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 barbecue sauce all the time.
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 use store-bought again.
This is the only BBQ sauce you will ever need, better than store bought and so easy to do!
BBQ Sauce Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients that make up homemade BBQ sauce. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full recipe, including all measurements.
- 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
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
Add all of the ingredients to a small sauce pan and whisk them together.
Bring to a Boil
After being over medium heat for a few minutes, large bubbles will start to appear. 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 allowing it to thicken and the flavors to combine.
Tips and Tricks
- Use it as a marinade. BBQ sauce isn’t typically used as a marinade, but this one works great as one. Remember that when marinating raw beef, the marinade should be discarded. Making a double batch of this and reserving some for the final cooked meat is a great idea.
- Adjust the amount of vinegar. I love the way the tang of the vinegar balances the sugar in this recipe. But if you know that it is too strong for you, you can cut back the vinegar a bit.
- Skip organic apple cider vinegar. It is extremely strong in flavor and I wouldn’t recommend it here.
- Make spicy BBQ sauce. To make this sauce spicy, add a little bit of cayenne pepper. For a recipe of this size, I would start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon depending on how spicy you want it.
- Don’t double dip. Avoid brushing cooke meat with the sauce and then dipping the sauce back in the container of bbq sauce unless you plan on using all of it. Doing this and then saving the sauce will introduce bacteria to the sauce.
Storing BBQ Sauce
The vinegar and sugar in this recipe both act as natural preservatives, so this easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe should keep for two weeks. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Discard if the sauce separates at all. As always, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers
This sauce is great to for freezing. Allow it to cool completely. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container that has room for expanding and store in the freezer for up to three months.
Using Homemade BBQ Sauce
While BBQ sauce is typically meant to go on meat after it has been thoroughly 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.
- It is a great start to my Crockpot Ribs recipe.
- It is the star of the show in my BBQ Chicken Nachos.
- I love using it to top my Meatloaf.
- You can’t beat it in these Crockpot Little Smokies.
- You will love it in this simple BBQ Pork Chops recipe.
- It makes the base of this BBQ Pulled Pork.
- Its one three ingredients in my Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks.
- Toss my chicken wings in it.
- Use it to top my perfect burger recipe.
If you try this easy BBQ sauce recipe or any of my other recipes, 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 see note (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 saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Recipe Video
Notes
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.