The Gates BBQ sauce is more than just a condiment to enhance the flavour of your food. The bold and unapologetically midwestern sauce is a legacy in a bottle. This Kansas City-inspired signature sauce was born from the famous Gates BBQ restaurant. It’s a thick and rich glaze made with tomato and vinegar. The ingredients capture the sweetness and tanginess in a single bottle. Its nostalgia and heritage have made it the favourite pairing of grilled meat and other smoked delicacies.
In the following blog, you can find out more about making a copycat of this sauce at home.
What is in Gates’ BBQ sauce?
All the ingredients for this restaurant-style sauce can be found in your pantry. They are a perfectly balanced blend of the classic BBQ sauce ingredients. This simple yet powerful sauce has the tang of the tomato, the sweetness of the brown sugar, and the warm depth of the spices.
Dry Ingredients (Spice Blend)
White Sugar
Add 2 tablespoons of white sugar.
Salt
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You’ll need about 2 tablespoons of salt to balance the flavours. Start with this amount and add more later to adjust the taste.
Celery Seeds
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1 ½ tablespoons of dry celery seeds are needed.
Cumin
You’ll need ½ tablespoon of cumin to add warmth to the sauce.
Red Pepper/ Cayenne Pepper
About ½ tablespoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper will be needed. This ingredient can be added more or less according to preference.
Garlic Powder
Add ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
Chilli Powder
For the red bold colour of the tomato-based sauce, add ½ teaspoon chilli powder. You can add more later according to preference.
Wet Ingredients
Ketchup
About 2 cups of ketchup will be needed.
Apple Cider Vinegar
To add a taste of classic tang, add ½ cup of apple cider vinegar.
Lemon Juice
2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice will add freshness to the rib sauce.
Liquid Smoke
You’ll need about 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke.
Water
Add about ¼ cup of water to thin down the sauce mixture according to preference.
Optional Ingredients (for flavour boosting)
Brown Sugar
To add a deeper sweetness to the spice and the richness of molasses, it’s better to use brown sugar alongside white sugar. You can add 1 tablespoon first and then add according to taste.
Onion Powder
Add about ½ teaspoon of onion powder.
Black Pepper
Add a pinch of black pepper for warmth and depth.
How to Make a Copycat Gates Sauce at Home?
By following a few simple steps, you can have the taste of Kansas on your dinner table, ready to serve with any delicacy. All the ingredients are available in your pantry, but they blend and create a perfect flavour booster for ribs, brisket, steak, and more dishes.
Step 1: Mix Your Dry Spices in a Bowl
Mix all of the herbs and spices mentioned (salt, sugar, celery seed, cumin, garlic powder, chilli powder, ground red or cayenne pepper, etc) into a bowl.
Tips: Crush the celery seeds with the back of a spoon to release the oils. This will bring more aroma.
Step 2: Combine the Wet Ingredients in a Saucepan
In a medium saucepan, combine the wet ingredients, such as ketchup, vinegar, lemon juice, and liquid smoke.
Tips: Stir the mixture slowly over low to medium heat to prevent splattering or burning.
Step 3: Add the Spice Mix and Other Optional Ingredients
Add the spice mix and all other ingredients to the saucepan while stirring.
Tips: Brown sugar adds complexity; you can skip it if you prefer a spicier sauce or if you’re already using a sweet ketchup.
Step 4: Simmer
Simmer on low heat for 20 to 30 minutes; stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking to the pan.
Tips: The longer you simmer, the more the tastes blend. Stir carefully every few minutes to avoid sticking to the surface or burning.
Step 5: Taste and Adjust
After the mixture has come down to a simmer, you can add sugar, water, cayenne pepper, or vinegar to adjust the tanginess, thickness, and flavours according to your preference.
Step 6: Cool and Store
Cool the sauce slightly and store it in a clean jar or bottle for refrigeration.
Tips: Let the mixture sit overnight in the fridge for the flavours to fully blend. It tastes even better the next day.
Best Meats to Pair with Gates-style Barbecue Sauce
Gates’s style of BBQ sauce is famous for pairing well with the protein sources and complementing them perfectly. They work great against the flavours of the meat with their spicy and tangy twist. Here are some examples of meat dishes that are commonly paired with this Midwest BBQ sauce:
- Smoked beef brisket
- Grilled chicken
- Pork ribs (spare or baby back)
- Burnt ends
- Burgers of meatloaf
- Turkey (smoked or roasted)
Aside from meat dishes, BBQ sauce can be paired with some vegetables, too.
Best Vegetable Dishes to Pair with Gates-style BBQ sauce
- Grilled or roasted tofu
- Veggie burgers
- BBQ jackfruit
- Grilled corn on the cob
- BBQ cauliflower bites or wings
- Baked sweet potato or fries
Gates BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp White Sugar
- 2 Tsp Salt
- 1½ Tsp Celery Seed
- 1/2 Tsp Cumin
- 1/2 Tsp Ground Red Pepper
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Chilli Powder
- 2 Cups Ketchup
- 1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 2 Tsp Liquid Smoke
- 1/4 Cup Water
- 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar Optional
- 1/2 Tsp Onion Powder Optional
- A Pinch Black Pepper Optional
Instructions
- Mix spices in a small bowl.
- Combine ketchup, vinegar, lemon juice, and liquid smoke in a saucepan.
- Add spice mix and optional ingredients; stir well.
- Simmer on low heat for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cool and store in a clean jar in the fridge.
Nutrition
Conclusion
To bring that unmistakable midwestern, Kansas City-inspired flavours to your dinner table, Gates BBQ sauce is second to none. It pairs up with various dishes nicely, giving you an easy fix to enhance the flavours of your cooking with a bold but balanced sweet and tangy mix.
