This easy homemade BBQ Sauce recipe is made with simple pantry ingredients and only takes 10 minutes to make! This sweet and tangy sauce is so much better than bottled sauce- it's perfect for chicken, ribs, pulled pork, and so much more!
Try it on my Baked Barbecue Chicken Thighs!
About This Recipe
While bottled barbecue sauce from the grocery store is undoubtedly more convenient, my homemade barbecue sauce tastes so much better. And since it's ready in 10 minutes, you can make it on even the busiest weeknights. My recipe uses simple pantry ingredients, like ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. If you do any type of cooking at home, you'll probably already have all the ingredients on hand!
This barbecue sauce is so versatile, too! You can use it in all sorts of recipes, like chicken, chicken wings, meatballs, pulled pork, ribs, and more. Even as a dip for chicken tenders, it's delicious. Once you try my recipe, you'll never buy store-bought again!
Key Ingredients
Ketchup: If you've never made barbecue sauce before, it might be hard to believe, but the base is made with ketchup! You can use whatever your favorite brand is. I personally love Heinz's or French's ketchup.
Brown sugar: I love sweetness in my barbecue sauces, and I know other people do as well; that's why there is brown sugar in my sauce. You can also use white sugar, but brown sugar has more depth from the molasses.
Apple cider vinegar: Adds acidity and helps balance the flavors. You can also use lemon juice in a pinch!
Worcestershire sauce: For tanginess and umami. Don't skip this because it adds so much flavor to the sauce!
Dijon mustard: Works as an emulsifier and helps bind all the ingredients together.
Seasonings: This is all you need to make a delicious BBQ sauce: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt- nothing else! I like my barbecue sauces to lean on the sweet side, so I don't add as many spices. But if you want it to be more savory and salty, feel free to double the amounts here.
Instructions
STEP 1: Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk until the sugar dissolves. You can use it right away or refrigerate it for up to two weeks.
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk until the sugar dissolves.
- You can use it right away (see blog post for ideas) or refrigerate it for up to two weeks.
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