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.
Since first sharing my BBQ Sauce recipe with you in 2019, it has gotten rave reviews. Just like me, my readers find this sauce not only incredibly easy to make, but absolutely delicious.
In the last four years, I’ve added this sauce to so many different recipes (check out the list of recipes below), and without fail, it always becomes the star of the show. Just like so many others, one you make this homemade BBQ sauce, you will never look back.
This is the only BBQ sauce you will ever need, better than store bought and so easy to do!
How to Make BBQ Sauce
This is a brief overview of how to make this delicious recipe. For the full recipe with all of the ingredients find the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Combine the ingredients. In a small saucepan, combine all of the ingredients.
- Bring the sauce to a boil. After being over medium heat for a few minutes, large bubbles will start to appear.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer. Once the sauce starts to boil, turn down the heat to a simmer. You should see occasional and intermittent bubbles.
- Simmer the sauce for 15 minutes. This allows the sauce to thicken and the flavors to develop.
BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- Brown Sugar: Not only does this add some sweetness to your sauce, a must in BBQ Sauce in my personal opinion, the sweetness also balances the acidity of the other ingredients.
- Ketchup: Made with tomatoes, vinegar, and sugar, this also brings some acidity and great flavor to the sauce.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This brings the great tang that I bet you didn’t even know you love in BBQ Sauce. Read more about this below.
- Paprika: I generally keep regular paprika on hand and not smoked, so that is what I use here. That being said, smoked paprika would be fantastic in this.
- Onion Powder: This is a great way of getting good onion flavor in the BBQ sauce without chunks of onion.
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
Using Homemade BBQ Sauce
While BBQ Sauce is typically meant to go on meat after it has been throughly cooked, like in my Grilled Chicken Legs, I do use it as part of the cooking liquid often. Let me tell you, it makes for some pretty amazing recipes.
- Crockpot Ribs
- BBQ Chicken Nachos
- Meatloaf
- Crockpot Little Smokies
- BBQ Pork Chops
- BBQ Pulled Pork
- Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks
- Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
Crock Pot Ribs
BBQ Sauce as a Marinade
I’m all about breaking rules. Especially when it comes to cooking. It should be a fun creative process that makes you really happy. So while you don’t typically use BBQ Sauce as a marinade, and you add it at the end as mentioned above, if you want to use this as a marinade, go for it!
Remember that with marinades we want to marinate meat for at least 30 minutes but not more than 24 hours as a general rule. There are lots of cuts of beef that require at least 6 hours of marinating time – like flank steak for example. The point of a marinate is to penetrate the outer layer of the meat, tenderize the meat, and give it flavor. Marinating for more than 24 hours will break down the meat in a way that will make it unappetizing.
Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce
As mentioned above, 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.
That’s a lot of tang, and I love the flavor of it. I think it balances the the sweetness and the smokiness of 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.
Storing 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.
FAQ
While this recipe is naturally gluten free, you need to ensure that the Worcestershire sauce (as well as the other ingredients you are using) you are using is gluten free. There are some brands on the market that do contain barley malt vinegar, which would make this recipe not gluten free.
Yes, it can go bad. See my tips above to ensure that your sauce recipe is still good.
I don’t have enough experience with canning to advise you on this and I suggest that you use this website as a guide.
Other Great Homemade Recipes
If you try this recipe, come back and let me know what you think! I love hearing from you!
BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar (319.5 grams) packed
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup (352.5 grams)
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (119.29 ml)
- 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.
Beverly Bender Bnanny says
Taste really good
I’m glad you like it!
Ronald Kellett says
This bbq sauce is really great
Glad to hear you liked 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.
I’m so glad it was a hit Pearl!
Shantel says
I love this sauce, but can you tell me how long it’s good for?
The short answer is 2 weeks, for the longer answer with specifications on storage see the section in the post marked: HOW LONG CAN YOU STORE BBQ SAUCE
Kimberly Burks says
Does this caramelize upon cooking/grilling?
A bit, yes. I like to add some before grilling and then more after.
Robin says
Can this sauce be frozen?
Yes. Freeze in an airtight container (keeping in mind it will expand as it freezes) for up to three months. You might consider freezing in multiple containers, since I wouldn’t recommend thawing and re-freezing.
Teena says
Ran out of bottled sauce again today. I’ve tried making sauces in the past and it hasn’t gone well. As we have reduced store visits to once per week I didn’t know what to do and the steaks were marinating for a day and I knew they would be good. I made this sauce but used half the vinegar (not a fan of apple cider vinegar). First thing my husband asked was what the heck is on this? Lol it was so good!!! Def need to pin this one!!
I’m so glad you guys liked it Teena!
Lori K says
Can this be canned? Waterbath?
Hi Lori! I don’t have enough experience with canning to give you advice, but I did find this post that should be helpful.
Elena says
Can this be done with white vinegar if I don’t have apple cider vinegar?
It can Elena, but it will be missing a little something and won’t be as tasty.
Heather says
I’m making short ribs for dinner tonight and the recipe I used needed bbq sauce. I didn’t have any on hand and with the quarantine and stay at home orders I didn’t want to run to the store just for bbq sauce – not to mention I’m at home alone during the day with a one year old and didn’t want to take her! Anyway – I searched for homemade recipes and found this and got straight to work and OMG. I almost didn’t even want to put it in the crock pot I just wanted to eat it all!! This is by far – BY FAR – the best bbq sauce I have ever made, let alone eaten!! Thank you for this amazing recipe!! I can’t wait to make it again and use it for something else!!!
I’m so happy you like it Heather!
Heather says
I have literally made this 3 times now lol – once for the short ribs mentioned above, once for meatloaf and once for pulled pork in the smoker!!! I can’t get enough!! ❤️❤️ Thanks again!
Brent says
Little heavy on the vinegar
We will have to agree to disagree, Brent :)
Tonya says
OMG! My first time making bbq sauce. I didn’t want to go to the store just for a bottle of sauce. This is so good. Store bought sauce may be a thing of the past. ❤️
I’m so glad you liked it Tonya! Thank you for coming back to let me know.