It's so easy to make our Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe and I bet you have what you need. It has the perfect balance of smokey, tangy, and sweet and we use it for marinating, dipping, and grilling.
Homemade BBQ Sauce is a Game Changer
Homemade BBQ Sauce is a Game ChangerWe'e been doing a “make it, don't buy it” series on Instagram highlighting foods (like this BBQ sauce recipe) that are so much healthier, less expensive and easy to make yourself. Homemade Barbecue sauce tastes better than anything in a bottle and lasts in the fridge for weeks!
Slather it on Ribs, BBQ chicken, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, BBQ Chicken Pizza, and BBQ Chicken Tacos!
I was originally inspired by Mel's Kitchen Cafe's recipe back in 2017; this is any easy recipe to make your own by adjusting the seasonings to your preference! Add sweetness with honey or more brown sugar. Add more “smoky” flavor with smoked paprika, liquid smoke, or even blend fire roasted tomatoes instead of tomato sauce. You could even make BBQ Ranch by adding a couple tablespoons to homemade ranch.
How to make Homemade BBQ Sauce:
Combine: Add all ingredients to a saucepan and mix. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 20 minutes to an hour.
Serve on ribs, hamburger, pulled pork sandwich, as a dipping sauce or marinade for grilled chicken, or just about anything! Store leftover bbq sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
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Recipe
Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 cup ketchup (240g)
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar (147g)
- 1/4 cup molasses (85g), unsulphured
- 2/3 cup red wine vinegar (159g)
- 2 teaspoons hickory flavored liquid smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika , or regular paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt , or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large saucepan and mix together until smooth.8 ounces tomato sauce, 1 cup ketchup, 2/3 cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup molasses, 2/3 cup red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons hickory flavored liquid smoke, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ⅛ teaspoon chili powder, ⅛ teaspoon ground mustard, ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes or up to one hour, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool. The sauce will thicken slightly as it cools.
- Store in an air tight container or jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe June 2017. Updated June 2020 and May 2025.
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I have to tell you this bbq sauce is my “secret ingredient” in so so many dishes and people absolutely rave about it. One person said “I cant believe you cooked that amazing bbq sauce in a pot on the stove!” I did tell him I followed a recipe it wasn’t just something I threw together on my own lol. Never ever going store bought again!
Well….I will never go store bought again. You ruined me on this recipe! Im in BBQ heaven the whole time making this. The smell, the taste, its absolutely awesome and cant wait to baste my baby back ribs with it tomorrow over hot coals. Thank you for this recipe!
THIS IS THE BEST BBQ SAUCE, Hands down! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I was thinking the same thing ketchup scratch don’t go together but how do you get the ingredients to the substitute I don’t know if I have but anyway do I have to store for 3 weeks before I can use it I want to use my roast up I got a nice roast chuck roast and I wanted to make a good barbecue beef sandwich do you have any advice please it’s my first time thanks
No, you don’t have to store it before using it. You can use it right away! After you eat it with your roast, you can keep any leftovers in an airtight jar or container in the fridge or up to 3 weeks. Enjoy!
Hello my first time making homemade barbecue sauce and I’m excited got all the ingredients I just was wondering do I have to wait 3 weeks to use it I want I got a roast and I want to make pulled barbecue beef with it I was going to marinate my roast with it chuck roast any any comments any advice please help thanks
No need to wait 3 weeks! You can use it right away for your pulled beef. Just let it cool a bit after cooking, then marinate your roast and go for it! Enjoy! 😊
-Stacy
This is sensational bbq sauce. Easier than going to the store and buying some.
Oh. My.Goodness!!
I am not usually a fan of BBQ sauce. This far exceeded my expectations, though –and is SO SO good!!
I used Portland (brand) Ketchup.
My husband told me later that he snuck into the kitchen and added about (my guess) 1/2 Tbsp more brown sugar, a dash of cayenne pepper and 1 tsp more black pepper.
I’m sure it would have been either way!
We paired it with your pulled pork recipe, for BBQ pulled pork sliders/sandwiches.
Thank you for a delicious (new, and now going to be a staple) replacement to the big name brand, filled with high fructose corn syrup (bleck–I’ve been trying to get my husband to ditch that crap for years)!
Hi Alison, we are so happy to hear you and your husband enjoyed the BBQ sauce! We love making homemade alternatives to the store-bought stuff filled with things we don’t want. So glad you enjoyed the sauce and pulled pork sandwiches! Thank you for being here!
Delicious! Had this for a dinner party over pulled pork. Everyone raved. As others have said, I no longer need to buy BBQ sauce at the store. I keep it handy in a squeeze bottle in the fridge. Great on roast beef sandwiches, too! For folks worried about the sugar making it too sweet or the vinegar making it too tangy, start with 1/3 the amount listed and add to taste.
It’s not even done yet, just need to heat it, I stuck my finger to taste it (it’s only for my family and the heat will kill anything anyway) my first reaction was “OHHHHHH MYY GOODNESS you HAVE TO try it!” The look on my brother’s face said the same. That you so much! Skipped the liquid smoke and cayenne, used smoked paprika instead of normal. I don’t know what happened to the last recipe I used, but I don’t care anymore! This replaced it!
This was a miss for me. SUPER sweet and I usually have a sweet tooth with BBQ sauce. It lacked depth of flavor because the sweet was so overpowering. Rather monochromatic and sickeningly sweet. I think you could significantly reduce and possibly even eliminate the brown sugar. Maybe a bit of apple cider vinegar or more mustard? Tomato paste? I’ll have to play with it. Something was definitely off.
Keep in mind – ketchup has tons of sugar in it. I was a bit surprised to see both ketchup and brown sugar on the ingredients list. I’m about to try this recipe but I’ll replace the ketchup with tomato paste as I prefer the brown sugar flavor over the processed sugar in ketchup.