Barbecue Sauce

Barbecue sauce is found in everyone’s grocery list. What if we can make it at home? Our homemade barbecue sauce is sweet, tangy, and smokey. The ingredients are easily found and the sauce will be ready within 15 minutes.

This easy barbecue sauce is perfectly seasoned and sweet but not too sugary,  and you can customize the heat level. Use it as a barbecue marinade, dip, or for cooking your favorite dish. Best with chicken wings, ribs, burgers, and hot dogs.

Easy Barbecue Sauce Recipe Ingredients:

Wanna save some dollars? Make this straightforward, sweet, and tangy barbecue sauce at home. It’s infinitely better than store-bought ones. And this recipe is the easiest you’ll come by. 

If you make this, you’ll use this over and over. It is a Kansas City-style, vinegar-based barbecue sauce. This recipe makes 2 cups of barbecue glaze. To make this homemade barbecue sauce recipe, you will need the following ingredients.

Tomato Sauce:

Tomato sauce is something that is found in everyone’s fridge. You can use any tomato sauce available at home. You’ll need 2 cups of ketchup in this grilling sauce recipe.

Tomato Paste: 

Wanna enhance the tomato flavor some more? Add ¼ cup tomato paste to the sweet BBQ sauce recipe. It’ll also give the sauce some texture. 

Worcestershire: 

Worcestershire is made from tamarind, vinegar, and other ingredients. It’s a condiment used in many savory dishes. Use 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire in the recipe.

Liquid Smoke: 

Liquid smoke gives the sauce the desired smokiness. Use 1 tablespoon of liquid smoke in our tangy BBQ sauce recipe.

Brown Sugar:

The reason for adding brown sugar to our sauce is that it balances the acidity of apple cider vinegar and is an overall good combination. 1 tablespoon of brown sugar would be enough for this recipe.  

Smoked Paprika:

Smoked paprika is usually made from dried and smoked red chilies. Apart from spiciness, smoked paprika has a unique smell that goes well with BBQ sauce. 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika will make your sauce spicy enough to pair with any BBQ meat. 

Garlic & Onion Powder:

Onion and garlic powder are a good way to add savory flavor to any recipe without using fresh ones. Add garlic and onion powder to the sauce to make it extra spicy and delicious. These powders are easily found in grocery stores. Use 1 teaspoon of both. 

Black Pepper:

Use ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper to add some depth to the flavors.

Kosher Salt:

Salt is the basic ingredient that balances the taste of any recipe. Use 1 teaspoon of kosher salt in the smoky barbecue sauce recipe. 

Apple Cider Vinegar:

As it is a vinegar-based BBQ sauce, ½ cup of apple cider vinegar is used in the recipe. Apple cider vinegar adds to the flavor of smoked meat proteins. It also raises the longevity of the sauce.

Honey:

Why use brown sugar and honey both? Honey works to balance the bitterness of apple cider vinegar. Use 1 tablespoon of honey to change the whole game.

How To Make Homemade Barbecue Sauce:

All of us need grilled meat sauces, right? Our homemade spicy barbecue sauce is super-easy to make – just stir everything together and simmer for about 10 minutes. It is a tangy, smokey, and slightly sweet blend of flavors reflecting Kansas City flavors. 

This sauce is a multipurpose one with so many options to use. I bet the ingredients are already available in your pantry. So, Let’s make a batch together! 

Step 1:

Measure and gather all the ingredients in a saucepan. Stir together with a whisk.

Step 2:

Turn on the stove. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes or until it has thickened slightly. The sauce will get thicker when cold.

Step 3:

Turn off the flame. Allow to cool. Your barbecue marinade is ready to be brushed on your favorite meat. Or dip chips in it and enjoy.

BBQ Sauce Variations:

The best part of our smokey BBQ sauce is that it can be customized without much hassle. Make it sweet, smokey, or vegan, as you need it to be. 

• To make it vegan, use vegan Worcestershire.

• To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free liquid smoke.

• To make it thicker, simmer the sauce for 15-20 minutes.

• To make it sugar-free, skip using brown sugar. Maybe use stevia alternatively.

• To make it smokier, add an extra dash of liquid smoke.

Recipe Tips & Notes:

• Use honey as the natural sweetener in this BBQ sauce. But you could also use maple syrup.

• Add 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, if you would like to give the sauce more heat.

• Use of liquid smoke is optional, skip it if it doesn’t suit your stomach.

• Do not use apple cider vinegar more than the given measurement, otherwise, the sauce will taste bitter.

• Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch if you like your barbecue sauce really thick.

• Try to use fresh and good-quality spices for authentic BBQ flavor.

• You don’t need to use any preservatives as apple cider vinegar naturally enhances the shelf life of the barbecue sauce.

• Feel free to double or triple the measurements to make a larger batch.

Nutrition Information:

Calories	40 cal (per serving)
Carbohydrates	11 g
Protein	0 g
Fat	0 g

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here I’ll answer some related questions that may arise in your mind while trying our sweet and spicy barbecue sauce recipe. Tag along along and know it all.

1. What’s The Difference Between Sweet And Tangy Barbecue Sauce?

The difference between sweet and tangy barbecue sauce is the proportion of sweetness and tanginess in the sauce. Tanginess comes from tomato sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire, and spices. Sweetness is derived from brown sugar, honey, or molasses. 

2. Can You Use Barbecue Sauce As A Marinade?

Yes, certainly we can. The ingredients present in BBQ sauce give the needed flavor and moisture to the meat. Be it your pulled pork, chicken, or ribs, brush it with our sweet and spicy BBQ sauce and be amazed at the outcome.

3. How to Store Homemade Barbecue Sauce?

Make ahead and store easily. Cool, cover, and refrigerate. It’s that simple. Reheat in a pan before use. It will last at least 2 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge. Also, you can freeze it for a longer shelf life. Store in separate zip bags, so that you can thaw and reheat just the needed amount of sauce.

4. What to Serve with Barbecue Sauce?

This barbecue sauce is my all-time favorite. I use it as a traditional grilling sauce on chicken, turkey, pulled pork, ribs, steaks, etc. Or spread it on pizza, burgers, hotdogs, tacos, and burritos to add some BBQ flavor to them. 

It can also be used as a salad dressing or soup broth to add a twist to the taste. My kids love to dip chicken nuggets, fries, sauteed vegetables, meatballs, spring rolls, etc in the BBQ sauce.

Wrapping Up:

Do you find satisfaction in making your own kitchen staples? Our sweet-and-savory homemade barbecue sauce recipe tastes so much better than store-bought, and it’s budget-friendly too. Plus you can make it with fresh ingredients and without preservatives. 

It’s definitely a win-win. Save the recipe for family dinner or give it away at Christmas. Thank me later!