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.
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.
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.
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:
- BBQ Marinade: Marinate grilled chicken, pulled pork, and ribs or spread it on top of any bbq meats during the grilling process.
- Condiment: Spread it over the top of your homemade nachos, salads, tacos, meatloaf, or on the bun of your juicy hamburger or chicken burger.
- Dipping sauce: dip meats and vegetables in it or stir a couple tablespoons into your homemade ranch for a BBQ ranch twist.
- Pizza sauce: spread it over bbq chicken pizza crust or create your own favorite pizza and drizzle it over top.
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
The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsulphured molasses
- 2/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons hickory flavored liquid smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 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.
- 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
Did You Make This Recipe?
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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.
This post contains affiliate links.
Delicious and now a permanent add on to my recipes. Thank you!
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!
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!
Delicious recipe with the right balance of sweet vs spice. Love the cinnamon in this.
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.
I’ve tried many bbq recipes in the past and never been a fan but this one was on point! Had to substitute half of the red wine vinegar for balsamic and white wine as I quadrupled the recipe and then realized I was short but it came out so good! My son usually thinks most bbq sauces are too spicy but it had just the right amount of kick! It’s great! Thanks for sharing! Making your Hawaiian Meatballs tomorrow! Super excited! Thanks again!
I want to make homemade ketchup, I dehydrated tomatoes turned into powder can I use the powder for ketchup
Made the BBQ sauce as the Pork shoulder for pulled pork was cooking.
The sauce was perfecto. Just like our fav
restaurant and their BBQ sauce. I was a little concerned about the cayenne so halved it. Big mistake. Will use the full dose next time. This is my first time making pulled pork and BBQ sauce. Both recipes are simple.
Trust the process. Delicious.
The BEST BBQ sauce I’ve ever made from scratch! I did omit the vinegar as per other comments. Its outstanding.
I love this barbecue sauce!! It is exactly how I like my barbecue sauce. It’s too sweet for my husband though, so just be mindful of that. But I love sweet barbecue sauce so for me it was absolutely perfect.
My husband loves this sauce!! I have been making it for pizza with chicken, red onion, and cheese!!
This sauce is fantastic! Just made my second batch. I add a touch of honey. This is a keeper!
Just made this tonight with brisket, it was amazing! The fam thinks I have made my own signature sauce!
This is the second time I made BBQ sauce from scratch. The only modification was omitting the red wine vinegar and cayenne pepper. We liked it very much!
Will try this same recipe in the spring when I try my hand at smoking chicken, beef, and ribs. Now I can’t wait…
Thank you Lauren!
Take care,
I can’t eat most BBQ sauce due to the spice heat. Would this just about as good without the peppers and chili powder? Thank you.
Go for it!
This really is the best BBQ sauce. Can you can this sauce?
I made this and gave it as gifts last Christmas. Now I get asked for it all year round. My secret ingredient? Love! And a dash of ghost pepper sauce.
We made meatball sandwiches for dinner. I made this BBQ sauce for them with a little tweak for heat. It was amazingly good! I caught myself just spooning the stuff in my face while stirring it. Lol! Doing tailgate food this weekend using this sauce. Cannot wait!
Really disappointed!! All I can taste is vinegar. Trying to cook it longer to see if that helps. Ended up doubling the ingredients without the vinegar and still just tastes like vinegar.
Just made it today on a whim. Gonna make some shredded BBQ chicken in the slow cooker and needed a sauce. Substituted a few things due to missing some of the ingredients, but the heart of the sauce is intact. Probably the most delicious BBQ sauce i have ever tasted. Plus my two young daughters got to make it with me. Dont think i can go back to store bought anymore :D. Subbed the vinegar for red wine and white vinegar. Molasses for a bit of honey. Resulted in a slightly sweet slightly spicey sauce mmm.
The best BBQ sauce I’ve ever tasted, thanks so much for the recipe!
Are the calories given for 1/4 of the recipe (a little over 1/2 C.)? Thanks again.
I’ve made this sauce two times now…it is absolutely wonderful! I always make a double batch and everyone agrees that it is way better than anything we can buy from the store. I love all your recipes!! Thank you so much.
You will never want to use store bought bbq sauce again! I made this bbq sauce with your pulled pork sandwich recipe and wow! Game changer. The secret for pulled pork really is in the bbq sauce!
Just making this bbq sauce, things are getting so expensive in stores , this is cheaper to make ,had all ingredients in the house, and very easy, will see how it tastes tomorrow night when we bbq steak,
This recipe is fantastic!
Will never buy BBQ sauce again!
How would you make this super thick and sticky without making it sweeter?
Maybe try some cornstarch? Make a slurry and add a tiny bit at a time until you reach desired thirst. I am reading Kraft BBQ sauce ingredients and they list cornstarch
Add cornstarch then stir and boil for a minute. Start with maybe 1-1/2 teaspoons (wild guess here). You’ll have to make a slurry by adding cool water to cornstarch bit by bit until the mixture is pourable. Pour the slurry into the sauce. Bring back to a boil for one minute to activate the cornstarch, then lower the heat to reduce the sauce by simmering a few minutes until it reaches the desired thickness.
Absolutely love this recipe! Thanks for posting. I am going to use it on a pizza made with chicken crust. Sooo good!
My first time trying homemade BBQ sauce. And it tastes divine. Easy to follow recipe with ingredients that are in my pantry already!
Absolutely deeelish! I tend to improvise on the recipe a bit, depending on what we have available at the time, but the result is always superb. For example, sometimes I use a mix of red wine and apple cider vinegar, or even some malt or balsamic vinegar. Liquid smoke is hard to come by here in Belgium. Last time we were in the U.S. we got a bottle of hickory and a bottle of applewood flavour, so I tend to alternate between the two. I’ve also added a few splashes of Worcesterhire sauce and Mexican chipotle sauce.
I would also give a +1 to the comment above about storage. I double the recipe and keep it in an airtight tupperware in the fridge and it kept fine for 6 months!
This is the best tasting homemade BBQ sauce I have ever tasted.
I have a family of onion fans so we tweaked your recipe by adding 2 chopped fine white onions cooked in half butter half good olive oil until soft and just starting to carmelize. Then drained and added to the sauce recipe.
We luv your recipe and even add half cup when mixing up the ground beef for burgers.
Tomato sauce, vinegar, salt, sugar…
And a cup of ketchup? Do people not understand what ketchup is?
That’s what I was saying when I read it, I thought why not replace that with 3/4cup crush strained tomato, 1/4 cup rye and and a teaspoon of malt vinegar?
Can I substitute the liquid smoke, can’t get it where I live. Thanks
You can just leave it out.
Delicious sauce. There’s enough vinegar for this to keep in the fridge for a year or more, so don’t throw this away after three weeks like the recipe says.
I want to triple your buttermilk pancake recipe, which I love! How much in advance can I make the batter?
It’s best made fresh!
I was a bit skeptical that it would be so good. Incredible. Absolutely amazing!!
I probably never buy sauce again thank you
Ive been trying to find a barbecue sauce that I liked for years. Thanks to you I have found it. My wife and picky daughters love it also. Thank you for sharing!!
That makes me so happy to hear! Thank you for commenting.
This is fantastic! Have made it over and over again since I found this, thanks very much! Wouldn’t change a thing, perfect as is!
I’m really glad to hear that, thanks for sharing Diane!
Been making this recipe for about two years, minus the tomato sauce and the liquid smoke. Always different but always better. Thanks.
Absolutely the best amazing BBQ sauce. I added just a little worcestershire sauce.
Thanks Sharon! I’m glad you liked it!
Five star bar be que sauce. I made extra for the next time i grill/smoke
I made this and it turned out better than expected. It disappeared sooner than I wanted. I will double up on the recipe this Memorial week end.
I just made this sauce to go with some ribs I am slow cooking. Holy smoke, this is a delicious sauce! I also used fresh onion and garlic, but otherwise stuck to the recipe. Definitely a keeper!
Have you ever tired canning it? I see someone commented on freezing theirs.
No. I can’t recommend canning this as canning for shelf storage has it’s own set of rules for ph levels to make it safe.
the vinegar should take care of the ph
I have made sauce for years and have had no problem putting still hot sauce in boiled canning jars and lids. I date them and put them in the pantry.
I just made this. I used spaghetti tomato and basil sauce instead of tomato sauce (it was what I had on hand) and I chopped real onions real fine, and sautéed them with garlic, otherwise used the recipe. Delicious!
“from scratch” using ketchup. come on!
Why the ketchup
Do you process your own wheat into flour when you make biscuits from scratch?
Just made this. It turned out amazing. I omitted red wine vinegar and substituted honey for the molasses. Other than that I followed the recipe exactly. The sauce has a little spice/heat yet sweet. Definitely making this again
My family absolutely loved these. so easy you don’t have to tend to ribs all day long.
We are making them again next week. They all disappeared.
Too many ingredients
Way too many ingredients and no Worcestershire sauce. Also I prefer fresh onion and garlic over powder. I chop very fine but I guess a food processor would do better but I don’t have one (except myself lol)
Not enough….
Wonderful taste. The husband LOVED it. And now I can have BBQ sauce with no high fructose corn syrup in it!!!
I use HUNTS ketchup only. Heinz and other off brands have HF corn syrup and other additives thus NOT 100% pure tomato ketchup. I make my own bbq sauce and does contain more ingredients than this recipe, such as apple cider, apple cider vinegar, honey, anchovies (no salt) , tamarind paste etc. NO cinnamon, altho I have never tried using it, mainly bc I have a step-daughter that is allergic to it.
Semper Fi 66′
77563
We were going to do ribs on the grill, only to find out we had no sauce. I found this recipe, and it turned ordinary ribs into extraordinary ribs!! Thank you so much for sharing this. Now my dad wants the recipe, lol!
I make two batches at a time and freeze some. Works great–no change in taste or consistency. My favorite sauce!
Hi, take out the ketchup, how would the recipe change then?
NK,
If you take out the ketchup I would recommend substituting another 8 ounces of tomato sauce but the flavor will be different.
Can I Do this in instant pot?
I’m not sure why you want to pressure cook BBQ sauce but I guess you could. You may need to add additional water so that it doesn’t scorch. I haven’t tried this, good luck!
Excellent recipe! I can understand why the previous comments rated your recipe with 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I will be sure to give credit where credit is due in the future any time I make this.
i use honey in place of molasses
Just made this, great recipe! Thanks!
Can it be process for long term storage?
I have never tried this. You could call your local extension service for advise.
It should be fine. The base is tomatoes and they’re a high acid food that can normally be water bath canned. Add a teaspoon of lemon to each bottle if you’re concerned, or pressure cook it.
What is the difference between tomato sauce and ketchup? Here in Australia tomato sauce I think is similar to ketchup – tomato, sugar, water type condiment. Is tomato sauce in your recipe similar to passata which is just pureed tomato in a jar?
No I dont think they are the same. Best bet would be to make your own sauce by reducing your tomatoes by cooking them down on simmer for several hours.
Yes tomato sauce is pureed tomatoes. No flavoring at all , no sugar no spices. Can be used as a base in spaghetti sauces , chili, soups etc. Ketchup(catsup) is used for sandwiches, to dip french fries etc. Each brand has different spices and for sure sugar.
Yes tomato sauce is not like ketchup, that you would use on chips or hot dogs, rather more like a lomato purée.
DELICIOUS !!! I tweak it a bit , but stay close to the recipe . All my friends rave about it !!!!
Thanks so much !!!
I make this all time it is very good
What is unsulphured molasses and where do you purchase it;
Most traditional molasses’ are unsulphered (Like the Grandma’s brand). You can find it at your local grocery store.
I substituded dark corn syrup it was delicious!
Just about anywhere . Usually in the baking aisle of your local supermarkets .
This looks incredible and I think I might have all the ingredients on hand!
I like