This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is easy to make from scratch with simple ingredients! Sweet and tangy, it's great for dipping and summer grilling.
This homemade BBQ sauce is so much better than store-bought! It’s sweet, tangy, and deliciously seasoned with smoky, savory spices like onion powder and smoked paprika. Better yet, this easy BBQ sauce recipe calls for simple pantry ingredients. You probably have everything you need to make it right now!
I love making this homemade barbecue sauce during the summer. Perfect for grilling or dipping, it comes together super quickly (we’re talking less than 30 minutes on the stove!), and it keeps in the fridge for a couple of weeks. Thick and flavorful, it’s such an easy way to jazz up simple meals. Keep reading to learn how to make it!
BBQ Sauce Recipe Ingredients
After living in Austin for many years, I’ll be the first to admit that BBQ sauce can be controversial. Do you like yours tomatoey? Vinegary? Or syrupy and sweet from molasses?
I wouldn’t call this barbecue sauce recipe an authentic take on any of the regional barbecue sauce variations in the US, but because of its thicker consistency and tomato base, it’s closest to a Kansas City-style sauce. Here’s what’s in it:
- Ketchup – It gives the sauce its smooth, silky texture. Any store-bought ketchup will work here, but I recommend choosing a brand with no high-fructose corn syrup.
- Apple cider vinegar – I like my barbecue sauce tangy, so I don’t hold back on the vinegar! I love its zingy kick.
- Water – It loosens the sauce so that it’s not too thick or gloopy.
- Brown sugar – For sweetness. The notes of molasses are key for giving this sauce classic BBQ flavor. Light brown sugar and dark brown sugar both work well here. Dark brown sugar will give the sauce a stronger molasses flavor.
- Tamari – Worcestershire sauce is a common ingredient in many traditional barbecue sauce recipes. For a vegetarian-friendly alternative, I replace it with tamari. It provides a similar savory flavor, and I always have it on hand! If you’re not gluten-free, soy sauce works too.
- Yellow mustard – It adds a little bite and amplifies the tangy vinegar.
- Garlic powder and onion powder – For extra umami.
- Ground cumin – For earthy depth.
- Smoked paprika – It makes the sauce taste rich and smoky.
- And freshly ground black pepper – For a peppery kick.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Variation
For spicy BBQ sauce, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, a dash of hot sauce, or 1 to 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce from a can of chipotles.
How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce
My method for how to make BBQ sauce is super quick and easy!
- Whisk together all the ingredients in a medium saucepan.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Then, reduce the heat to low.
- Cook, stirring often, until the sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.
That’s it! Taste and adjust the sauce to your liking before using it on your favorite BBQ recipes.
How to Use BBQ Sauce
Though BBQ sauce is traditionally used on meat dishes like chicken wings, pulled pork, and ribs, those are far from the only ways to use it!
- Try it on BBQ jackfruit sandwiches.
- Brush it onto grilled tofu to make BBQ tofu.
- Make a BBQ burger! Dress up a veggie burger with caramelized onions and a slather of BBQ sauce.
- Use it on crispy cauliflower. Swap it out for the buffalo sauce in this buffalo cauliflower recipe.
- Serve it as a dipping sauce. We love it with air fryer French fries, air fryer onion rings, and sweet potato fries.
How do you like to use homemade barbecue sauce? Let me know in the comments!
How to Store Homemade Barbecue Sauce
The sauce will keep well in a Mason jar or other airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.
More Favorite Sauce Recipes
If you love this easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe, try one of these sauces next:
Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup tamari or soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the ketchup, vinegar, water, brown sugar, tamari, mustard, garlic powder, cumin, onion powder, smoked paprika, and several grinds of pepper.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring often, for 20 minutes, or until thickened. Season to taste and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
I made this to add to a pork tenderloin in my crock
pot. Love it!
So glad you loved the sauce!
I made this to add to a pork tenderloin in my crock
pot. Love it!
Hi
Great recipe.Delicious.
I love this.
Thak you for sharing
I’m glad you loved it!
Tangy and sweet with great texture
So glad you loved it, Amy!
I cooked chicken breast in an Instant Pot with chicken broth. Shredded the chicken and made this sauce to mix with it for sandwiches. My elderly father wasn’t a fan, but he only likes pizza, burgers, and hot dogs, so didn’t expect he would. My husband and I LOVED it. He requested I ONLY make this sauce from now on. Thank you for the tasty recipe!!!
ha, I’m so glad you loved it!
So easy using everyday ingredients. Delicious! I wanted you to know that I bought your Cookbook LOVE & LEMONS for my daughter for Christmas! She will love it!
Simple , and everyday foods already in your cabinet , and you know what your putting in it .
Healthier !
No corn syrup ! That’s a serious plus for me , get away from that bad stuff !
Yuk!! Even after I added 2 cups of maple syrup, it still tasted terrible. The kids won’t eat it. Ribs: ruined.
You must have messed up then because in no world does this need anything remotely close to maple syrup 🤣
Hi
Great reicipe
I love it
Delicious! I also added 2tsp pampered chef smokey Applewood and a pinch of ground cayenne red pepper
This was an easy recipe with better tasting BBQ sauce than you can purchase at your local grocery store where you shop every day!
I won’t ever waste my money again!!! Thank you!
This has become my go-to recipe for BBQ oven tofu. I love the vinegar zing. Thank you once again Love and Lemons!
Can leftovers be frozen,?
I needed a quick recipe for BBQ sauce and this was perfect. I didn’t have tamari or soy sauce and I subbed Worcestershire sauce instead. It was great with added cayenne pepper too. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Juanita, I’m so glad you loved the sauce!
♡♡♡♡♡
So glad you loved it!
I am not longer allowed to buy BBQ sauce…1st time simmering great idea!
OH MY GOODNESS!! Why did I not know how simple and delicious homemade bbq sauce is?!? Made this tonight for chicken and it was beyond delicious!! Sorry bottled sauces, you lost me. Thanks for another fabulous recipe!
This BBQ looks wonderful. But I was wondering if I could substitute honey for the sugar?
Thank you
Recipes like this are honestly just a template for you to experiment and fancy up however you like. I’d say go nuts.
This is a basic barbecue sauce that you get to add all your own herbs and spices to create your own flavor or temperature or cultural spice to make your own sauce for your family’s taste palette.
Absolutely!
This was so good you could eat it with a spoon! I used it with the BBQ Tofu recipe, but it would be great on tempeh, too!
Ooh yes this would be delicious on tempeh! So glad you enjoyed it.
This is a wonderful substitute for Annie’s Sweet & Spicy which is no longer available. For those who are on a sodium restricted diet I recommend Coconut Aminos as a sub for the high sodium content of Tamari. Even the low-sodium version if much too high for those with congestive heart failure. It is a delish sauce.
Hi Nora, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Can this sauce be water bath or pressure canned?
Hi Roger, I don’t have experience canning and preserving so I’m not sure.
Oops! I used white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar. Any way to tone down the tang?
Hi Debbie, sorry for my slow reply – you could add more sugar and/or just cook it longer – the tang should cook off.