Homemade BBQ Sauce
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It doesn’t matter if you can smoke the best bbq, you’re not going to do it justice unless you serve it with the best bbq sauce, and that’s where our homemade bbq sauce comes in.
While store-bought bbq sauces have their time and place, squirted over the meat you just spent 12 hours slaving over isn’t one of them.
Our homemade bbq sauce is easy to make and has the perfect balance of sweet and spicy which works with most bbq.
What makes a good sauce?
It depends on where you come from, as to how you like your bbq sauce. Some prefer a bit more tang from the vinegar whilst others prefer heat or heavy on the mustard. Then others just like that sweet-tasting sugar hit over everything.
So I say why don’t we combine the lot!
When creating this BBQ sauce, I wanted something that stood out from the crowd. I wanted the sweetness I come to expect from most BBQ sauces but I also wanted to have that extra layer of tang in the flavor profile.
Last but not least I wanted a nice little bit of heat at the end. Nothing to burn the throat, just enough to make me sit up and pay attention.
After playing around with a few batches, I came up with my perfect sauce. And it can now be your perfect sauce as is or you can easily tweak the flavors to how you like them.
How to make the best bbq sauce
It’s an easy recipe to make, it takes mere minutes to prep.
Measure all the ingredients and then place them into a small thick based saucepan.
Cook over low to medium heat, stirring all the time, so the sugars melt and the sauce reduces slightly. I usually cook it for around 15 minutes.
As it reduces, it will thicken up, but if you want an even thicker sauce you could add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with a little water to the sauce until you reach your desired consistency.
How to use bbq sauce
Smother it on everything! Ribs, brisket burnt ends, pork belly burnt ends, chicken, pulled pork, sliders, tacos, and loaded nachos.
How to store your homemade bbq sauce
It’s best to allow the sauce to cool before pouring it into a clean jar or sauce bottle. Thanks to the preservative properties of vinegar, salt, and sugar you should be fine to store your bbq sauce for several weeks in the fridge, potentially up to a few months, if it lasts that long!
If you like the idea of homemade sauces, give these a go:
BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1 ½ cup apple juice
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 3 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black ground pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tbsp molasses
- 4 oz tomato paste
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a thick based saucepan.
- Over a low heat, continuously stir for 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Transfer to a jar and store in fridge until required.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation only. If you’re worried you could always add a side of kale.
About Your Pitmaster
Jordan Hanger is a grilling enthusiast known for bold, approachable recipes that blend American and Asian BBQ. Growing up with an American dad and Korean mom, he developed a love for fusion flavors, inspiring his brand, Ninjacue.
With over over one million followers on social media, Jordan makes great barbecue fun and accessible for everyone.
It says tomato sauce. What kind? Can I just use 15oz of crushed tomatoes?
I would use tomato sauce- you can buy it canned and it is pureed. If you use crushed tomatoes you will have a chunky sauce.
Great tasting BBQ sauce, it’s my go-to. I just use 1/8 tsp of cayenne since we don’t like spicy heat.
Any kind of canned tomato sauce works just fine, I use Hunt’s from Walmart.
What a fantastic recipe! Our kids love it & it has a fraction of the sugar or the commercial rubbish with so much more taste. We dropped the cayenne pepper as we have a little man who hates anything spicy & added a little liquid smoke. Love your work!