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    Home » Recipes by Type » Basic technique

    Easy Barbecue Sauce

    Published: Oct 2, 2008 · Modified: Feb 28, 2017 by Mike Vrobel · This post may contain affiliate links · 32 Comments

    One of my original cooking jags was barbecue - real, low-and-slow barbecue. (See here. Or, more embarrassingly, here, 3rd picture down.*) Now, with the kids, I usually have to live with ribs every now and then, instead of overnight beef brisket. One of the things I learned was that store-bought barbecue sauce is not good. And what's even worse is that you can make it yourself in no time at all! I can whisk up a batch of this no-cook barbecue sauce in about ten minutes, and it keeps in the fridge for just about forever.

    *Aargh. Remember this picture if you ever think of putting something on the web that you might later regret. Black socks? What was I thinking? On the other hand (literally), I've got Ben in all his baby cuteness to distract you.

    Recipe: Easy Barbecue Sauce

     

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    Easy Barbecue Sauce


    ★★★★★

    4.8 from 10 reviews

    • Author: Mike Vrobel
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Easy Barbecue Sauce recipe - make your own barbecue sauce from pantry ingredients.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 cup ketchup
    • ¼ cup molasses (or brown sugar, or honey)
    • ¼ cup cider vinegar
    • 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce (optional)
    • 1 tbsp soy sauce (optional)
    • 1 tbsp Franks Red Hot (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Put all ingredients in a bowl.
    2. Whisk to combine.

    Notes

    Really - it's that easy. Whisk and go.

    • Category: Accompaniment
    • Cuisine: American

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @DadCooksDinner on Instagram and hashtag it #DadCooksDinner

     

    Barbecue sauce ingredients, ready to go
    Barbecue sauce ingredients, ready to go

     

    Notes:

    • Obviously, this recipe can vary quite a bit (see all the optional ingredients and variations)
    • When I have it on hand (almost always), I'll add a tablespoon of barbecue rub to the sauce instead of the Frank's red hot.
    • I usually make a 4x batch of this recipe - I buy a 32oz bottle of ketchup, and go from there. Voila - enough barbecue sauce to last for a couple of months!
    • In case you missed it in the original picture, check out my mad art skills on the label:
    Whisked and ready
    Whisked and ready
    Inspired by
    Cook's Country magazine: Chicago Style Ribs (subscription required).
    Virtual Weber Bullet.
    Questions? Comments? Other Ideas? Leave them in the comments, below.
    Related posts:
    Here's my recipe for a homemade barbecue rub.
    Use that barbecue sauce on some barbecued chicken.

    « Stir Fried Swiss Chard
    Ranch Hand Chili »

    Sharing is caring!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gen Adams says

      November 18, 2021 at 8:12 pm

      Ran out of store bought BBQ sauce. It was awesome, even better, I didn't have to cook it. Making a batch. This is inexpensive recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. DEBRA LIVESEY says

      August 23, 2021 at 5:32 pm

      Helped me in a direction situation. Didn't have brown sugar, but the honey was AWESOME!!! THANK YOU!!!

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        August 23, 2021 at 7:23 pm

        You’re welcome!

        Reply
    3. Mykki says

      August 19, 2021 at 5:34 pm

      What a fantastic base for a BBQ sauce! I added a little bit of gochugaru for some extra spicy kick and it was fantastic. 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Raziela Rosenbloom says

      March 19, 2021 at 5:05 pm

      so easy took 5 mins i put it on some chicken we will find out how it tastes

      Reply
      • Jason says

        May 30, 2022 at 11:08 am

        This was good in a pinch. I was out of Worcester shire sauce but it still was good. Thank you!!

        ★★★★

        Reply
        • Mike Vrobel says

          May 30, 2022 at 11:09 am

          You're welcome!

          Reply
    5. Ed Martinez says

      January 16, 2021 at 4:38 am

      Thank you for your receipt! One of my Great Grandson's thinks I'm the best cook under the sun.

      Ed

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        January 16, 2021 at 11:42 am

        You're welcome!

        Reply
        • sunny says

          January 20, 2021 at 11:16 pm

          youre the best bro

          Reply
          • Mike Vrobel says

            January 21, 2021 at 8:44 am

            Thanks!

            Reply
    6. Tammy says

      May 05, 2020 at 11:26 pm

      Thank you! Quick, easy and delicious. I found out at the last minute that I didn't have barbecue sauce and found your recipe. Yummy!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Tanya Mihkelson says

      March 16, 2020 at 6:06 pm

      Was that easy. Good to go with our marinated pork chops for dinner tonight. Thx for the recipe!

      Reply
    8. James D Jordan says

      July 22, 2019 at 11:42 am

      This is great! Thanks for making a simple recipe. Now that I have the basic recipe down, I can experiment with adding garlic powder etc. Can't go wrong with simple!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Valerie Manuel says

      February 05, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      I love it.so simple.and taste great.a great add in recipe.

      ★★★★

      Reply
    10. Karen says

      July 29, 2018 at 3:06 am

      Thanks "Dad"! Don't know if you still check here but I really do appreciate your recipe. I was googling the ingredients that my mom put in her simple homemade sauce and this is very similar. Oddly enough she would put half of a lemon in it but I tried that and it gets a bit funky after a while. She also would just simmer the sauce. I really want to replicate that very pleasant however small memory of my mom.
      Love your sense of humor btw! Take care.

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        July 29, 2018 at 1:42 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
    11. Paul says

      July 16, 2018 at 10:17 am

      1 word
      YUMMY !!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Chris says

      June 20, 2018 at 2:02 pm

      My picky family loved this recipe!!! I'm allergic to black pepper and haven't had BBQ sauce in a long time because most store bought sauces have black pepper. This is a perfect homemade sauce. I actually didn't have a lot of Catsup, so I subbed tomato sauce, but I'm sure the swap didn't change the result too much. It was delicious! Thank you!!!

      Reply
    13. Mary says

      May 28, 2018 at 1:23 pm

      I just made the rib rub and bbq sauce - husband recently had quad bypass surgery and on low sodium diet. They smell amazing - keepers for sure!

      Reply
    14. Gina G says

      May 26, 2018 at 6:36 pm

      This is a great recipe for when you run out if your store bought bbq sauce.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    15. Sarah B. says

      May 09, 2018 at 8:24 pm

      I varied this sauce with a little more worcestershire sauce, honey, a touch of prepared mustard (maybe 1/8 tsp), and a splash of lime juice. Came out better than store-bought!

      Reply
    16. Kate says

      April 15, 2018 at 8:06 pm

      I love this recipe, my sisters and brothers love it too! I will be making this recipe very time I make stake. Thank you!

      Reply
    17. ellie says

      March 17, 2018 at 10:12 pm

      this recipe is convenient because it is quick and easy. I chose it because my dad was cooking things on the stove and I didn't want another thing on the stove.

      Reply
    18. Christine Keen says

      February 13, 2018 at 7:44 pm

      I used a jalapeno ketchup we must have purchased by accident and omitted the hot sauce and it was great.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    19. Kelly says

      June 28, 2017 at 8:46 pm

      This is my go to barbecue sauce for the kids. They LOVE it! My husband doesn't like that he can taste the ketchup (but he prefers store bought, so let's not listen to him, mmkay?), but I keep making it to put on ribs for my kids. A+

      Reply
    20. Kelly Jones Todd says

      May 22, 2017 at 10:02 pm

      Made this tonight it was awesome!!!!I will always keep this.thanks

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    21. Kathleen says

      May 02, 2016 at 3:37 pm

      If you have Bragg's Liquid Smoke it works better than the soy sauce. Gives the BBQ that nice smoky flavor.

      Reply
      • Mike V says

        May 02, 2016 at 4:22 pm

        I'd rather get smoke from the cooking method than add it to the sauce.

        Reply
    22. Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says

      July 31, 2012 at 11:40 pm

      I am a fan of thicker, more midwestern sauces. Probably because I'm from Ohio.

      That is, unless I'm in the costal carolinas; then I love a vinegary sauce.
      Try this one from Steven Raichlen: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Vinegar-Sauce-242391/

      Reply
    23. vinyjunkee says

      July 31, 2012 at 10:35 pm

      Dad: I liked this as very good basic barbecue recipe for ribs and chicken. I also smoke pork shoulder ("Boston Butt") but I just haven't found a sauce I Iike for it. I have been experimenting with the traditional North Carolina sauce (Western NC) with tomato and vinegar, and it is just too tart for our tastes. Do you use this sauce for that, or do you have a recommendation?

      Thanks,

      Mike

      Reply
    24. Jeremy says

      January 02, 2011 at 1:42 am

      Simple recipe with ingredients I have on hand, I like it.

      Reply

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    Welcome to Dad Cooks Dinner! I'm Mike Vrobel, a dad who cooks dinner every night. I'm an enthusiastic home cook, and I write about pressure cooking, rotisserie grilling, and other food topics that grab my attention.

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