The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce

BBQ sauce in a mason jar with a spoon being held.

5 from 1 vote

Elevate your sauce game with The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce! With its perfect balance of tangy, smoky + slightly sweet + spicy flavors, this sauce is a true crowd-pleaser. Whether you're dipping, marinating, or slathering it onto grilled favorites, this versatile sauce adds a delicious punch to any dish.

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Total Time10

Course: Main Course

Keyword: bbq, condiment, easy, family-friendly, kid-friendly, sauce, weeknight, weeknight meals

Servings: cups

Calories: 281kcal

Author: Shanika

Ingredients

BBQ SAUCE:

2 cups organic ketchup
¾ cup organic brown sugar, lightly-packed
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsps Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsps molasses
1 tablespoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon hot sauce or Sriracha
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

TO MAKE THE BBQ SAUCE:

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add together the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, mustard powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, hot sauce, black pepper, cayenne, and onion powder, stirring everything together using a wooden spoon until combined and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.

LET IT COOL:

Be sure to allow the BBQ sauce to cool completely before storing in an air-tight container or mason jar for storage.
Enjoy on your favorite things like BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich, BBQ Pinto Beans, Vegetarian BBQ Meatball Pizza, Baked BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese, Fall Harvest BBQ Chickpea Kale Salad, etc.
Bon Appetit!

Notes

STORAGE: Add sauce/dressing to your favorite mason jar or tightly sealed container and refrigerate for up to two weeks for optimal freshness.
SERVING SIZE: This recipes makes about 3 cups worth of BBQ sauce, however, for more or a larger batch simply double or triple the ingredients.
HEAT LEVEL: To make this sauce more spicy, add additional hot sauce and/or red pepper flakes. For less spice, reduce the amount of hot sauce.

Nutrition