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I’m super excited to bring you a recipe that’s a total game-changer for any barbecue enthusiast – my Homemade BBQ Sauce. Whether you’re a grill master or just love adding a little extra flavor to your dishes, this BBQ sauce is going to become your new favorite.
Cook Along with Me:
I’m going to walk you through this as I make my own BBQ sauce, so it’s like we’re making it together! And don’t worry about the exact amounts for now; just scroll down to the recipe card for those details.
BBQ Sauce: What You’ll Need
Let’s gather what we need for our BBQ sauce. We’re not talking about just any ingredients – these are my personal favorites that really make the sauce shine.
So, we’re starting with tomato ketchup. I always reach for Heinz because it just tastes right.
For the apple cider vinegar, I always use Mother Earth Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. It’s a FANTASTIC choice with its fresh pressed organic apples. It’s raw, unpasteurized, and unfiltered, which is just perfect for adding a natural, tangy twist to our BBQ sauce. You can get yours from Amazon. HIGHLY recommended!!
Lea & Perrins The Original Worcestershire Sauce is a MUST in our BBQ sauce. It’s like MAGIC in a bottle, bringing a RICH, SAVORY taste. It’s the kind of ingredient that just makes the sauce POP! You can get it here!
We’ll also need light brown sugar for sweetness. It really adds a lovely, caramel-like flavor to the sauce. Yellow mustard is next, and French’s Classic Yellow Mustard is my choice for its bright, TANGY taste.
For the paprika, I ALWAYS reach for McCormick Culinary Paprika. It’s just the BEST in my book. I love its deep, smoky flavor and the vibrant color it adds. You can get it from Amazon!
Onion powder and ground black pepper are essential for that savory kick. And, of course, fresh garlic cloves – there’s nothing like the real thing!
Lastly, we’ll need some water to get the consistency just right.
This is what makes my BBQ sauce PERFECT!
All these ingredients together make for a BBQ sauce that’s full of flavor and character. Can’t wait to show you how it all comes together!🔥
How to Make the BEST BBQ Sauce:
Alright, let’s jump into making our BBQ sauce. I gather all our yummy ingredients and get my FAVORITE saucepan ready.
Now, for mixing everything together, I use my OXO Good Grips Gravy and Sauce Whisk (check it out here). It’s the BEST I use for sauces – really gets everything blended nicely with its flexible and angled head . But hey, if you’ve got a tool you love, use that!
I gently stir all the ingredients – the ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, paprika, and the rest. I turn the heat up a bit, bringing it to a boil, then lower it to let it simmer. This is where our sauce starts to thicken and all those amazing flavors come together.
Sometimes I taste it and tweak a bit – more sugar, a bit more pepper, whatever feels RIGHT.
After about 30 minutes, when it’s all thick and tasty, I take it off the heat. It needs to cool down, and as it does, it gets even more flavorful. And that’s it! We’ve got our Homemade BBQ Sauce ready to jazz up any meal.
Are you a FAN of Sauces?
I’ve got another awesome sauce recipe you’ve got to try – my Homemade Tzatziki Sauce! It’s super creamy, fresh, and just perfect for dipping or adding a cool, zesty touch to your meals.
Simple & Flavorful Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: About 2 cups 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe is a perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors. It’s super easy to make with everyday ingredients like ketchup, vinegar, and spices. Great for grilling, dipping, or as a marinade, this sauce will add a delicious touch to any BBQ dish.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups tomato ketchup (I recommend Heinz Organic Tomato Ketchup)
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (I always use Mother Earth Organic Apple Cider Vinegar)
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perrins is my favorite)
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard (I prefer French’s Classic Yellow Mustard)
- 1 tablespoon paprika (McCormick Culinary Paprika is the BEST)
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- In my favorite saucepan, I mix all the ingredients with my lovely sauce mixer.
- Then, I bring it to a boil and let it simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Once thickened, I remove it from heat and let it cool.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the sweetness or tanginess to your liking.
- Let the sauce cool completely for better flavor.
- It keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Sauce/Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce, Best BBQ Sauce Recipe, Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce, DIY Barbecue Sauce, Vegetarian BBQ Sauce, American BBQ Sauce, Stovetop BBQ Sauce Recipe