The easiest, BEST Homemade BBQ sauce that’s perfect for marinating, dipping, and grilling. A combination of smokey, tangy, thick and sweet flavors that will have your mouth smiling with every bite.

The serving options for Homemade BBQ Sauce are endless but include; Pulled pork sandwiches, Chicken Drummies, BBQ Chicken Pizza, and BBQ Chicken Tacos.

BBQ sauce in a glass jar with a basting brush in it.

After long days in the pool during the summer, there’s nothing I love more than firing up the grill for dinner! I’m convinced that grilling is the best way to cook every meal during the summer. I love that there is no mess of dishes afterwards, and you just cant beat that smokey-grill taste.

What I love about this BBQ Sauce Recipe:

  • The perfect flavor combo. It has a little tang and sweetness, and a little smokey flavor that I can’t get enough of. Liquid smoke helps to add that amazing smokey flavor.
  • Made with pantry staples. Basic ingredients including tomato sauce, ketchup, sugar, molasses, red wine vinegar, and spices.  The only thing you may not have on hand is liquid smoke, which is inexpensive and easy to find. Use liquid smoke in fajitas, baked beans, and Instant Pot Ribs.

A tray with the ingredients needed for homemade BBQ sauce.

How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce:

1. Combine ingredients.  Add all ingredients to a large saucepan and mix together until smooth.

2. 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.

A sauce pan with the ingredients for BBQ sauce added, then mixed together and simmering.

3. Serve.  Slather this stuff on just about anything or store in an air tight container or jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Double it?  I love to make this sauce and keep it in the fridge for several weeks. Depending on your family size you could double the recipe to make a bigger batch. It’s delicious for dipping/marinating grilled chicken, spooning on hamburgers or ribs, or dipping as a sauce. It’s my go-to when I don’t have a dinner plan.

Adaptations:

  • Spicy BBQ Sauce: Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper  Taste, and add more if desired.
  • Honey BBQ Sauce: Add ¼ cup honey.
  • Make it less sweet:  Cut the sugar in half.
  • For BBQ ranch: add a couple tablespoons to homemade ranch.

How to Use Your BBQ Sauce:

Make Ahead And Freezing Instructions:

To make ahead: Store in a container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

To freeze: allow to cool completely and store in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months.  Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

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Recipe

BBQ sauce in a glass jar with a basting brush in it.
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 25 minutes
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Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to a large saucepan and mix together until smooth.
  • 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

Makes about 2.5 cups sauce
To freeze: allow to cool completely and store in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months.  Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 1gSodium: 1158mgPotassium: 749mgFiber: 1gSugar: 66gVitamin A: 675IUVitamin C: 6.4mgCalcium: 91mgIron: 2.3mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch!

Recipe adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.

Have you tried this recipe?!

RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.

I originally shared this recipe June 2017. Updated June 2020 with process photos and additional tips.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 4 stars
    I have made a few of these recipes before to good results. This one is no different. I did change it up a bit. First, I did cut the brown sugar in half. I also used apple cider vinegar instead of red wine. I’ll be smoking up 4 racks of ribs and 2 chickens in two days, so the apple flavor will go great. I also added 1/4 tsp of cumin. Other than that, I followed the cooking instructions. I was concerned about the amount of vinegar, but a lot of that profile disappeared during the cooking process. I also made my own tomato sauce from 1 can of diced tomatoes and water which I pureed in my processor, heated up some olive oil in my cast iron pan with one clove of crushed garlic and one bay leaf, salt to taste.
    The outcome:
    Pro’s: this is a very easy recipe and very versatile. Being able to use this as a base BBQ sauce for other flavors is great.
    Con’s: This may change as the sauce cools and matures, but I am having issues tasting some of the ingredients, especially the liquid smoke. Either the ratios are to small for the batch instructions, or the apple cider vinegar did something. I know that a lot of BBQ recipes call for ketchup, I wonder how much the flavor profiles change based upon the quality of ketchups used.

    Final Thoughts: With some tweaking for personal preference, this is a great base recipe with witch to launch your family favorite sauce.

  2. 5 stars
    I don’t mind saying this sauce is way better than mine. Delicious! I didn’t have molasses so I used maple syrup. Love this recipe. It will be my Go To sauce from now on!

  3. I am mist anxious to try this recipe with the molasses! Sounds great! I like to cook & my husband likes to eat! I am a recipe nut & always enjoy reading new information regarding cooking!

  4. 5 stars
    I made this with g Hughes no sugar added ketchup and Splenda brown sugar blend and it was SO GOOD. Zesty, sweet, and reduced sugar.

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