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Homemade BBQ Sauce

ByBrandie
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A deliciously easy staple, this Homemade BBQ Sauce is a versatile recipe that can go on or in a variety of recipes as well as being used for dipping! 

SO MANY WAYS TO USE BARBECUE SAUCE

I believe that everyone should have those staple recipes at their disposal and this Homemade BBQ Sauce is one of them. It is a quick and easy recipe that has a nice sweet and smokey flavor. Coming together in about 12 minutes you really can’t go wrong with this recipe. It is perfect to put in recipes such as Crock Pot Pulled Pork, Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken, Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs and BBQ Chicken Pizza! I love easy recipes and this BBQ Sauce Recipe can’t get much easier. So versatile and delicious it is one recipe that you will want to keep on hand for the long haul.

BBQ Dabber grabbing some Homemade BBQ Sauce from jar

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What does this BBQ sauce taste like?

The sauce itself is very flavorful, sweet, with a nice vinegar kick. It is thick and similar in texture to your basic sweet bbq sauce with a little more texture due to the tomato paste.

What do I use if I don’t have smoked paprika?

Smoked paprika really adds a a lot of the smoky flavor we like in barbecue sauces but you can always use regular paprika. If you have a little liquid smoke on hand, you could add a small drop of that to it.

What can I add if I like a spicer BBQ sauce?

Just add more cayenne pepper. It’s the easiest way to add more spice to the sauce.

How long can I store homemade barbecue sauce?

To store this Homemade BBQ sauce, place in an air-tight container once cooled to room temperature. It will keep in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.

Homemade BBQ Sauce basting chicken on pan Pinterest image

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • ketchup
  • light brown sugar
  • tomato paste
  • apple cider vinegar
  • molasses
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • smoked paprika
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • salt and pepper
  • cayenne pepper
Ingredients needed: ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and cayenne

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE:

Place the ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne into a medium-sized saucepan. 

All ingredients placed into metal saucepan

Whisk to combine until smooth.

Hand whisking ingredients together in metal saucepan

Place the pot over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and slowly simmer for 10 minutes, mixture will thicken slightly, stir occasionally. 

BBQ Sauce simmering in metal saucepan

Let the bbq sauce cool on the countertop before use.

Homemade BBQ Sauce cooling in metal saucepan

Pour into jars if desired for storing.

BBQ Sauce being poured into jar on wooden board with spoon

Enjoy on your favorite meats, in recipes or as a dippings sauce.

Homemade BBQ Sauce ini jar on wooden board with spoon next to it

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Close up of Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe basting chicken on pan

Homemade BBQ Sauce

A deliciously easy staple, this Homemade BBQ Sauce is a versatile recipe that can go on or in a variety of recipes as well as being used for dipping! 
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 3 cups
Author: Brandie @ The Country Cook

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)

Instructions

  • Place 1 cup ketchup, 1 cup light brown sugar, 6 ounces tomato paste, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup molasses, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper into a medium-sized saucepan.
  • Whisk to combine until smooth.
  • Place the pot over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer.
  • Reduce the heat to low and slowly simmer for 10 minutes, mixture will thicken slightly, stir occasionally.
  • Let the bbq sauce cool on the countertop before use.

Notes

  • While simmering, the sauce may splatter some, be careful! It should simmer without a top though so it can thicken. 
  • This makes a wonderful dipping sauce but extra delicious when brushing on grilled meats and allowing it to caramelize.
  • The amount of cayenne adds the slightest bit of heat, add more or less to your taste.
  • If you can’t find smoked paprika, regular paprika will work as well.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 518kcal | Carbohydrates: 128g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1651mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 117g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Awesome recipe!! While I enjoyed the results following the recipe exactly, except for the cayenne because I’m a wuss, I did take some out of the pot and add in a bit of juice from the jar of diced jalapeno peppers, just for a bit of a kick. This is a very good recipe that I will use again and again!

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