Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce

Making homemade BBQ sauce might sound tedious, but it’s actually super simple. In recent years, I’ve just loved experimenting with making my own sauces and shying away from store bought varieties. From homemade alfredo sauce, or tartar sauce, to caesar salad dressing, I love cutting down on preservatives without compromising on flavor. This BBQ sauce is of no exception!

Before you dive in, it’s important to note that this recipe yields two cups of BBQ sauce. If you are looking to make a larger batch, feel free to double or triple the recipe and freeze or can the sauce for later.

How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce

Making homemade BBQ sauce is easier than it sounds. With just a handful of ingredients and a little patience, you’ll wonder why you ever leaned on store bought versions. Below, find a quick rundown of the recipe before you dive in.

• Combine All the Ingredients: In a saucepan over medium heat, add in the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, honey, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, honey mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
• Cook the Sauce: Next, bring the sauce to a simmer and then turn the heat down low. Cook it for an hour, giving it the occasional stir so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
• Cool & Store the Sauce: Before placing the sauce into a sealable canning jar or airtight container, first let it cool completely. Keep it refrigerated for up to two weeks and enjoy it on an assortment of BBQ meats, fries, chicken wings, and more.

Tips & Tricks

Here you’ll find a couple of tips and tricks to help you make the most flavorful BBQ sauce.

• Cook the sauce low and slow. Cooking the sauce low not only prevents it from burning and sticking to the pan, but it also allows it to develop a rich flavor.
• Add in a pinch of chili powder or cayenne. If you like your BBQ sauce spicy, add in some chili powder or cayenne to taste.
• Store the sauce in an airtight container. To prevent your sauce from absorbing smells in the fridge, make sure to store it in an airtight container.

Serving BBQ Sauce

One of the most common ways to serve BBQ sauce is slathered on ribs or chicken. You can also use it to make spruce up cheeseburger sliders or a flank steak wrap. It’s also a wonderful dip for air fryer french fries or crispy air fryer chicken wings.

Storing BBQ Sauce

BBQ sauce is perfect for batch cooking. Whether you plan to eat it in a couple of weeks or want to freeze a couple of jars for later, here are all the best practices for storing so you never buy the bottled stuff again.

• Refrigerator: If you want to have BBQ sauce on hand for a couple of weeks, store it in a sealable canning jar or airtight container and store it in the fridge. This will prevent the sauce from absorbing any lingering smells in your fridge and will also allow it to keep developing its flavor as it sits.
• Freezer: If you want to make a couple of batches of BBQ sauce at once, freeze it to have on hand whenever a craving strikes. To do so, first allow it to cool completely and separate it into several jars or container. To thaw, place a jar in the fridge overnight. It should keep for up to 3 months.

FAQ

More Homemade Sauces & Spreads

• Light Ranch Dressing Recipe – No-guilt ranch dressing
• China Coast Salad Dressing (Teriyaki Restaurant) – Asian sesame dressing
• Beet Salad Dressing – Sweet and tangy dressing for any beet salad
• 5 Minute Peanut Sauce – Lettuce wraps or spring rolls aren’t complete without this sauce.
• Garlic Herb Butter – The perfect blend of butter and herbs, with hundreds of uses
• Five Minute Marinara Sauce – Simple marinara for pasta, pizzas, and dipping
• Chimichurri Sauce Recipe – Herby, garlic steak sauce

Recipe

Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce

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Servings

8 Servings

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This homemade BBQ sauce is tangy, sweet, and perfect for slathering. Make a jar to eat in a couple of weeks or batch the recipe for a rainy day!

Ingredients

• 2 cups ketchup
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tbsp paprika
• 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp honey mustard
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Gather all the ingredients for the BBQ sauce.
  
• Place all the ingredients In a saucepan over medium-heat and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer and then turn the heat down as low as possible. Cook the sauce for 60 minutes, stirring it occasionally so it doesn't stick to the pan.
  
• Allow the sauce to cool down completely and transfer it to a sealed container for up to two weeks. Enjoy!
  

Nutrition Facts

Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 101 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Sodium 611mg25%

Potassium 236mg7%

Carbohydrates 26g9%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 21g23%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 527IU11%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 19mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.