This Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe is so easy! Made in just 15-minutes with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. This southern sauce is delicious on brisket, pork chops, chicken, meatloaf and ribs.
Table of Contents
A couple weeks ago, I set myself on the mission of making the best sous vide brisket. It turned out amazingly tender, smoky and juicy. Perfect, if I do say so myself (I can’t wait to make it again). And since brisket takes about 36 hours to cook sous vide, I also had plenty of time to work on perfecting my BBQ sauce recipe.
A few batches later, I’m now feeling pretty darn confident that this is the BEST BBQ sauce recipe ever!
Why?
It’s sweet & tangy, with the perfect hint of smokiness & spice. And the consistency is just perfect for slathering on your favorite grilled meats.
My first step was deciding on the tomato base. Ketchup or pureed tomatoes? The ketchup was a clear winner. The BBQ sauce made with ketchup had much more flavor and was smoother. The one made with tomatoes was a bit grittier, and the flavor was much less concentrated, even though I tried to amp it up a bit with even more spices, vinegar, etc.
The second step was getting just that right blend of spices.
Of course, everyone is going to have their own personal preferences when it comes to BBQ sauce, so my recipe is more of a standard variety, with just a hint of spice, smoke and sweetness.
However, I’m also providing some variations below if you like a more spicy sauce, sweeter (or honey based) BBQ sauce, or a smokier sauce. I’ve even got some *spiked* barbecue sauce variations.
I added some of the dripping from my brisket into the sauce for extra flavor, but if you don’t have any, that’s totally OK!
Love barbecue sauce? Be sure to try my White BBQ Sauce and BBQ Aioli too!
Ingredient notes
- Ketchup – The base for our sauce.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – For that signature BBQ taste.
- White Wine Vinegar – Adds a great tang. Red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar also work.
- Brown Sugar – Adds a hint of sweetness. Light brown sugar or dark brown sugar.
- Worcestershire Sauce – To give that hint of umami. Soy sauce is a good substitute.
- Spices – Chile powder, cumin + smoked paprika.
- Salt & Black Pepper
How to make it
It’s so easy to make this BBQ sauce. All you need to do is:
- Stir together the ingredients in a saucepan.
- Simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until thickened to your liking.
- Serve.
BBQ sauce variations
- BBQ Sauce From Drippings: You can add some drippings from pulled pork or brisket into the sauce for extra flavor.
- Honey Barbecue Sauce: Add 2 Tablespoons honey.
- Maple Barbecue Sauce: Add 2 Tablespoons maple syrup.
- Smoky Barbecue Sauce: Add 2 teaspoons liquid smoke.
- Spicy Barbecue Sauce: Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce, to taste.
- Mustard Barbecue Sauce: Add in some yellow mustard, ground mustard, or dijon mustard.
- Bourbon Barbecue Sauce: Add 1/4 cup bourbon before simmering.
- Red Wine Barbecue Sauce: Add 1/4 cup red wine before simmering (I love Pinot Noir or Zinfandel for this).
- For a Sweeter Sauce: Add in a bit more brown sugar, honey, or molasses.
- White BBQ Sauce – This recipe combines creamy mayo & horseradish for a tangy kick!!
- BBQ Aioli – Make a creamy bbq dipping sauce with this recipe.
- Spices – Try adding in some garlic powder, onion powder, or red pepper flakes.
How to store and freeze
- To Store. Store leftovers tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I like to store it in a glass mason jar.
- To Freeze. Freeze individual portions into cubes using this silicone ice cube mold, or freeze in ziploc bags or containers (allowing room for expansion). It will keep in the freezer for 3 months. To use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Erin’s favorite uses for BBQ sauce
- Slather it on Meat: Brisket, pork chops, chicken breasts, drumsticks, chicken thighs, chicken legs, pork belly, and smoked beef short ribs.
- Pulled Pork Sauce: This is the best bbq sauce for pulled pork or pulled pork sandwiches!
- Meatloaf: I love to mix a little into my meatloaf topping – try my air fryer meatloaf or Boston Market Meatloaf copycat recipe.
- Baked Beans: Stir some into your baked beans.
- Burgers: Drizzle it on your burgers
- Pizzas: Swap the traditional tomato sauce for BBQ sauce or dip your pizza crust into it.
- Dipping Sauce: Makes a great dipping sauce served with chicken tenders, air fryer french fries or wings.
Favorite BBQ recipes
More homemade sauces for BBQ
Did you try this homemade BBQ sauce for brisket?
If you loved this simple sauce for brisket, I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a ⭐️star review⭐️! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.
Be sure to check out my 35+ EASY Sides for BBQ too!
Full Recipe
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup water (or brisket drippings from sous vide)
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon chile powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Stir together all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes.
Notes
-
To Store. Store leftovers tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I like to store it in a glass mason jar.
-
To Freeze. Freeze individual portions into cubes using this silicone ice cube mold, or freeze in ziploc bags or containers (allowing room for expansion). It will keep in the freezer for 3 months. To use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Honey Barbecue Sauce: Add 2 Tablespoons honey.
- Maple Barbecue Sauce: Add 2 Tablespoons maple syrup.
- Smoky Barbecue Sauce: Add 2 teaspoons liquid smoke.
- Spicy Barbecue Sauce: Add cayenne pepper, to taste.
- Bourbon Barbecue Sauce: Add 1/4 cup bourbon before simmering.
- Red Wine Barbecue Sauce: Add 1/4 cup red wine before simmering (I love Pinot Noir or Zinfandel for this).
Leave a Reply