Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and smoky! It’s perfect on chicken, beef, pork, and pizzas, and it’s an excellent dipping sauce for chicken tenders and nuggets, too!
How long it takes: 25 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: small saucepan, measuring utensils
Servings: Makes 3 cups.
Check Your Pantry, You Probably Have Everything You Need
With summer comes lots of grilling! I’m excited to fire up my grill and cook out as much as possible. This homemade BBQ sauce is one of my favorite condiments for grilled meat.
If you want to control exactly what you’re eating and not pay the big bucks for high-quality store-bought barbecue sauce, this BBQ sauce recipe is the way to go.
Side note: I just typed QQB instead of BBQ and now I’m thinking maybe I need some C-O-F-F-E-E.
What makes it special:
- Big, bold QQB (er, BBQ) flavor: This BBQ sauce is packed full of sweet heat, with a touch of smokiness from smoked paprika, and like many of my recipes, it’s customizable so you can make it perfect for you (and I help you figure out how, in the notes of the recipe!).
- Easy to make: In just 25 minutes, you can make 3 cups of BBQ sauce with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry! That’s pretty low effort for a VERY high reward.
- So many ways to use it: It’s great on chicken, slow cooker ribs, pulled pork, ribs, barbecue chicken pizza, BBQ chicken salad, and anything else that you’d normally sauce up with BBQ. Dip your air fryer chicken tenders or nuggets into homemade sauce, too!
“Delicious!! I’ve tried so many store bought versions and just haven’t liked the flavor. This tasted good and was so easy to make! Thanks for sharing this recipe!”
Ingredient Notes
You’ll find the full ingredient list and measurements below, but here’s a quick overview.
- Tomato sauce + ketchup: This is a tomato-based barbecue sauce. There are other types that have more of a mustard/vinegar base, and even one that has a mayonnaise base, but a tomato-based BBQ sauce is probably the most familiar.
- Brown sugar + molasses: This duo provides the rich sweetness that’s characteristic of most BBQ sauces. You can use dark or light brown sugar. I recommend a light molasses rather than blackstrap molasses which tends to be bitter.
- Apple cider vinegar: Just a bit of vinegar balances the sweetness with a little tang and acid.
- Worcestershire sauce: So I can practice spelling it. Oh yeah, and to add depth to the flavor.
- Spice Party! Ground mustard, chili powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, ground black pepper, and ground cayenne are all pantry spices you most likely have already. Be sure to use garlic powder, not garlic salt, which will make your BBQ sauce too salty. Same goes for onion powder.
How To Make BBQ Sauce
Combine ingredients. Measure out all of the ingredients into a small saucepan. I like to line the seasonings up on my right hand, measure out an ingredient, then move that item to the left side, so I don’t forget which spices I’ve added. This works well if you tend to get interrupted (and who doesn’t?).
Simmer. Give the ingredients a good stir using a spoon or a small whisk. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes or so, stirring occasionally.
Finish. Season to taste, then use right away or store for later.
Grilling With BBQ Sauce
If you’re grilling or broiling, brush the sauce on your meat near the end of the cooking time. Continue grilling or broiling just long enough to caramelize the sugars in the BBQ sauce and make it absolutely irresistible. If you put it on right away, the sugar in the sauce will burn before the meat is cooked through.
Recipe Variations
- Swap the sweetener. Add an additional tablespoon or two of molasses, if you enjoy the rich flavor of molasses. Try a different type of sweetener, like honey or maple syrup. You can easily adjust the amount of sweetener to your taste.
- Skip the ketchup. If you want to make this with no ketchup, use extra tomato sauce. I’ve made it both ways and there’s really very little difference in flavor. You do have to cook the sauce longer because tomato sauce is more watery than ketchup.
- Adjust the cayenne to your tastes. Like a spicy BBQ sauce? Add extra cayenne pepper. You’re the boss. Start with the recommended amount, and add more after you taste the sauce. (You can’t take it out once it’s in there.)
- Try something different. Make this cherry chipotle BBQ sauce for a sweet and spicy sauce or try this easy homemade BBQ rub for smokers and ribs.
How to use Barbecue Sauce
- Ribs: What are ribs without a nice glaze of BBQ sauce? It’s what makes them finger-licking good! Try your homemade BBQ sauce on fall-off-the-bone Instant Pot ribs or slow cooker ribs!
- Pulled (shredded) meat: BBQ sauce is great on Instant Pot shredded chicken, yummy slow cooker pulled pork, or pretty much anything you put on a bun. Add a dollop of homemade creamy coleslaw, too.
- Grilled/cooked meats: Dress up air fryer drumsticks or thighs with your homemade barbecue sauce. Have you ever tried salmon with BBQ sauce? So good!
- As a dipping sauce: I love to dip air fryer French fries or sweet potato fries in barbecue sauce, and chicken nuggets, too! Whisk a spoonful of mayonnaise into the BBQ sauce if you want a creamy dipping sauce.
Refrigerate: After the sauce has cooled, put it into a small jar with a lid or a tightly covered bowl. It will last for at least a couple weeks in your fridge, maybe more. Discard any BBQ sauce if you notice a change in consistency, color, or smell.
Freeze: You can freeze BBQ sauce for up to six months. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container, allowing a little headroom for expansion. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
More Great Sauces
BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce (I like no-salt-added tomato sauce)
- 1 cup ketchup (see note)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar (dark or light)
- ⅓ cup molasses (I use a light molasses, not blackstrap)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (more to taste)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients using a spoon or small whisk.1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce, 1 cup ketchup, ⅓ cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup molasses, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, then reduce the heat to medium. Continue to simmer for at least 10 minutes, lowering the heat if necessary. Stir frequently, and cook until sauce is thickened slightly and somewhat darker in color.
- Taste the sauce to make sure it’s to your liking. This BBQ sauce recipe leans more toward the tangy side, so if you like it sweeter, stir in extra sugar.
- Use immediately, or let it cool slightly before using.
Notes
- Storage: After the sauce has cooled, transfer it to a small jar with a lid or a tightly covered bowl and refrigerate. It will last for at least a couple weeks, maybe more. Discard any BBQ sauce if you notice a change in consistency, color, or smell. You can also freeze BBQ sauce for up to six months. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container, allowing headroom for expansion. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
- Ketchup substitute: If you prefer to make your sauce without ketchup, substitute an 8 ounce can of tomato sauce (so you’ll need one 15 ounce can as written in the recipe, and one additional 8 ounce can as a replacement for the ketchup). Simmer the sauce for 20 minutes instead of 10 because the tomato sauce is more watery. We’ve tested it both ways and the taste is very similar.
- Smoky BBQ sauce: Increase the amount of smoked paprika to 1 teaspoon, or more, depending on taste.
- Spicy BBQ sauce: Increase the amount of cayenne pepper, to taste. You can also add more chili powder. The spice level of chili powder can vary depending on what brand you buy.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
Loved it. Made it for a group and all loved it. Thank you so very much.
So glad to hear it! Thank you for leaving a review!
Do have question have ever tried canning your recipes ?
I haven’t! I’m not a canner in general so I haven’t tried it. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
This was hands down the best homemade BBQ sauce recipe I’ve found.
Made it twice now. The second time around I used 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika and since I had light brown sugar I upped the molasses to 1/2 cup. Better yet to my taste.
That’s quite a compliment, thank you so much! I’m glad you like it, and thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment, I really appreciate it.
Delicious!! I’ve tried so many store bought versions and just haven’t liked the flavor. This tasted good and was so easy to make! Who knew! We’ll be enjoying it on BBQ Tempeh sandwiches. By the way, for any vegans, there is vegan Worcestershire available. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
That’s high praise, thank you! I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Picture not needed it looks like most store bought brands, it has a nice red-ish sheen pleasant to look at if thats a thing with BBQ sauce?, very nice flavor, we can our own tomatoes so the tomato sauce was from Big Boys they are waterier and make quick tomato sauce, we also can Romas and the homemade Ketsup was made from the Romas, we make our own chipotle and grow and dry own cayenne peppers and garlic, I’m sure it helps with the overall flavor profile that we have some of the stuff fresh in the back yard, we liked it, made it to use for a pulled pork recipe and it was very tasty with a slight heat tang, I only added the equivalent of 1/8 tsp of the cayenne and thought that was a little more bitty than I like but it was tasty tangy sweet with a hint of heat folks and we had leftover sauce for later good stuff.
So glad to hear you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
I have a tomato allergy and don’t think the Carolina BBQ sauce recipes have enough flavor. I substitute mustard for tomato sauce, leave out the ketchup, dry mustard and add extra molasses. I like to freeze some of the sauce in glass jars for later since being single I don’t go through it that quickly.
Smart idea to freeze it!
yummy
Thank you!