An easy and quick recipe for sticky-sweet, tangy homemade barbecue sauce.
Texans are typically of two mindsets when it comes to BBQ sauce: You either use it...or you don't. I am of the former, my dear husband? He is most definitely of the latter. The thought behind this is, if the meat is good enough, if the BBQ is done right, sauce just isn't necessary. This group of like-minded folks sees adding BBQ sauce to their smoked meats like adding ketchup to filet mignon. And, I hate to upset the masses, but I like sauce on my filet mignon as well. Maybe not ketchup, but a good bearnaise or a chimichurri is always welcome, and the same goes for my BBQ.
Some people are just sauce people. We like a little something extra when it comes to our protein, and if you too are a member of the "sauce people" nation, you are seriously going to love this recipe.
WHAT GOES IN BBQ SAUCE
Barbecue sauce from scratch is easy to make. Especially if you're working with this recipe. It's simple, requires no chopping and very little time.
Barbecue sauces usually consist of ketchup, sweet and tangy additions, as well as a blend of spices. Sweeteners often used for BBQ sauce are honey, brown sugar, and molasses. The acidity can come from different types of vinegar and/or citrus juices, like lime or lemon. Lastly, a sauce will also possess flavor enhancers, such as chopped onion and garlic.
However, in the case of this super easy, super simple sauce, we will rely on dried spices to carry us through.
So for the sauce people who like a little something extra when it comes to your protein, this one's for you. A sticky, sweet and tangy BBQ sauce, all the things a BBQ sauce should be, in one easy package. It requires only a bit of measuring and a small amount of time on the stovetop. Enjoy.
Try this recipe on Baked Barbecue Chicken!
Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Ketchup
- ⅓ cup Worcestershire
- ⅓ cup Dark Brown Sugar
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon Water
- 2 tablespoons Honey
- 1 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¾ teaspoon Cumin preferably McCormick brand
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat, and allow to come to a simmer. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
Alyssa says
Super easy and sooooo delicious! It's great to make a bbq sauce from scratch and not have all of those 'unknown' ingredients. Thanks for sharing!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Alyssa! I'm so glad you love it as much as we do!
Jennifer says
How long will this last in the frig?
Kelly Anthony says
This should be good for about 4-5 days in the refrigerator!
Ruth LeClerc says
Does this freeze well? I just made it and it is delicious but I won’t eat it all in the next couple of days.
Kelly Anthony says
I can't see any problem with freezing this sauce, Ruth! You should be fine!
Kevin Oliver says
I just DoorDash some ribs with no sauce and was urgently in need of bbq sauce. This recipe was so easy, especially when I actually had the items in my pantry. Thanks for sharing!
Kelly Anthony says
That's awesome, Kevin! Thank you so much 🙂