Run out of BBQ Sauce? Don’t fret! Make your own with simple pantry ingredients in minutes right in your own kitchen. Chances are, you’ll love it so much that you won’t need to buy it anymore!

Has it happened to you? You go to the pantry to grab your spare bottle of Barbecue sauce, and realize that the one you emptied the week before was the spare?

That’s what happened to me the first time I concocted this BBQ sauce recipe. I had leftover chicken from making Beer Can Chicken the weekend before, and I planned to do shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches.

I went to grab the barbecue sauce from the fridge, none. Pantry, none. There was no way I wasn’t making them, my son had been excited for them all day!

Homemade BBQ Sauce

When in doubt, make you’re own I say!

So, I whipped some up, and I even had extra for the ribs we were having that upcoming weekend! Score!

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*chances are, you have everything you need in your kitchen.*

How To Make Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Homemade bbq sauce is really easy to make and once you know how then you may never buy the stuff in stores again. Essentially, the basics of homemade barbecue sauce include tomato paste or ketchup, a bit of sugar, some sort of vinegar, and some spices. Some people like to add liquid smoke, but I never do. Of course, it’s always an option for you!

I use apple cider vinegar and ketchup and add Worcestershire sauce and sriracha to spice it up a bit. The great thing about homemade bbq sauce is you can dial it in so easily to just the way you like it. Don’t have Sriracha? Sub out another hot sauce of your choice.

Like it sweeter? Add more honey or brown sugar. You get the idea. Make it your own.

Variations On Barbecue Sauce

Regional variations abound. But, the core remains the same. So, some folks like brown sugar, but others swear by molasses for the sugar. Likewise, you can use any kind of vinegar as well. I love apple cider vinegar because it has a bit of kick and a lot of flavor. When it comes to the spiciness, you can add any kind of hot sauce, from sriracha to Tabasco, and everything in between.

For smoke, you can always add liquid smoke which comes in a variety of wood flavors. So if you want hickory or mesquite bbq sauce it is so easy to add a spoonful of smoke to it too. I use the Worcestershire because it has a very faint hint of smoke but offers plenty of subtle spices.

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How To Store Your Homemade Barbecue Sauce

If you store your sauce in a glass container with a tight lid it will literally keep for months. That is because the vinegar helps preserve it.

I always use a mason jar. I love the plastic re-usable lids, too.

In fact, the longer you store it, the better and deeper the flavors become.

For the Love of ALL things Barbecue

If you love BBQ like we do, you will surely find all sorts of ways to use this Homemade BBQ Sauce! But … If you’re looking for some new barbecue recipes to try – well I have you covered there, too!

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Ribs (my number one recipe!)
Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ Sandwiches
BBQ Pork Ribs
Apricot BBQ Glazed Chicken
BBQ Pork & Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese

Tools for Barbecuing

Grilling is only made easier when you have good tools. My most favorite meat thermometer is the ThermoPen Mk4. It’s the best grilling/cooking tool that I own. I have a great selection of grilling items in my Amazon store, too! Amazon Store Front – Grilling Essentials

Here is the recipe for my homemade BBQ sauce — Enjoy!

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Jar of Homemade Barbecue Sauce on a grey potholder

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Print Recipe

Homemade BBQ Sauce

This Homemade BBQ Sauce is so much better than the store bought. Your family will love it.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Dressings, Sauce & Marinades

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Barbecue Sauce, BBQ, BBQ Sauce recipe without liquid smoke, Easy Barbecue Sauce Recipe, Homemade BBQ Sauce, How to make your own BBQ Sauce, how to store BBQ sauce

Servings: Container

Calories: 175kcal

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Siracha optional
1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
2 cloves garlic minced

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a saucepan and stir until combined.
Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes.
Transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Makes One Pint of BBQ Sauce - Nutrition based on a 4 Tablespoon Serving

Nutrition

This recipe was originally posted on March 31, 2014 – it was updated to improve user experience and re-posted May 23, 2020

15 Comments

I never thought to make my own BBQ Sauce but yours sounds fabulous. I’m going to give it a try.

This BBQ sauce hits all the right notes! Sweet and spicy, I’m addicted! Thanks so much for sharing.

You must have read my mind because we are smoking ribs and I am out of BBQ Sauce. This looks perfect and so easy. Now I am wondering why I haven’t been making own all the this time. Perfect timing!

Wow! Such a good pantry staple recipe. This sounds delightful!

Thanks for this recipe. I can already think of so many ways to use this BBQ sauce

Never made a BBQ sauce……you’re motivating me to do so

Looks great! I am always looking for new ways to change up my BBQ flavors!

I love BBQ sauce you can’t go wrong with a homemade recipe of this yummy sauce.

The sauce looks absoltely delicious, by seeing soy sauce and sriracha together-it’s a keeper recipe. Just made the print out to make my own.

Wow this sauce looks so easy and yes I have had that happen when I thought I had BBQ but it was actually chocolate sauce! I love the ingredients for this recipe, as you say, it is so easy to make it taste exactly the way you want. Can’t wait to give it a go, cheers!

This homemade bbq sauce looks easy and delicious. I will need this to make my baked bbq chicken. Thanks for the recipe

Could this be canned using a the water bath method?

Michaela Kenkel says:

May 27, 2020 at 12:38 pm

I would imagine so? I have never tried it. It keeps for quite a long time in the fridge. It’s cooked though – so I think canning would work!

Homemade BBQ Sauce