Description
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe offers a perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and smoky flavors, ideal for enhancing grilled meats, sandwiches, or as a versatile dipping sauce. Made with simple pantry ingredients and simmered to a rich, thick consistency, this sauce pairs beautifully with your favorite barbecue dishes or can be used as a marinade.
Ingredients
Scale
BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups tomato ketchup
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp paprika (or to taste)
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the tomato ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, minced garlic, and water. Stir well to blend all the ingredients thoroughly.
- Simmer the Sauce: Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken to a rich consistency.
- Adjust Seasonings and Cool: After simmering, taste the sauce and add more sugar or spices if desired to suit your preference. Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the BBQ sauce to cool completely to room temperature.
- Store and Serve: Transfer the cooled sauce to a clean jar or container, cover tightly, and refrigerate. The sauce can be used immediately for grilling but will develop deeper flavors with at least 1 hour of refrigeration. It will keep fresh for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Notes
- The sauce thickens as it cools, so simmering until it coats the back of a spoon is a good texture indicator.
- Adjust the level of paprika and black pepper according to your desired spice level.
- For a smokier taste, consider adding a small amount of liquid smoke or smoked paprika.
- This BBQ sauce pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, ribs, burgers, or as a dipping sauce for fries and nuggets.
- Make sure to store the sauce in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
