A barbecue isn’t the same without a little barbecue sauce. Although there are dozens of BBQ sauces on the market, most are made from basic ingredients considered. Why not use one of our homemade BBQ sauce recipes to make your own, too?
Homemade BBQ sauce recipes are pretty easy to make. You don’t need any special skills and most of the ingredients are common kitchen utensils.
The best part IS that YOU can add anything and customize it to your liking. Find some homemade BBQ sauce recipes that are easy to make and taste great on their own.
Also try our Chipotle BBQ Sauce recipe
The recipe I’ve outlined here is just for a simple and easy barbecue sauce. If you prefer your BBQ sauce to be a little smokier, I recommend adding a few teaspoons of liquid smoke.
Be careful not to overdo it as it will only overpower the flavor of your sauce.
While this sauce tastes great as is, feel free to consider this recipe as a base and add your own flavorings. You might end up with a unique homemade barbecue sauce that everyone loves the recipe for.
You can experiment by adding a little more ingredients you like or adding extra spices like garlic or ginger. You can also try replacing the mustard with Dijon mustard or add some hot sauce to spice things up a bit.
Use the water to rinse all of the chilli sauce out of the bottle. After that, just mix all the ingredients in a pain and voila. You can use the BBQ sauce right away, but the flavors will blend better if you make it the night before and let the BBQ sauce sit in the fridge overnight.
If you don’t come across liquid smoke, you should be able to find it in the BBQ sauce section of most grocery stores. It’s almost becoming a staple in smoky BBQ sauces, and many restaurants use it to add a smoky flavor to their dishes.
This recipe is great just the way it is, but don’t be afraid to make a few tweaks to it, too. I try to use less liquid smoke if you want a less smoky flavor or you could try adding some extra spices like thyme. Another idea would be to use apple cider vinegar or maybe soy sauce instead of Worcestershire.
You can also try adding honey to any of these recipes to make them sweet. This is especially good if you want roast pork.
When it comes to making homemade BBQ sauces, don’t be afraid to experiment a little. They’re so easy to make, you can just throw out a bad batch and make a new one in about 5 minutes.
You can use the BBQ sauce right away, but the flavors will blend better if you make it the night before and let the BBQ sauce sit in the fridge overnight.
If you need to thicken your BBQ sauce , try adding some heavy cream or cornstarch as well.
What is traditional barbecue sauce made of?
Every chef or grill master has their own variation of BBQ sauce. However, the traditional version has some standard ingredients that no riff can remove. The base is made with vinegar and tomato paste, sometimes mayonnaise, for a combination of salty and spicy flavors.
The BBQ sauce needs to have a sweet element, like molasses or sugar. You need to pack spices like pepper. Then don’t lick into the liquid smoke for extra flavor!
The best ways to use BBQ sauce
Here are some of our favorite recipes for our homemade barbecue sauce!
Pork ribs
The sweet flavors pair perfectly with the pork, making the BBQ sauce perfect for slow-smoked baby back ribs. We use a cup of sauce on our 3-2-1 spare ribs to coat the pork cut for the last hour of smoking. It gives them a color and finish, and the lovely sugar in the sauce adds amazing flavor.
Seven wide
A good barbecue is as much about the plates and sides as it is about the mass of award-winning meat. Add a few tablespoons of the sauce to a small saucepan and use as a dipping sauce on homemade grilled potato wedges , chicken wings, or as a topping for pulled pork nachos .
Citizens
The classics never go out of style. Swap it for ketchup and add a touch of flavor to your favorite beef or chicken burger.
How to store homemade barbecue sauce
After you combine the overheated ingredients, remove the pan from the heat and let cool for about 20 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a 16- or 32-ounce mason jar, depending on how much you made. Make sure your jar has a tight-fitting lid ( I use these jars on Amazon ). Leave the jars in the fridge for at least two hours or overnight. Enjoy the same evening or next day.
Before storing the BBQ sauce, allow it to cool to room temperature. Storing the sauce while it is hot can affect its shelf life and flavor over time. Place in an airtight container like a Mason or Tupperware jar. Be careful not to let in any air that could affect the flavor or quality of the sauce. Store it in the fridge to extend its shelf life.
Homemade sauce can take a week or two to make. If it starts to smell or taste funny, throw it away. If the sauce is getting darker, that’s also a sign it’s going bad. Homemade barbecue sauce doesn’t last as long as store-bought sauce, but that’s because it’s fresher and made with quality ingredients.
How to Thicken Barbecue Sauce
One of the concerns about making homemade sauce is that the texture isn’t right. BBQ sauce usually thickens as it cools, so don’t worry if it seems runny at first. If your sauce is too thin, thicken it with cornstarch or flour to thicken it.
If using cornstarch, mix 1 part cornstarch with 1 part water to form a paste and add to the sauce. If you use flour, the ratio is 2 tablespoons of flour to 1/4 cup of water. Add one part milk for each cup of gravy you are making.
Can I marinate meat with BBQ sauce?
Although most recipes call for adding BBQ sauce after the meat is already cooked, YOU can use it as a marinade to add flavor to the meat. Your meat will be incredibly juicy and flavorful after soaking in BBQ sauce.
However, the reason most cooks don’t use BBQ sauce as a marinade is because of its high sugar content. You must be careful to remove excess sauce or the sugar will burn and form a bitter, black crust on your meat. While you can marinate meat with BBQ sauce, it’s not always the best idea.
What can I put on the ribs instead of BBQ sauce?
If you don’t have BBQ sauce on hand (or don’t like it), that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to dry, tasteless ribs. There are some other spices you can try.
If you’re looking for a way to carry more flavor to your ribs, try an alternative method of seasoning, such as B. Dry rubbing before cooking. If you want a dipping sauce but don’t like barbecue sauce, try teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, or plum sauce. If you avoid BBQ sauce for health reasons, many stores sell sugar-free versions!
Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
