Make store bought BBQ sauce better (2024)

FAQs

How can I make store-bought barbecue sauce better? ›

Sugars: The standard sauce tends to be pretty sweet to begin with, so sugar may not be necessary, but if the sauce is too spicy or tart, you can try adding brown sugar, molasses, and/or honey to even things out. Spices: With big bold flavors, the subtly of spices in bottled sauces tends to get lost.

If your sauce isn't sweet enough, add some brown sugar or molasses. If the sauce isn't tangy enough, add some apple cider vinegar. If the sauce needs some heat, add your favorite hot sauce or red pepper. To add some smoky flavor, try liquid smoke.

Molasses: add both sweetness and a deep rich flavor to the sauce. Pineapple juice: adds a unique fruity flavor profile. Worcestershire sauce: adds an umami flavor to the sauce. Keep in mind that Worcestershire does make this sauce not suitable for my vegan friends.

If you went a little heavy handed on the vinegar, your best bet is to balance its flavor with something sweet. Brown sugar, molasses, dark corn syrup, agave nectar or plain old white sugar will do the trick. Don't use maple syrup though. Nothing but raisins are more disgusting than maple syrup in bbq sauce.

A jarred sauce can sometimes lean a bit acidic, so the way to balance that is with richness. A glug of a good quality extra virgin olive oil, a splash of cream or half and half, a dollop of ricotta or mascarpone, or even a few pats of butter stirred in can smooth those rough edges.

Yellow mustard – It adds a little bite and amplifies the tangy vinegar. Garlic powder and onion powder – For extra umami. Ground cumin – For earthy depth. Smoked paprika – It makes the sauce taste rich and smoky.

Barbecue sauce is all about depth of flavor, and while sugar is quite sweet, it's rather flat. Consider adding molasses for a warm, smokey caramel flavor. Use maple syrup for an earthy, woody sweetness. Or try honey for a rich and smooth distinctive taste.

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

Add some hot sauce to cut some of the sweetness and add some Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce to thin out the sauce because it will thicken up quite a bit when you add the rub in. Sometime I will add a little apple cider vinegar too if it needs a little twang!!

Dilute the sauce: Add water, broth, or another liquid to the sauce to make it go further. Mix in other ingredients: Mix in ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or other pantry staples to stretch the sauce and add flavor.

Can you add cornstarch to barbecue sauce? ›

You can use either flour or cornstarch to thicken BBQ sauce. Just mix together 2 tbsp (16 g) of flour and ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of water, or combine 1 tbsp (9 g) of cornstarch with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water. Continue mixing the thickener until there are no lumps of flour or cornstarch.

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.

You have a few options to strike a balance. Try sweetening the mixture with molasses, brown sugar, or honey. I like to bump-up the umami with a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a sprinkle of MSG. Push the sauce toward a Carolina-style with a heavy dose of apple cider vinegar.

You can use either flour or cornstarch to thicken BBQ sauce. Just mix together 2 tbsp (16 g) of flour and ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of water, or combine 1 tbsp (9 g) of cornstarch with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water. Continue mixing the thickener until there are no lumps of flour or cornstarch.

Liquid smoke helps to add that amazing smokey flavor. Made with pantry staples. Basic ingredients including tomato sauce, ketchup, sugar, molasses, red wine vinegar, and spices. The only thing you may not have on hand is liquid smoke, which is inexpensive and easy to find.

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.