How To Make Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Last Updated on December 2, 2022 by Ellen Christian

Wondering how to make homemade barbecue sauce? Learn how to make this easy barbecue sauce recipe to top your favorite beef or chicken dish.

 

How To Make Homemade Barbecue Sauce

There’s not a lot that you can buy at the grocery store that you cannot make yourself with a few common household ingredients.  And, it tastes so much better than anything you can buy at the grocery store.   

You can make up a batch of homemade barbecue sauce quickly. And, then store it in the refrigerator, tightly sealed, up to a month.   We enjoy homemade barbecue sauce on ribs, chicken, and steak.  I add a bit on top of meatloaf sometimes to give it some extra zip.  So, if you’re looking for a BBQ sauce recipe for chicken or a homemade BBQ sauce for pulled pork, you’re in luck.

If you enjoy barbecuing, make some of this Fresh Express Coleslaw to go along with your grilled meat.

How to make my own barbecue sauce spicier

Now, this homemade barbecue sauce can be made spicier with the addition of hot sauce.  If you don’t like spicy food, you may want to tone down the amount of hot sauce you add to your homemade barbecue sauce.

Most commonly people make BBQ sauce with tomato paste as a base. This easy BBQ sauce recipe does use tomato paste. You can substitute tomato sauce.

If you want a super spicy BBQ sauce, this is THE best hot sauce I’ve used. Or, you can make this homemade bbq sauce recipe with cayenne pepper. Keep reading to learn how to make barbecue sauce.

So, if you want an easy barbecue sauce recipe with ketchup, you can substitute ketchup for tomato sauce if you prefer. Just look for ketchup without high fructose corn syrup for the best taste. If you want a barbecue sauce recipe without ketchup, follow the directions below.

Tips for making homemade barbecue sauce

If you’ve never made BBQ sauce before, here are a few tips before you get started.

• Smoked paprika and regular paprika are not the same things. Make sure that you use smoked paprika in this recipe.
• Store this BBQ sauce recipe in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or, you can freeze it in a freezer bag for longer.
• Simmer this on low heat rather than on high. No need to make a mess on the stove.
• To make it hotter, add a tablespoon of hot sauce to your homemade barbecue sauce.
• To make this homemade bbq sauce recipe without ketchup, use tomato paste and a bit of dark brown sugar.

How do you make BBQ Sauce from scratch?

My husband is from Texas and barbecue sauce is huge there. This homemade barbecue sauce passes his picky taste test and has quickly become one of our favorite homemade condiment recipes. If you want to try a few more, you can learn to make tartar sauce, homemade mayonnaise, and my easy shrimp cocktail sauce. Or, learn how to make ketchup.

Make sure that you scroll to the end for a printable version of this recipe.

Ingredients

This is what you need to make homemade barbecue sauce.

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• 1 cup of water

You will also need a jar with a tight-fitting lid to store your homemade barbecue sauce.

Directions

It couldn’t be easier to make this homemade barbecue sauce.

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring often. If needed, adjust the water to meet your desired consistency.
3. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

More grilling recipes

Now that you know how to make homemade barbecue sauce, if you want more grilling recipes, why not try these:

• How to marinate chicken with yogurt for the grill
• Learn how to make tender beef shish kebobs
• How to grill the best burgers ever
• Slow cooker Texas pulled pork
• Gravymaster bbq sauce recipe

What do you think, is this absolutely the best bbq sauce ever?

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