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, whisking frequently, for about 15 minutes until thickened. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Add a few dashes of hot sauce, if you like it spicier.
- Transfer to a storage container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- The flavor of the sauce will get better with a little time. When I have the time, I like to make this at least a day before using it to give the flavors time to combine. Just reheat it gently over low heat or in the microwave to use as a topping or dip, or if you need it warm for your recipe.
Nutrition
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Ways To Use Homemade BBQ Sauce
BBQ sauce is such a simple way to infuse dishes with loads of flavor without a lot of effort. It makes an easy marinade for chicken or pork, and as a topping for barbecue sandwiches made with Instant Pot pulled pork, Instant Pot shredded chicken, or veggie burgers. It’s even delightful on hot dogs!
Try it simmered with meatballs or tossed with chicken wings for an easy appetizer. Toss it with air fryer tofu and serve over rice. Add it to baked beans for an amazing smoky flavor, or spread it on homemade pizza dough and use it as the sauce base for barbecue pizza.
Perhaps one of the most popular ways this homemade condiment is used in my house, especially by my boys, is as a dipping sauce for air fryer chicken tenders and chicken nuggets. They especially love this with a side of air fryer sweet potato fries!
Frequently Asked Questions
Homemade BBQ sauce keeps well for 2 weeks in a Mason jar or any airtight container in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze it in a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen sauce in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight before using.
If you’ve tried this BBQ sauce recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
