Easy homemade barbecue sauce. This recipe needs no cooking, is made with pantry ingredients, and tastes even better than store-bought sauce.
I became a cooking fanatic thanks to barbecue. Now, with the kids, I only make baby back ribs or pulled pork a few times a summer. One of the things I learned was how to make barbecue sauce. It takes 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. I may not make low-and-slow BBQ as much, but I make this homemade bbq sauce recipe all the time - it's that good.
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Is it worth it to make your own BBQ sauce?
Absolutely! My easy barbecue sauce takes six pantry ingredients, and two minutes at most of whisking to combine them. No cooking necessary! And, if six ingredients is just too much for you, three of them are optional. You can get a basic BBQ sauce with just ketchup, brown sugar, and cider vinegar. That said, I like the extra flavors added by the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and hot sauce, so I never skip them.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses (or brown sugar, or honey)
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Franks Red Hot (optional)
How to Make Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Put all ingredients in a bowl.
- Whisk to combine.
- (That's it, you're done)
Variations
Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce
- Replace the molasses with brown sugar. (I do this one a lot. Molasses is the byproduct of making brown sugar, so they have the same taste profile, but the brown sugar version of the sauce is sweeter.)
Honey BBQ Sauce
- Replace the molasses with honey. This is if you like extra sweet in your sauce. A quarter cup of honey is sweeter than a quarter cup of brown sugar.
Texas Style BBQ Sauce
- Cut the molasses back to 2 tablespoons, and add a tablespoon of fresh ground black pepper to the sauce.
Storing Leftover BBQ Sauce
- I make a big batch of this barbecue sauce and keep it in the refrigerator, where it is good for up to 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
This sauce is pretty thick to begin with, but if you want it even thicker, put it on the stove over low heat and simmer it, stirring often, until the sauce is as thick as you want it.
Absolutely! I make a big batch and use it throughout the summer.
If you want to add some smoke flavor, add ¼ teaspoon of liquid smoke to the recipe.
[This is a rewrite of my original blog post from October 2, 2008. I use this recipe all the time, so it was due to be cleaned up. Ah, the memories.]
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Easy Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Description
Easy Barbecue Sauce recipe - make your own barbecue sauce from pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses (or brown sugar, or honey)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (optional)
- 1 tbsp Franks Red Hot (optional)
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a bowl.
- Whisk to combine.
Notes
Really - it's that easy. Whisk and go.
- Category: Accompaniment
- Cuisine: American
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:
Inspired by: Cook's Country magazine, Chicago Style Ribs (subscription required) and Virtual Weber Bullet.
Related Posts
What do I use this sauce on? Quite a lot...
- Grill Smoked Baby Back Ribs (Grilling Basics)
- Rotisserie Grilling: Barbecued Chicken
- Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Instant Pot BBQ Meatballs
- Pressure Cooker Pork Steaks, St. Louis BBQ Style
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork - Quick and Easy Recipe
- Instant Pot Boneless Pork Ribs (Country Style Shoulder Ribs
- Instant Pot Spare Ribs with BBQ Rub and Sauce
- Sweet Hot Mustard
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Karen
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.
Mike Vrobel
Thanks!
Paul
1 word
YUMMY !!!!
Chris
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!!!
Mary
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!
Gina G
This is a great recipe for when you run out if your store bought bbq sauce.
Sarah B.
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!
Kate
I love this recipe, my sisters and brothers love it too! I will be making this recipe very time I make stake. Thank you!
ellie
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.
Christine Keen
I used a jalapeno ketchup we must have purchased by accident and omitted the hot sauce and it was great.
Kelly
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+
Kelly Jones Todd
Made this tonight it was awesome!!!!I will always keep this.thanks
Kathleen
If you have Bragg's Liquid Smoke it works better than the soy sauce. Gives the BBQ that nice smoky flavor.
Mike V
I'd rather get smoke from the cooking method than add it to the sauce.
Mike V @ DadCooksDinner
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/
vinyjunkee
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
Jeremy
Simple recipe with ingredients I have on hand, I like it.