The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce

Elevate your sauce game with The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe! With its perfect balance of tangy, smoky + slightly sweet + spicy flavors, this sauce is a true crowd-pleaser. Whether you're dipping, marinating, or slathering it onto grilled favorites, this versatile sauce adds a delicious punch to any dish. Whip it up in no time + get ready to level up your barbecue game! Gluten-free + Vegan Options.

It's almost criminal that I have so many BBQ recipes on my site and am only just now sharing The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe! It's all in the name, y'all, and honestly, maybe I was gatekeeping it a little. It's seriously so dang good—I use it for everything from coating chicken wings to slathering it on pizza, BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, BBQ Jerk Lobster, Vegan BBQ Meatballs, and more.

What I LOVE about this BBQ sauce is its versatility—it's perfect for meat, vegan + vegetarian creations, as well as for all my dipping needs--- Did someone say Crispy Jumbo Garlic Herb Fries y'all? Haha. Plus, you can easily make it vegan by swapping out the Worcestershire sauce for a vegan version! And the best part? It's got a little kick of spice, but you can totally adjust that to your liking too.

The best BBQ sauce recipe is tangy, smoky, a little sweet + downright delicious. You can make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for whenever you need it! It's perfect for marinating, dipping, spreading, and grilling—you name it! Trust me, it'll be a new staple in your fridge.

What Makes This The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce

• Strikes the ideal balance between tangy, spicy, smoky + subtly sweet flavors
• Simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
• Elevates every bite to the next level.
• Homemade goodness--- better than store-bought options
• Loved by all, this sauce is sure to be a hit at backyard barbecues, family gatherings, and potluck dinners!
• Versatile - use it on meats, salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, fries and beyond!

How To Make The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce?

With just a handful of simple ingredients and a quick mix over the stove, you can create a rich + luscious sauce that's perfect for grilling meats like steak or chicken, add it to salads, sandwiches, and much more! Trust me, once you try it, you'll wonder how you ever survived without it.

Ingredients

BBQ SAUCE:

• Organic ketchup. Provides a rich tomato base and adds sweetness to the sauce.
• Brown sugar. You could also sub for brown sugar or raw honey if you prefer.
• Apple cider vinegar. To add some tang to the sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce. For a vegan-friendly version of this sauce, make sure to opt for Worcestershire sauce from a vegan brand. My favorite is from Annies.
• Molasses. Adds a deep, rich sweetness and helps to thicken the sauce.
• Mustard powder. Adds a tangy kick + depth of flavor.
• Onion powder + Garlic powder. Strong flavors that I love using for depth + umami flavor.
• Smoked paprika. For the smoky flavor.
• Hot sauce or Sriracha. Adds heat and a spicy kick to the sauce. I love the Fix Signature Sriracha. Feel free to add more or less depending on how spicy you like it.
• Black pepper. Adds a nice peppery kick.
• Cayenne pepper. This adds a nice little bit of extra heat.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS SAUCE!

Here, I’ve curated a list of baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite dishes, especially with The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce. Everything from whisks, blenders, knives, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

How To Use The Best BBQ Sauce?

There are countless ways to enjoy a batch of homemade BBQ sauce! Here are some of my favorites:

• Dipping sauce: The most obvious answer! From chicken wings to cauliflower wings, to delicious french fries BBQ sauce is the ultimate dipping companion for all your favorite snacks!
• Classic BBQ meat: Whether it's grilled, or pulled chicken, pulled pork or ribs, this sauce is perfect for adding that smoky, tangy flavor.
• Burgers + sandwiches: Spread it on your favorite burgers for a flavor-packed punch. Try my Baked BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese
• Beans: Jazz up a batch of beans with BBQ sauce for a simple and delicious twist, Learn How to Make BBQ Pinto Beans!
• Pizzas: Swap out traditional pizza sauce for BBQ sauce to create this mouthwatering Vegetarian BBQ Meatball Pizza!
• Tacos: Give your favorite Mexican dishes a unique twist by adding BBQ sauce. If you're looking for inspo try my Crispy BBQ Pinto Bean Tacos
• Soups + salads: Add a splash of BBQ sauce to broths for extra flavor in soups, or use it as a dressing to jazz up your salad. My top two fave salads happen to have BBQ sauce, The Ultimate Summer BBQ Chopped Kale Salad + Fall Harvest BBQ Chickpea Kale Salad 

There's no end to the delicious possibilities with homemade BBQ sauce!

What Is The Best Ketchup For BBQ Sauce?

I personally love using organic ketchup without preservatives --- However, use what you have on hand. There's no need to splurge on gourmet ketchup when making barbecue sauce, as you'll be adding your own seasonings to enhance the flavor.

The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce Q + A's

More Tasty Homemade Sauces + Dressings

Explore these mouthwatering sauce recipes that your whole family will adore after falling for this downright delicious Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe.

• Jalapeno Ranch Sauce
• Spicy Restaurant Style Salsa
• Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• Vegan Ranch Dressing
• Creamy Lemon Garlic Dressing
• Creamy Chipotle Dressing

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce

February 20, 2024 •

By Shanika

5 from 2 votes

Elevate your sauce game with The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce! With its perfect balance of tangy, smoky + slightly sweet + spicy flavors, this sauce is a true crowd-pleaser. Whether you're dipping, marinating, or slathering it onto grilled favorites, this versatile sauce adds a delicious punch to any dish.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Serves: 3 cups

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

BBQ SAUCE:

• 2 cups organic ketchup
• ¾ cup organic brown sugar, lightly-packed
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsps Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbsps molasses
• 1 tablespoon mustard powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce or Sriracha
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

TO MAKE THE BBQ SAUCE:

• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add together the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, mustard powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, hot sauce, black pepper, cayenne, and onion powder, stirring everything together using a wooden spoon until combined and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.

LET IT COOL:

• Be sure to allow the BBQ sauce to cool completely before storing in an air-tight container or mason jar for storage.
• Enjoy on your favorite things like BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich, BBQ Pinto Beans, Vegetarian BBQ Meatball Pizza, Baked BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese, Fall Harvest BBQ Chickpea Kale Salad, etc.
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

• STORAGE: Add sauce to your favorite mason jar or tightly sealed container and refrigerate for up to two weeks for optimal freshness. 
• SERVING SIZE: This recipes makes about 3 cups worth of BBQ sauce, however, for more or a larger batch simply double or triple the ingredients. 
• HEAT LEVEL: To make this sauce more spicy, add additional hot sauce and/or red pepper flakes. For less spice, reduce the amount of hot sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 170mg | Potassium: 432mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 65g | Vitamin A: 479IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 2mg

DID YOU MAKE THIS recipe?

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