This Homemade Barbecue Sauce is the perfect addition to just about any grilled meat or as a dipping sauce! It's slightly sweet, with just the right amount of tang. We have been making this in our house for years, and it is a recipe that I always fall back on.
I wouldn't say that this is a "regional specific" barbecue sauce - like Kansas City style, or a vinegar-based Carolina style, but it is a great "all-around" barbecue sauce. This sauce is tomato-based, so I would say that it's the closest to a Kansas City-style sauce. It does have a decent amount of apple cider vinegar, so it's not as sweet. Overall, it's just dang delicious, and I wouldn't hesitate to serve it on chicken, pork, or beef.
Homemade Barbecue Sauce Ingredients
This is a simple sauce that uses ingredients that you probably already have in the pantry.
- Ketchup
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Worcestershire
- Lemon Juice
- Water
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Light Brown Sugar
- Granulated Sugar
- Dry Mustard
- Paprika
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
Combine all of these ingredients in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, simmer for 1-hour, then allow to cool. Simple as that! Transfer to an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 3-weeks.
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Recipe
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Equipment
- Medium Sauce Pan
- Mason Jars Optional for Storage
- Oxo Squeeze Bottles Optional for Storage
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Ketchup
- ½ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Worcestershire
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice Juice from ½ Lemon
- ½ Cup Water
- 1 Tablespoon Dark Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
- 5 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 2 Teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- ½ Teaspoon Kosher Salt Plus more to taste
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper Plus more to taste
Instructions
- Heat a medium sized sauce pan over medium-high heat. Combine all barbecue sauce ingredients in the pan.
- Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1-hour, stirring occasionally until thickened. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the pan as needed.
Miles says
This sauce is outstanding. It has a great balance of sweet and tangy flavors, which makes it easy to want more! The most obvious choice is to put this on pulled pork barbecue, but I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on sandwiches, grilled meats, or even in salad dressings. If you’re looking to beat the flavor of store-bought barbecue sauce, look no further. You’ve found a winner!