Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
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Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe that is ready in 15 minutes or less! Makes the best Homemade Barbecue Sauce. Sweet and tangy and made from scratch! With cook and no-cook options!
BBQ sauce is one of those topics that people can become really, really passionate about. There are the regional camps of North Carolina-style BBQ sauce, Kansas City-style BBQ sauce, white Alabama BBQ sauce, and then the Memphis style with no sauce at all (well, maybe just a smidge). Everyone has their personal favorites.
And you know, I really love them all.
I’ve shared my Mama’s Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce with you, which is the one I grew up with. I’ve also shared our Spicy Mustard BBQ Sauce, which we use from time to time, and my Peach BBQ Sauce, which is the perfect BBQ sauce with a fruity twist. I’ve also included our favorite molasses-based Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce in my cookbook, which just takes ribs to a whole new level!
But friends, I want to share with you this quick and easy BBQ sauce that requires just a handful of ingredients and comes out perfect every single time.
We’ve had friends who call this the best BBQ Sauce they’ve ever tasted and it’s pretty easy to see why!
How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce
This BBQ Sauce comes together quickly with just a handful of ingredients that I generally have in my refrigerator or my pantry. This recipe is one that I think you all will fall in love with as well. I’ve had friends ask me to please make extra for them to take home and if I’d bottle it, they’d surely buy it. โฅ๏ธ
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
To make this homemade BBQ Sauce, you’ll need:
- Ketchup – You’ll use 2 cups of your favorite ketchup as the base in this recipe. I prefer to use one with the fewest ingredients and one that does not include high-fructose corn syrup.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – the apple cider vinegar gives the sauce a delicious, tangy flavor that helps to balance it perfectly.
- Brown Sugar – just 1/4 cup of brown sugar not only helps sweeten the sauce but deepens the flavor adding just a hint of molasses flavor.
- Honey – use a couple of tablespoons of your favorite honey. If you can find a reliable local honey provider, I always recommend it!
- Worcestershire sauce – this balances the sweetness with savory flavor in the sauce. If you are gluten-free or sensitive to soy (like me!), you can use coconut aminos in place of the Worcestershire sauce.
- Stone House Seasoning – this is my favorite, go-to blend of seasonings that I have shared previously. It is a blend of kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic that tastes amazing on so many dishes and adds flavor in a snap! We named it Stone House Seasoning since we use it practically on everything except desserts!
- Lemon Juice – A tablespoon of fresh or bottled lemon juice adds just the perfect amount of acid to this sauce to make it perfect.
- Hot Sauce – We love to add just a splash of hot sauce to this BBQ Sauce recipe. It is entirely optional if you’d rather not include it.
Instructions
- Cook the BBQ Sauce. Whisk together all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Allow the sauce to bubble and then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes. This helps to deepen the flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Serve. You can use this sauce immediately or see the Storage Tips below.
Recipe Variations
No Cook Homemade BBQ Sauce – Whisk together all ingredients until well combined. Pour into an airtight container and serve immediately or store as directed.
Storage Tips
To Store. Allow the sauce to cool and then pour it into a quart-size mason jar. Seal it with a tight-fitting lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
To Freeze. Transfer the cooled sauce to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Favorite Ways to Use BBQ Sauce
- Chicken – Use on grilled chicken for a flavorful meal or drizzled over shredded chicken for a BBQ Chicken Sandwich.
- Pork – Delicious with BBQ pork chops, slow cooker ribs, and of course pulled pork sandwiches.
- Burgers – Delicious on hamburgers in place of ketchup for a tasty BBQ Burger.
- Pizza – Use in place of pizza sauce for a BBQ Chicken Pizza or a Pulled Pork Pizza. Yum!
- Dip – as a dip with Sweet Potato Fries and ranch dressing
Here’s my best Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, or coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Stone House Seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce, optional
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a medium saucepan situated over medium heat. Allow to come to a bubble and then reduce the heat to low. Allow to simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately or allow to cool slightly and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
No Cook BBQ Sauce
- Whisk together all of the ingredients for the sauce until well combined. Pour into an airtight container and serve immediately or store as directed.
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
This is an exceptional BBQ sauce. Easy to make. I decided to try it with Heinz spicy ketchup (ketchup with Tabasco) so skipped the Tabasco in the recipe and doubled the Worcestershire sauce. Best BBQ sauce I have ever tasted. Not too sweet and well balanced flavours. Used it for pork ribs and am going to try it on chicken next.
Thanks, Elle, for you tip on the spicy ketchup. This BBQ sauce is delicious on chicken.
I just made this bbq sauce and I’ll never buy bbq sauce again!! THANK YOU!!!!
Holly Sue, I’m so glad you love this BBQ sauce. Don’t you love how easy it is to make at home?
How long do you think this will last? As long as ketchup would normally last in the fridge?
Amber, I store mine in an airtight container in the refrigerator for only up to a week.
This was my first time EVER making barbecue sauce. First, I made Gordon Ramsay’s barbecue sauce. HUGE MISTAKE! I mean, I like onions but… ๐ฌ That one, in Ramsay style, went right into the bin!
This BBQ Sauce saved the day and the rack of ribs! I used 1/3 cup banana katsup because I was short on katsup. Used Sriracha for spice. Could maybe try some smoky paprika next time? The flavor is on point! I’m not a huge fan of BBQ sauce. I love this sauce!!!
Kim, I’m so glad you like this BBQ sauce. Several people have commented that you put smoked paprika in theirs and love it.
l loved this sauce! it’s just what I wanted. it reminds me of Amish BBQ sauce. I basted baby back ribs with this. Awesome.
Thanks, Jonlee. I’m glad you enjoy this BBQ sauce.
Did I miss the quantity of ingredients to use to makePulled Pork BBQ sauce. I only saw it being made.
Carol, the recipe card with list of ingredients, quantity, and instructions is at the bottom of the post. Hope you enjoy.
Excellent recipe. First time I made this sauce I didnโt look up what Stone House Seasoning was, and thought, Iโll just add salt, pepper, and garlic โฆ today, I finally looked at whatโs in it lol. I usally add cayenne/red paper based hot sauce like Louisiana or Trappeys. If itโs going on pulled pork, I reduce catsup by 1/4 cup and add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar.
Thanks, Dowd. I like those hot sauces in this BBQ sauce, too. Glad you looked up the Stone House Seasoning recipe.
All I can say is..yummmm
I cook a lot and this is the best bbq sauce Iโve come across! I did put some more heat in as my hubby likes it hot.
Thank you, Karen. I love that you can adjust the amount of heat in the BBQ sauce to suit your taste.
What kind of hot sauce?
Deva, I use Cholula hot sauce but you can use whichever hot sauce is your favorite. Hope you enjoy the BBQ sauce.
Can this recipe be canned?
Sarah, I have not tried canning this BBQ sauce so I can’t tell you how it would be.
Great recipe. Can this be frozen?
Peggy, I’m glad you like this BBQ sauce. I havenโt frozen this BBQ sauce but others have said they freeze BBQ sauce. Place the BBQ sauce in an airtight freezer container and freeze up to 6 months. You could also flash freeze in ice cube trays and then pop those out when frozen and place in airtight freezer containers and freeze.
Yes it can be canned. I have done it a few times!
Maggie, did you do anything different to do the canning? Or has anyone else canned this recipe? Thanks