The Daring Gourmet

Grappling Each Dish By The Horns

Sign up for our newsletter!
No SPAM. Ever.Check out our privacy policy
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Home & Garden
  • Travel
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Shop

Home » Food » By Type of Dish » Sauces, Seasonings and Condiments » Ultimate BBQ Sauce

Ultimate BBQ Sauce

April 30, 2022 by Kimberly Killebrew · 2 Comments

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure policy.

65 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Smoky, sweet, zesty and savory, this homemade BBQ sauce recipe is the ultimate!  Ready in 15 minutes with the perfect balance of flavors, you’ll find yourself reaching for this sauce every opportunity you can get!  Rich and bold, it’s just what you need for your backyard barbecue!

bbq sauce recipe homemade barbecue steak best easy

A great BBQ sauce is indispensable for any backyard cookout.  And have I got a terrific sauce for you!

This homemade barbecue sauce recipe combines a variety of ingredients and spices to achieve the perfect balance of flavors:  Sweet, tangy, zesty, spicy, savory, smoky…this sauce has it all!  Rich and bold, it’s always a hit with our friends and family!

How to Use BBQ Sauce

Use this in any recipe calling for barbecue sauce.  It’s delicious slathered on burgers, grilled chicken, pork, ribs, beef and used for your pulled pork.

It also makes a great dip for your sweet potato fries and chicken tenders.  Alternatively you combine it with our homemade Ranch dressing for a delicious dip variation.

bbq sauce recipe homemade barbecue steak best easy

How Long Does Homemade BBQ Sauce Keep?

This will keep for 2-3 weeks in a sealed non-reactive container in the fridge.  It also freezes well for up to several months.

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe

Let’s get started!

Stir all of the ingredients together.

combining ingredients in bowl

Bring the sauce to a boil in a medium saucepan.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

If you prefer the sauce thinner, stir in a little water.  If you prefer it thicker, let it simmer for a few more minutes.

cooking ingredients in saucepan

Let the sauce cool completely and then store it in a sealed non-reactive container in the fridge.

You can use it immediately or, for best results, let it chill overnight to give the flavors time to meld.

Enjoy!

bbq sauce recipe homemade barbecue steak best easy

For more delicious homemade condiments be sure to try our:

  • Cherry Barbecue Sauce
  • Big Mac Sauce
  • Tartar Sauce
  • Yum Yum Sauce
  • Sweet Chili Sauce
  • Curry Ketchup
  • Sweet and Sour Sauce
  • Hoisin Sauce
  • Romesco Sauce
  • Teriyaki Sauce
  • Aji Verde Sauce
  • Ponzu Sauce
bbq sauce recipe homemade barbecue steak best easy

Ultimate BBQ Sauce

Kimberly Killebrew
Smoky, sweet, zesty and savory, this homemade BBQ sauce has it all!  Ready in 15 minutes with the perfect balance of flavors, it's just what your backyard barbecue needs!
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course condiment
Cuisine American
Servings 20
Calories 64 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups ketchup (I use and recommend one without high fructose corn syrup)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 5 tablespoons molasses
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional but recommended)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
  • water as needed for thinning

Instructions
 

  • Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir together. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. If you prefer the sauce thinner, stir in a little water. If you prefer it thicker, let it simmer a little longer. Let the sauce cool completely before storing in the fridge.
    This BBQ sauce can be eaten right away but for best results let it chill overnight to allow time for the flavors to meld.
    Store it in the fridge in sealed non-reactive container where it will keep for 2-3 weeks.
    Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 264IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword barbecue sauce, BBQ Sauce
Tried this recipe? Mention @daringgourmet or hashtag #daringgourmet
65 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

2 Comments →

« Whole Wheat Crumpets
BEST Chicken Salad »

2 Responses

  1. Kim says

    May 10, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    This was fantastic! I made it this past Sunday and stored it in the fridge. My husband put ribs in the slow cooker this morning while we were working then we put them under the broiler with this sauce. Perfect balance of sweet, smokey, tangy with a bit of a kick to it. I’m already planning bbq chicken for dinner later this week – this is a keeper!

    Reply
    • Kimberly Killebrew says

      May 11, 2022 at 10:29 am

      Thanks so much, Kim! As always, I appreciate your feedback and am thrilled you both enjoyed it!

      Reply

Add your Response Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Welcome!  I’m Kimberly and I share delicious originals, revitalized classics and authentic dishes from around the world.  Come travel the world through your taste buds!

Sign up for our newsletter!

Receive the latest from The Daring Gourmet!

No SPAM. Ever.Check out our privacy policy
  • About
  • Request
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Copyright © 2022 · The Daring Gourmet · All Rights Reserved

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Home & Garden
  • Travel
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
  • Shop