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How to make the best easy homemade BBQ Sauce from scratch!  This is the BEST BBQ Sauce recipe and it only takes 15 minutes to make!
Mason jar of BBQ Sauce

Pin image for Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce featuring a jar of BBQ Sauce

Barbecue sauce is hands down my favorite condiment.  I always ask for a side of BBQ sauce when I order a burger at a restaurant.  Is there anything better than the tangy, sweet, smokey, spicy taste of BBQ Sauce?  When it comes to condiments, I think not.  And even though I make tons of my own sauces from scratch, I never make my own BBQ sauce!  If I had known how easy it was, I would have started making homemade BBQ sauce a long time ago.

How do you make BBQ Sauce from scratch?

Making BBQ Sauce from scratch is as simple as mixing some ingredients together and simmering it on the stove for 15 minutes.  All the sweet, tangy, smokey and spicy flavors meld together to make a sauce perfect for dipping, topping, grilling and more.  The ingredients for BBQ sauce are easy to find, and you probably have most of them in your pantry right now!

BBQ Sauce in a sauce pan with a whisk

What are the ingredients for Barbecue sauce?

I like a sweet and tangy BBQ Sauce – this one is a Kansas City Style barbecue sauce.  This BBQ Sauce recipe DOES NOT include ketchup.  It is made entirely from scratch.  The ingredients for BBQ Sauce are:

  • Tomato Sauce
  • Tomato Paste
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Molasses
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • brown sugar
  • smoked paprika
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • liquid smoke (optional)
  • salt

 

Ingredients for BBQ Sauce: Tomato Sauce, Tomato Paste, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, liquid smoke, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, Worcestershire sauce

Ways to use BBQ Sauce

How to use BBQ Sauce:

  • Slather over grilled meats
  • Use to top a burger
  • Use as a dipping sauce
  • Use to make BBQ pulled pork
  • Use to make BBQ Chicken Pizza (or spaghetti squash!)

 

Mason Jar of BBQ Sauce on a marble surface

If you like this, be sure to check out my other delicious homemade sauces!

Thai Peanut Sauce

Easy 20 minute Marinara

Nut free Homemade Pesto

4 Week Meal Plan for 30-Minute Meals
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Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe

4.50 from 2 votes
Prep 1 minute
Cook 15 minutes
Servings 18 servings

Ingredients 

  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire
  • 1 teaspoons liquid smoke
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions 

  • Whisk all ingredients together in a sauce pan over medium heat
  • Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking often, for 15 minutes, or until sauce has thickened.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tbsp | Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 213IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: sauce
Cuisine: American
Did you like this recipe?Please comment, rate and share! And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @foxandbriar AND #foxandbriar so I can see what you made!
Hello! I’m Meghan.

I am so glad that you are here! I am the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at my blog Fox and Briar. I am a passionate, self-taught home cook and believe that most things are better homemade and that good food doesn’t need to be complicated.

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7 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    I am a bbq fiend whenever I order food in restaurants, so I always want a nice mix of all the tastes in bbq and this is such a good recipe to use when I have to stay home! 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    This recipe was FANTASTIC! I love BBQ sauce and pretty much every other recipe out there calls for ketchup (gross!). I was so pleased to find your recipe that basically combines home-made ketchup with the rest of the necessary ingredients all in one step! I didn’t have liquid smoke, so I just doubled the smoked paprika amount, used Champagne vinegar instead of apple cider, and added some ground chipotle pepper for some spice. A+++

  3. It’s so easy to just grab pre-made BBQ sauce off a shelf without even thinking about it, but seeing how simple this recipe inspires me to make it homemade more often. Definitely a great way to make sure there are no weird added ingredients also!