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Sure you can buy it at the store, but homemade BBQ sauce tastes infinitely better and is SO easy to make! Here’s how to make BBQ sauce.
Ever made BBQ sauce at home? If not, it’s time to try. This BBQ sauce recipe is so tangy and savory, you won’t want to buy store bought ever again! Whether it’s to paint onto burgers or steaks or shrimp, this homemade barbecue sauce goes with just about anything and takes only a few minutes to whip up. Alex actually invented it for a recipe featuring something you’ll never guess (BBQ…guess!), but we decided it was too good not to share separately too. So: here’s everything you need to know about making homemade barbecue sauce — keep reading for the recipe!
Related: Mustard BBQ Sauce | Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
How to make BBQ sauce
Why make homemade barbecue sauce when it’s easy to find at the store? First of all, the flavor is out of this world. It tastes so, how do we say it…real, it’s hard to want to go back. Second, you can control the ingredients that go into your BBQ sauce, so you don’t have loads of sugar or preservatives. And lastly: it’s so easy! It’s truly nothing more than throwing ingredients into a pot and simmering.
How to make BBQ sauce? Here are the main steps:
- Place the ingredients in a saucepan: organic ketchup, apple cider and white vinegar, maple syrup, smoked paprika, soy sauce, cumin, hot sauce, and salt.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
For the ketchup, it’s preferable to get an organic or natural ketchup. Take a look at the ingredients on the container and make sure they’re pretty normal: you may want to make sure there is no high fructose corn syrup.
How to serve BBQ sauce
Of course, there are a multitude of ways to serve BBQ sauce that you probably have already thought of! But if you’re in need of inspiration, here are some delicious recipes with BBQ sauce that we love:
- Best Veggie Burger Recipe: Our best veggie burger is grilled and painted with barbecue sauce
- BBQ Bean Tacos with Pineapple Salsa: Here BBQ sauce makes for a delicious sauce for simmered pinto beans for this taco filling
- Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich: Ever had jackfruit? It’s like vegan pulled pork and it’s extremely delicious! You could use this BBQ sauce instead of the one in this recipe
- Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers These skewers are painted with teriyaki sauce, but they’d also be fabulous painted with homemade barbecue sauce!
- Broiled Salmon with Bourbon Glaze Use the method for broiling salmon here, but then paint it with homemade barbecue sauce instead of the bourbon glaze!
Types of BBQ Sauce
Want to make homemade BBQ sauce from scratch? Here are our best recipes with several types of BBQ sauce!
Mustard BBQ Sauce
This mustard BBQ sauce might just be the easiest barbecue sauce you can make at home. Made with mustard, honey, and vinegar, it’s tangy and sweet all at once.
Sugar Free BBQ Sauce
Looking for a sugar free BBQ sauce? This tangy vinegar barbecue sauce is so flavorful, you’ll hardly notice there’s no added sugar (promise).
Vegan BBQ Sauce
Why buy a vegan BBQ sauce when you can make it at home? It tastes way better than store bought: oh and it takes just 10 minutes!
White BBQ Sauce
This zingy white BBQ sauce hails from Alabama and tastes incredible on just about anything! It’s got a unique, creamy flavor and spicy finish: think black pepper and horseradish.
Looking for other essential recipes?
Whether it’s how to make salad dressing or hard boiled eggs, our essential recipes are easy DIYs to make at home! Here are few more of our essential and DIY recipes:
- How to Make Homemade Salad Dressing
- Easy Pizza Sauce Recipe
- Best Honey Mustard Sauce
- Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs or Perfect Boiled Eggs
- Whipped Cream Recipe
- Homemade Spinach Tortillas
- How to Grow Bean Sprouts
- Best Coleslaw Dressing Recipe
- Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
- Balsamic Reduction
- Dried Basil Pesto
- Hot Honey Recipe
- Vegan BBQ Sauce
- Spicy Chipotle Sauce
- Cashew Cream Recipe
- Basic Tomato Sauce
- Chimichurri Sauce
This BBQ sauce recipe is…
This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, dairy-free, and refined sugar free.
PrintHomemade BBQ Sauce
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
Description
Sure you can buy it at the store, but homemade BBQ sauce tastes infinitely better and is SO easy to make! Here’s how to make BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic ketchup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat for 10 minutes on low heat.
- Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1 month.
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: BBQ sauce, Homemade BBQ sauce, How to make BBQ sauce, homemade barbecue sauce
Do you have a BBQ sauce recipe that starts with tomatoes (canned or fresh) rather than ketchup? We try to eat as little precessed food as possible…
Thanks!
We don’t, but maybe we’ll work on one for you!
Hi, just made this BBQ sauce and it’s a keeper! So simple and delicious. I’ve made a batch of your veggie burgers (which I am addicted to!) and will use it on them tomorrow, when I’m ready to go. Thanks so much!!