Homemade BBQ Sauce
Making your own BBQ sauce from scratch is so easy and so much more delicious than store-bought. The perfect addition to chicken, ribs, pulled pork and more!
Ingredients needed
- Tomato ketchup.
- Worcestershire sauce.
- Balsamic vinegar. Apple cider vinegar can be substituted.
- Brown sugar. Honey or maple syrup can be used for sweetness instead.
- Smoked paprika.
- Garlic powder. Other spices like onion powder, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes and mustard can all be added.
- Salt. I don’t usually add pepper but black pepper can also be added for more flavor.
How to make BBQ sauce
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer then allow to cook, stirring regularly, for 5-7 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary then transfer to a bowl or jar and allow to cool before using.
Can I make this ahead?
Homemade BBQ sauce can be made a few weeks in advance and kept in an airtight container or a mason jar in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. The sauce also freezes well. Transfer to freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw completely before using.
Serving suggestions
This homemade barbecue sauce recipe is delicious served with chicken, burgers, ribs and pulled pork. It can also be used in place of pizza sauce (who doesn’t love a bbq chicken pizza), on chicken wings or used as a dipping sauce with French fries.
FAQ
By using ketchup as a base, the sauce should be thick and glossy. If your bbq sauce is still too thin, adding a teaspoon or two of cornstarch slurry then cooking until thickened is a good idea.
If you’ve added too much vinegar to your sauce, adding more sugar will balance the acidity and tone down the flavor of the vinegar.
Yes, you can! Season the steak then grill for a minute per side then start basting with the bbq sauce and cook until the steak is done to your preference.
Easy Sauce Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 cup tomato ketchup
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and set over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring regularly, until the sugar has dissolved.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary then remove from the heat and allow to cool before using.
Since iam a diabetic, I made it with Splenda brown sugar. To help cut the sugars down a little.
Very good tasting. Saves it foe future use. May add honey also.
how much do i need for 10 lbs of pork?
For 10lb of pork I would suggest 10-12 cups of BBQ sauce, depending on how saucy you want the meat. I would err on the side of caution and make more than you need as the sauce keeps well in the fridge and there’s nothing worse than not having enough sauce.
First time I used this recipe. Followed the recipe and thought the balsamic vinegar was a little too strong so I added more brown sugar. Very good sauce.
Easy to make, which was perfect for me. It was too thin and too vinegary for my taste.
Tonight I made this for the first time. Since I did not have balsamic vinegar or brown sugar, I subbed regular sugar and apple cider vinegar (excluded ‘the mother’) in the same measurements. The taste had a bit of a ‘bite’, which I did not mind; it was delish!!
Love your substitutions!
This has a sweet, tangy flavor is better than commercial jar recipes. Next time I’ll add a little liquid mesquite smoke for extra flavor.
Basic sauce works well. I left out the Garlic as it’s already in the rub. I use 1 tsp. Minced Onion and soak it in the liquids to hydrate. I added 1/4 tsp. Keen’s Ground Mustard. Then add to the Ketchup. I suggest you bring to simmer (200-205 F). My opinion – refrain from boiling sauce. And when you add to the meat lower the oven temp to 160 F. to avoid charing. Just my Toonies worth.
This is a delicious and easily made sauce. I added some garlic and onion powder as recommended and let it gently boil. I will make it again!
Really good for a super quick and easy recipe. I didn’t have to grate garlic etc. like I usually do so loved this!
omg it is so good.
The sauce is terrific! It has a good balance between sweet and sour. Easy to make. Tks
Thank you. Easy and delicious. I like how the bbq sauce caramelizes on the ribs I cooked. Thank you again!
Very easy. Very tasty. I don’t usually have worcestershire on hand so I just use a little extra vinegar and ketchup. Turns out delicious every time I’ve made it. Even better the next day.