Homemade BBQ Sauce (2024)

Prep Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

10 mins

Servings:

32

Yield:

4 cups

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Skip the store-bought stuff! Homemade barbecue sauce is delicious, incredibly versatile, and oh-so easy to make with pantry staples. Trust us — you're going to want to bookmark this top-rated recipe for classic barbecue sauce.

What Is Barbecue Sauce Made Of?

Here's what you'll need to make the homemade BBQ sauce of your dreams:

Ketchup
Every red barbecue sauce starts with a tomato base. In this recipe, ketchup makes a fantastic foundation.

Brown Sugar
Classic barbecue sauce gets its signature sweetness from brown sugar.

Vinegar
Acidic red wine vinegar balances out the sweet brown sugar.

Water
This recipe calls for a ½ cup of water, but you can use more or less to reach the consistency you desire.

Spices and Seasonings
Create the perfect flavor with Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, paprika, salt, and black pepper.

Hot Sauce
Turn up the heat with a few dashes of hot pepper sauce, such as Frank's or Crystal.

How to Make Barbecue Sauce

Making homemade barbecue sauce is as simple as blending all the ingredients until smooth. You don't have to cook this barbecue sauce. However, if the uncooked sauce is runnier than you'd like, recipe creator JRNEUMILLER suggests bringing it to a boil and cooking for about a minute. This will thicken the sauce and create a more intense flavor.

Find the full recipe with step-by-step directions below.

What Can You Do With Barbecue Sauce?

The better question: What can't you do with barbecue sauce? Slather it on ribs, toss it with pulled pork, spread it on your sandwich or burger, or use it as a dipping sauce for fries or chicken fingers.

If you're in need of some mouthwatering inspiration, try one of these recipes that put barbecue sauce to good use:

Slow Cooker Barbecue
BBQ Meatballs
Baby Back Ribs
Busy Day Barbecue Brisket
Creamy Pulled Pork Soup

Get more recipes: 15 Ways to Use BBQ Sauce

How to Store Barbecue Sauce

Store (completely cooled) barbecue sauce in an airtight container, such as a Mason jar, in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Can You Freeze Barbecue Sauce?

Yes! You can definitely freeze barbecue sauce — and you should if you're not going to use it within two weeks. To freeze homemade barbecue sauce, transfer it to a freezer bag labeled with the date. Squeeze out all the excess air, secure the bag, and lay flat in the freezer. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"My family's go-to BBQ sauce," according to Janet West. "I took a couple of previous reviewers' suggestions and added a teaspoon of liquid smoke per 12 servings, and also brought it to a boil when I used it as a dipping sauce (gives it an even deeper color and thickens it a bit more). Other than that, I follow the recipe to a T. Wonderful!"

"Whole family loved it and, best of all, it was QUICK to make," says Karla. "And I had all the ingredients in my pantry already!!"

"Wow," raves Grady Sullivan. "I will never purchase BBQ sauce again. I added a Tablespoon of Molasses and brought to a slow boil. Continued to boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Thick, rich and delicious. Perfection!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar

  • 1 ½ cups ketchup

  • ½ cup red wine vinegar

  • ½ cup water

  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 2 ½ tablespoons dry mustard

  • 2 teaspoons paprika

  • 2 teaspoons salt

  • 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper

  • 2 dashes hot pepper sauce

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Homemade BBQ Sauce (1)

  2. 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.

    Homemade BBQ Sauce (2)

  3. Enjoy!

    Homemade BBQ Sauce (3)

Recipe Tips

For a more intense flavor and better texture, pour the sauce into a small pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 1 minute. Allow to cool before filling into a resealable container (it will fit exactly into a 32-ounce ketchup bottle). Store in the refrigerator.

Cut back on the brown sugar to make it less sweet, or add more Worcestershire for a more "steak sauce" appeal.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

43Calories
0g Fat
10g Carbs
0g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe32
Calories43
% Daily Value *
Total Fat0g0%
Sodium278mg12%
Total Carbohydrate10g4%
Dietary Fiber0g0%
Total Sugars9g
Protein0g1%
Vitamin C2mg2%
Calcium11mg1%
Iron0mg2%
Potassium65mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Homemade BBQ Sauce (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay make BBQ sauce? ›

For the BBQ sauce:
  1. 350g ketchup.
  2. 1 medium white onion diced.
  3. 70ml water.
  4. 80g soft brown sugar.
  5. 50g smoked paprika.
  6. 80g cider vinegar.
  7. 30g strong coffee (espresso is preferable)
  8. Splash of olive oil.

What can I use if I don't have 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.

Is it worth it to make your own BBQ 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 ingredients in Baby Ray's barbecue sauce? ›

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 distinct flavor? ›

Spices and seasonings: A variety of spices and seasonings are added to BBQ sauce to enhance its flavor. Common spices include paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and mustard powder. These ingredients contribute to the distinct taste and aroma of the sauce.

What are the ingredients in Guy Fieri's BBQ sauce? ›

Vegetable Stock (Water, Vegetable Base (Vegetable Juice Concentrates (Carrot, Onion), Celery Puree, Salt, Dextrose, Yeast Extract, Corn Starch), Green Bell Pepper, Red Onion, Poblano Pepper, Lime Juice (From Concentrate), Canola Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar (White Grape Must, White Wine Vinegar Caramel, Sulphur Dioxide ...

What makes BBQ sauce taste better? ›

To make it more flavorful

Try adding some barbecue sauce mix, or any other seasonings you like. Some popular choices include mustard, garlic powder, paprika, salt, or brown sugar. Worcestershire sauce is also a popular additive to help with the flavor.

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.

How do you make BBQ taste without BBQ? ›

Use Smoky Spices/Seasonings

Bacon salt and smoked salts can also flavor things up. Add these spices to your food directly or to a rub, sauce, or marinade. Until warmer, brighter days appear, may you find enough indoor grilled flavor to get you through.

What is the substitute of 1 cup barbecue sauce? ›

Answer. For 1 cup barbecue sauce: Mix together 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) ketchup, 2 tablespoons mustard and 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Double or halve these ingredients for more or less sauce.

How do you thicken BBQ sauce without changing the flavor? ›

Another great answer to how to thicken up BBQ sauce is to add arrowroot. As the name suggests, arrowroot is a type of root or tuber grown in the West Indies, and is noted to have a more neutral flavour.

What is the base for most barbecue sauce? ›

Barbecue sauce is one of those kitchen staples that can be used in a number of ways, including marinating meat, dipping, topping, and basting. It typically has a tomato base and a flavor that's sweet and a little bit spicy.

How to make BBQ sauce tastier? ›

Add a few glugs of Frank's RedHot or Louisiana-style Crystal. Or any other spicy condiment, really: swirl in some sambal oelek, gochujang, or harissa. Play with the smoky notes found in a can of adobo sauce, or the citrus flavors in Cuban mojo. Another source of smoky flavor: smoked paprika.

Does homemade BBQ sauce go bad? ›

Short answer: Yes, BBQ sauce does spoil.

What is the most common base for BBQ sauce? ›

What is the base for most BBQ sauces? It shouldn't come as a surprise that the most common type of BBQ sauce is a tomato-based sauce. This base is usually in the form of ketchup, but there are times when tomato sauce, paste, or puree is used.

What ingredients are used in BBQ? ›

10 Essential Grilling Ingredients
  • Salts. Every good cook knows they have to have salt for cooking, but there are a few essential kinds that you should always keep in your pantry. ...
  • Essential seasonings. ...
  • Store-bought barbecue sauce. ...
  • Apple cider vinegar and apple juice. ...
  • Granulated honey. ...
  • Condiments. ...
  • Fruit Juices. ...
  • Brown sugar.
Jul 18, 2015

What two ingredients were common flavorings is Southern barbecue sauces? ›

Most southern barbecue sauce recipes have the base ingredients of ketchup, vinegar, and dark brown sugar. In general, the ratio of ketchup to vinegar was four to one for the Memphis and Texas sauces. Carolina sauces are the exact famously opposite – roughly four to one vinegar to ketchup.

What is the standard BBQ sauce? ›

The most typical type of barbecue sauce is tomato-based. The tomato in these concoctions is almost always in the form of ketchup, although there are exceptions to that. Tomato-based BBQ condiments became the most common in America during the middle 20th century.

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