Once you try our Homemade Barbecue Sauce you will never go back to store-bought sauce again! Ready in just minutes, our bbq sauce is made with basic kitchen ingredients.
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Hold the preservatives, hold the high sodium, it’s time to make your own Homemade Barbecue Sauce.
You probably have all the ingredients for this quick and easy barbecue sauce in your kitchen already.
With a brown sugar and ketchup base and a few seasonings and spices, this flavorful sauce will be ready in literally minutes. Just combine, boil and simmer.
The beauty of a homemade bbq sauce is that you get to control the ingredients and there are no added preservatives.
And you get to make it spicier if you want to too! Just add the optional cayenne pepper and you’ll get a kick of heat for sure!
Not a fan of spice, don’t add the cayenne. Easy as that!
Prefer a smoky barbecue sauce? Just substitute smoked paprika for the paprika and you will love the smoky notes that come through.
This is the perfect bbq sauce for ribs and it is also so delicious on steak, pork and chicken too.
Both sweet and tangy, just slather it on and grill to perfection. I typically rub a seasoning mixture over the meat and grill until it is almost cooked through, brushing with the sauce towards the end of the grilling time.
And don’t forget to give the food one more slathering when it comes off the grill. Now we’re talking saucy barbecue!
Many times I serve a ramekin of sauce on the side because everyone always wants more!
Just in time for grilling season, I know you'll be making this quick and easy BBQ sauce all summer long!
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How to make an easy barbecue sauce with ketchup
Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Combine brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, dry minced onion, salt, black pepper in a saucepot.
- Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips
- Be sure to pack the brown sugar which means to press it into the measuring cup so it is compact. If you don’t measure the brown sugar correctly the flavors in the sauce will not be balanced.
- Add minced fresh jalapenos for a jalapeno bbq sauce that has a kick of heat!
- Stir in a tablespoon or two of your favorite jelly or jam, such as raspberry jam or grape jelly, for added fruity sweet notes
Substitutions
- For a smoky flavor, substitute smoked paprika for the paprika
- Substitute finely minced fresh garlic for the garlic powder
- Substitute onion powder for the dry minced onion
- You can substitute dark brown sugar for the light brown sugar
Storage
- Store your BBQ sauce recipe in an airtight container, covered, in the refrigerator.
- This sauce will keep in the refrigerator for about one week.
- As always, I find it helpful to visit the FDA website for food storage guidelines
Easy Grilling Recipes
- Grilled Skirt Steak
- Chimichurri Steak
- Bruschetta Pork Chops
- Grilled Honey Glazed Chicken from Bowl Me Over
- Grilled Pork Chops from Jersey Girl Cooks
Ingredients for homemade barbecue sauce
- brown sugar
- ketchup
- apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- chili powder
- paprika
- garlic powder
- dry minced onion
- salt
- black pepper
- cayenne, optional
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dry minced onion
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne , optional
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Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Use the barbecue sauce immediately or let it cool and then transfer the sauce to a container and store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
- Be sure to pack the brown sugar which means to press it into the measuring cup so it is compact. If you don’t measure the brown sugar correctly the flavors in the sauce will not be balanced.
- Add minced fresh jalapenos for a jalapeno bbq sauce that has a kick of heat!
- Stir in a tablespoon or two of your favorite jelly or jam, such as raspberry jam or grape jelly, for added fruity sweet notes
- For a smoky flavor, substitute smoked paprika for the paprika
- Substitute finely minced fresh garlic for the garlic powder
- Substitute onion powder for the dry minced onion
- You can substitute dark brown sugar for the light brown sugar
Nutrition
I am planning to host a barbeque party this sauce is perfect.
It looks delicious, and I will def make this!
I love making my own BBQ sauce. I make a very similar recipe, but have never tried adding chili powder to the mix!