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Homemade Barbecue Sauce

A sweet, tangy, lightly smoky sauce from ketchup, molasses, vinegar and spices. Twenty minutes on the stove, and it keeps for weeks.

⏱ 25 min (5 min prep, 20 min cooking) 🍽 Serves 16 · 2 tablespoons (makes about 2 cups) make aheadquickfreezer friendly gluten freedairy free

In our collection Fourth of July and summer cookouts: menu and shopping list β†’

πŸ“… Add to my plan

ContainsFish. Check the labels on what you buy; brands differ.

Ingredients

Make 16 servings
  • 1Β½ cup Ketchup
  • β…“ cup Apple cider vinegar
  • ΒΌ cup Brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Molasses
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp Yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp Smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Onion powder
  • Β½ tsp Ground black pepper
  • ΒΌ tsp Cayenne pepper (optional)

Make it yourself

Out of brown sugar? Make it β†’

In the planner, Make it on the shopping list swaps the store item for these ingredients and puts the work on your prep day.

Nutrition

Nutrition coming: the USDA numbers for these ingredients are being added.

Steps

You’ll need: small saucepan, whisk, jar for storing.

  1. Whisk everything in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  2. Lower the heat and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often (it spatters), until thick enough to coat a spoon.
  3. Cool and pour into a clean jar. Keep a separate small bowl for brushing raw or cooking meat, so the jar stays clean.
Make aheadKeeps up to 3 weeks in a covered jar in the refrigerator.
❄️ FreezerFreezes up to 6 months.
πŸ§’ With kidsKids can measure and whisk everything before it goes on the heat.
Fish free swapWorcestershire usually contains anchovies; use soy sauce for a fish-free sauce.
Spicier swapAdd the cayenne and a few dashes of hot sauce.

Goes well with

πŸ— Grilled Barbecue ChickenπŸ– Grill-Smoked Baby Back RibsπŸ– Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

An original Teddy Rook Book recipe, written for our Fourth of July and summer cookout collection; safety steps follow USDA. Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central and changes with brands and portions.