Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipe

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My Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipe combines a combo of sweet and smoky ingredients and is perfect for all your BBQ sauce needs. This cooks in less than 30 minutes, and you can use it on sandwiches, ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, or just eat it by the spoonful. Either way, you’re gonna love it!

Be sure to lather this sauce on some of my Barbecue Baby Back Ribs or my Slow-Baked Pulled Pork. You can also add it to some grilled chicken or my Pressed Cuban Sandwiches! So many choices, friends.

A spoonful of homemade barbecue sauce.

The BEST barbecue sauce!

After making Reese Witherspoon’s barbecue sauce recipe a couple years ago, I decided to adapt it to make THIS one. My recipe makes ONE jar (as pictured ) but it’s very easy to double it to make two (or even more).

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This barbecue sauce can be explained in three (ok, four) words.

  1. Smoky – Due to using liquid smoke and the right combo os spices.
  2. Slightly Sweet – The molasses provides a perfect sweetener while acting as a thickening agent.
  3. Tangy – The apple cider vinegar/Worcestershire sauce are necessary ingredients for great barbecue sauce.
Side shot of a jar of homemade barbecue sauce.

BBQ Sauce Ingredients:

  • Chicken Broth – Use a lower-sodium broth to control the sodium.
  • Ketchup – The base of barbecue sauce is almost always ketchup, which we love.
  • Molasses – This adds some sweetness and a thicker texture to the sauce.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – Provides savory, sweet, and tang to the sauce.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – Acts to balance the other ingredients.
  • Yellow Mustard – You can use dijon or yellow mustard here.
  • Liquid Smoke – Adds that mysterious smoky flavor!
  • Seasonings – A combo of onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

How to make this sauce:

Barbecue sauce is super EASY to make. Just dump, cook, and store. Simple, huh?

  1. Combine ingredients. In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients and stir well. Cook over medium-high heat until boiling, and then reduce heat to a simmer. Let the sauce cook down by approximately 1/3.
  2. Store. Store the sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container or a mason jar (as pictured).
A plate with a pulled pork sandwich, with coleslaw and barbecue sauce.

Potluck Ideas:

So you’ve made the sauce, the smoked pork butt, and the creamy coleslaw. What else do you need?

Since I’m participating in BBQ Week with a whole bunch of other fabulous food bloggers, I’ve got tons of other ideas below! Head there now!

A spoonful dripping some barbecue sauce.

Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)

Please let know if you try this recipe. Be sure to comment and leave a review on the blog so I can see what you think. You can also like my Facebook Page, follow me on Pinterest, and catch me on Instagram.

xoxo ~Sue

A spoonful of homemade barbecue sauce.

Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipe

My Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipe combines a combo of sweet and smoky ingredients and is perfect for all your BBQ sauce needs. This cooks in less than 30 minutes, and you can use it on sandwiches, ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, or just eat it by the spoonful. Either way, you're gonna love it!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 16 Tablespoons
Calories: 42kcal
Author: Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup lower-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon liquid smoke
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue to cook until the sauce reduces by approximately 1/3.
  • Store the sauce in the refrigerator, for approximately two months.

Notes

This recipe is very easy to double.

Nutrition

Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 176mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 79IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Suebeehomemaker or tag #suebeehomemaker!

Monday #BBQWeek Recipes

Appetizers and Drinks

Side Dishes

Main Dishes

Desserts

Be sure to follow our Pinterest board for more summer BBQ ideas. Thank you to Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures and Ellen from Family Around the Table for hosting the event.

One Comment

  1. You can’t beat homemade barbecue sauce!

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