Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe

This Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe is simple to throw together and contains many ingredients you already have in your pantry! With Memorial Day right around the corner, I had to share with you how to make BBQ sauce from scratch. Once you make it homemade you will never want to buy store-bought sauce again! 

Jump to Recipe

BBQ SAUCE RECIPE

So let’s talk about this drool-worthy BBQ sauce for a second. I believe everyone needs the best BBQ recipe from scratch and that settling for store-bought just won’t cut it any longer. The time it takes to make this delicious sauce is less than 15 minutes. In 15 minutes 10 of those hands-off for simmering. 

This homemade BBQ sauce recipe also tastes so similar to the buffalo wild wings honey bbq sauce recipe which is ONE OF MY FAVORITES! I love that you can change the sauce as needed. Add honey if you want it sweet, or add liquid smoke if you want it smoky. 

You probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry and fridge to get started, which is another reason why I just like to make it myself. To make bbq sauce all you have to do is add the ingredients into a saucepan and let it simmer and meld together.

As most barbeque sauces do, they start with a ketchup base and are paired with apple cider vinegar for tartness. The brown sugar is added for sweetness, and then any additional sweeteners such as honey are also added. 

If you want to add a drop or two of liquid smoke it will add an off-the-grill flavor that many know and love. I didn’t add that to my recipe this time around, but the nice thing about liquid smoke is that it can be added last minute if need be.

HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups Ketchup
• ¼-½ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 ½ cup Brown Sugar
• Seasonings: 2 tsp. Paprika, 1 tsp. Black Pepper, 2 tsp. Kosher salt, 2 tsp. Onion Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Honey (optional if adding to sweeten)
• ¼ tsp. or less of Liquid Smoke (optional if you want it smoky)

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED

Saucepan (I love my All-Clad) 

Whisk or wooden spoon

Measuring Cups + Spoons

Glass jar for storage 

Mason jars for another storage option

HOW TO MAKE EASY BBQ SAUCE RECIPE

This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is really easy to make, and it is fast too! All you have to do is combine the ingredients and let the flavors meld together. I also like to give the BBQ sauce a good stir while the flavors are joining. 

1. Measure all of the ingredients out. Combine all of them into the saucepan and give it a quick stir.
2. Simmer. Let the sauce gently bubble and simmer for right under 15 minutes. 
3. Serve. You can serve immediately. Or you can put it into the fridge for later on. Lastly, you can freeze this sauce. 

HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE QUESTIONS

HOW TO THICKEN BBQ SAUCE

If your BBQ sauce is too thin, simply let it simmer on the stove for an extra minute or two and let it settle. Once it settles you can stir the sauce to test how thick it is. 

Do not add any additional ingredients or it will mess up the flavor components of the sauce with that tang from the apple cider vinegar and the sweetness from the honey if you decide to add it. 

HOW LONG DOES HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE LAST?

This particular BBQ sauce recipe lasts about 2-3 weeks in the fridge. If it is not refrigerated, it won’t last much past 10 days (at least from my personal experience). 

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BBQ SAUCE TO MAKE

Sweeter. Once you add that honey into the sauce it tastes just like buffalo wild wings honey bbq sauce recipe! I just love that sauce and order it every single time I go there! 

If you want your sauce tangier opt to put in ½ cup of apple cider vinegar instead of ¼ cup. 

Smoky. To give your homemade bbq sauce a nice smoky taste add in a few drops of liquid smoke ¼ teaspoons at a time. It is very potent so add cautiously!

Season It. If you like garlic, add garlic! This sauce can be tailored to your flavor likes and dislikes. Just stick to the portion sizes of teaspoons when adding in seasonings. 

Enjoy it with chicken, pulled pork, burgers, or even on a BBQ chicken pizza!