Description
Make this easy homemade BBQ sauce from scratch in minutes. It has the perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and tangy flavors, beating any store-bought version. Use it for ribs, chicken, dipping, or marinating.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir the mixture constantly until the brown sugar dissolves completely and the sauce begins to simmer gently.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Remove the sauce from the heat. It will thicken more as it cools.
- Let the sauce cool completely before using it as a glaze, marinade, or dipping sauce for your next grilling session.
Notes
- For a Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce, add 1 tablespoon of molasses when simmering.
- If you want a Texas Style BBQ Sauce, reduce the brown sugar slightly and increase the vinegar by 1 tablespoon.
- This sauce tastes even better the next day, so make a batch ahead for your summer cookouts.
- For a gluten free BBQ sauce option, check your Worcestershire sauce label to ensure it contains no wheat ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Stovetop Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 65
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0