This Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce recipe is delicious and so easy to make. A homemade BBQ sauce recipe that goes on everything from chicken, steaks, ribs, pork chops, burgers and more.
Barbecue sauce recipes vary depending on the region. The bottled sauce from the store is usually a Kansas city style sauce. This style is tangy and sweet, as opposed to North Carolina style, which is more tangy than sweet.
This sweet and smoky barbecue sauce recipe has a nice balance of tangy, sweet and smoky flavor.
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Why Make Your Own BBQ Sauce?
- Homemade barbecue sauce is super easy to make with pantry staples you probably have on hand.
- Making your own sauce using real ingredients means you get to control the amount of sugar and sodium.
- Barbecue sauce from scratch is much cheaper than what you buy at the grocery store.
- This flavorful sauce tastes so much better than store bought!
- Homemade barbecue sauce takes just 30 minutes to make.
Ingredient Notes
- Ketchup. You can use tomato paste, but ketchup brings an nice extra tang and sweetness, as well as perfect consistency.
- Brown Sugar. Dark brown sugar works best for this recipe.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. I like cider vinegar for this recipe, but you can use white vinegar and your barbecue sauce will still be delicious.
- Worcestershire Sauce I use French's which is gluten-free
- Soy Sauce. Gluten-free soy sauce or tamari work well if you need a gluten-free sauce.
- Molasses (missing from the photo) Any molasses is fine, but blackstrap molasses has a more robust flavor and works great for this recipe.
- Mustard Just regular yellow mustard.
- Smoked Paprika This gives our BBQ sauce that smokiness that we want. If you want even more of a smoky flavor, you can add a ½ teaspoon liquid smoke.
- Chili Powder Chili Powder adds just the right amount of heat.
- Garlic Powder Because, of course!
How To Make It
It's so simple!
- Just combine all the ingredients and simmer.
- Allow the sauce to cool before transferring it to a jar with a lid. Store in the fridge.
Storage
The sauce will keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge.
You can freeze homemade barbecue sauce. Use an airtight freezer safe container. Freeze for up to three months.
Variations and Substitutions
There are lots of ways to customize your homemade barbecue sauce.
- Replace the chili powder with a splash of your favorite hot sauce to get a spicier version.
- Replace the chili powder and the smoked paprika with a chipotle pepper increase both the heat and the smoky flavor.
- Adjust the sweetness using more or less brown sugar or use honey or maple syrup.
- Try adding a couple of tablespoons of whisky or dark rum for a little extra kick.
Top Tips
Be sure to use low heat and stir frequently while the sauce is simmering to prevent burning.
Brush barbecue sauce on food during the last few minutes of cooking.
Recipe
Sweet & Smoky Barbecue Sauce
Homemade barbecue sauce is easy to make and allows you to control the sugar and sodium. This sweet and smoky BBQ sauce will become your new favourite.
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Servings: 16 2 tablespoon
Calories: 107kcal
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce gluten-free if needed
- ¼ cup soy sauce gluten-free if needed
- 2 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a large, deep, non-reactive saucepan, combine all ingredients
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until all ingredients are dissolved, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat slightly and allow to simmer, uncovered, until thickened, stirring often, for about 15 minutes.
- Allow the sauce to cool and transfer to jars, storing in the fridge once cooled.
Notes
Be sure to use low heat and stir frequently while the sauce is simmering to prevent burning.
Replace the chili powder with a splash of your favorite hot sauce to get a spicier version.
Replace the chili powder and the smoked paprika with a chipotle pepper increase both the heat and the smoky flavor.
Adjust the sweetness using more or less brown sugar or use honey or maple syrup.
Try adding a couple of tablespoons of whisky or dark rum for a little extra kick.
The sauce will keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge.
You can freeze homemade barbecue sauce. Use an airtight freezer safe container. Freeze for up to three months.
Nutrition
Serving: 2tablespoon | Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 485mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 699IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
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