This BBQ Sauce Recipe is easy to throw together and absolutely delicious! Fast to make and with ingredients you already have on hand, you are going to make this homemade bbq sauce all the time. Pair this BBQ sauce recipe with my Chicken Rub for the perfect grilled bbq chicken.
The other day, I shared with my my Chicken Rub recipe, which is a great dry rub that makes chicken on the grill so flavorful. And if you wanted to stop with just that, you absolutely could. But! If you don’t, I have for you this amazing homemade bbq sauce that compliments the rub perfectly. Made with ingredients that I bet you already have, this sauce comes together in under 30 minutes and is perfect for all your summer grilling!
HOW TO MAKE BBQ SAUCE
This bbq sauce recipe is made so simply. It is the combining of a few simple ingredients and then simmering them together for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to combine and to help the sauce thicken.
BBQ SAUCE INGREDIENTS
- brown sugar
- ketchup
- apple cider vinegar (see note)
- paprika
- onion powder
- black pepper
- worcestershire sauce
- kosher salt
HOW TO USE THIS HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE RECIPE
Traditionally, bbq sauce is meant to go on the meat after it has been completely cooked. It isn’t really meant to be part of the cooking process. You can see this in the making of my Honey BBQ Ribs.
That said, I do have two recipes in which I use BBQ sauce as the part of the liquid for cooking, and they did in fact turn out amazing.
Can you guys tell that I have a thing for honey bbq?
CAN YOU USE BBQ SAUCE AS A MARINADE?
You guys, I’m all about breaking rules. Especially when it comes to cooking. It should be a fun creative process that makes you really happy.
Generally speaking, no. You don’t use BBQ Sauce as a marinade. It goes on after the cooking has happened.
If you do want to use this bbq sauce recipe as a marinade, don’t allow the meat to sit for more than a half hour. There is quite a bit of vinegar in this recipe, which acts as an acid and will break down the meat. If you let it sit too long it will break down the meat too much.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR IN BBQ SAUCE
Speaking of vinegar, lets talk about it. The tang in this recipe comes from apple cider vinegar. In fact, in the 2 1/2 cups that this recipe makes, 1/2 a cup is vinegar. Plus you have the acidity of the ketchup. That’s a lot of tang guys. I love the flavor of it. I think it balances the the sweetness and the smokiness o the other flavors perfectly. That said, if you are worried it will be too acidic, I would start with 1/4 cup, taste it and add more vinegar until you get to taste you want or 1/2 cup, whichever comes first.
HOW LONG CAN YOU STORE BBQ SAUCE
The vinegar and sugar in this recipe both act as natural preservatives, so this easy homemade bbq sauce recipe should keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Things to keep in mind:
- It should be stored in an air tight container.
- Keep it in the refrigerator.
- If the sauce looks as though it has separated, it should be tossed.
- Obviously if there are signs of mold it should be discarded.
- When using this homemade bbq sauce avoid brushing cooked meat, and then dipping the brush back in the container, introducing bacteria to the sauce. Rather, pour some from the jar into a bowl and brush from there.
BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar packed
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a small sauce pan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition
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Beverly Bender Bnanny says
Taste really good
Lisa Longley says
I’m glad you like it!
Pearl says
I used your dry rub for my turkey and the barbecue sauce to make smoked chopped turkey and I honestly can say this was the best I have ever made and it was a big hit on my table. Thanks so much.
Lisa Longley says
I’m so glad it was a hit Pearl!