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
JJ says
Just made this for some oven baked BBQ chicken, that I want to be a little special, and HOLY. SMOKES. I used half the vinegar for my preference; and because I like a slight heat, I subbed 1 tablespoon of the ketchup w/ a half Tbsp each of Thai chili paste & Thai sweet chili sauce – this is the perfect blend of sweet, tangy, spicy, and so thick! Next time I might try a tiny touch of liquid smoke too, just for kicks :) Thanks so much for this recipe – never going back to bottled!
Glad you liked it.
Jacqueline Buchanan says
There are 4 of us in the household so I’m inquiring as to how much would be good for us when baking about 6-8 drumsticks?
The full batch of this would definitely be enough. Though you could probably get away with making a half batch, I would encourage you to make the whole thing because I think you will really like it and enjoy it on other things too.
Em says
Hey!I’m super excited to make this as my daughter has multiple allergies and store bought bbq sauce has been a bit scary for us to introduce. My question is that I’m going to be using this in a crockpot recipe and since this will be cooking for 8 hours with the meat do you think I need to follow the directions and bring to a boil and let simmer for 15 min before adding to the crockpot or can I just mix all ingredients and throw in to cook with the recipe. I’m figuring you can but I figured I’d see if you’ve done that before with success or not :)
I actually just developed a recipe using this sauce in a crockpot with meat and you don’t need to boil it first. It’s not as thick, but it gives the meat a great flavor!
Valerie says
Love the zing of the vinegar! I added 1 tsp. ground mustard and 1 tsp. chili powder. Not major changes, but I like those flavors in BBQ sauce.
Chris says
This is the only BBQ sauce you will ever need, better than store bought and so easy to do!
So glad to hear you liked it, Chris!
Paula says
This was awesome! Followed some of the suggestions and cut the ACV in half and used a 1/4 cp Thai sweet chili sauce for some of the ketchup as it like sweet spicy. So good and easy! No more store bought for me!
VIKKI says
(CAME OUT SO GOOD. WE LOVE IT.
So glad to hear this Vicki!
Erin says
I Would like to try another BBQ sauce but My boyfriend has issue of “sweet baby rays” sauce. I’m hoping you have a whole different of bbq sauce.
Thanks
Erin
Hi Erin! I you are asking if this is better than Sweet Baby Rays, I would say that it definitely is. It has a deeper flavor and is not as sweet in my opinion.
Gramma Di says
I made as is and LOVED it on my ribs. A definite keeper. Will be making again for sure. Thanks for sharing. 😊
James fitzwater says
I’ve try it like it and it was a hit can’t wait to try more