This Homemade BBQ Sauce is so much better than anything you can get at the store. It requires just a handful of ingredients, takes just 5 minutes to prep, and has the perfect smokey, spicy, and sweet flavor.
Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce
This is your sign to stop buying store-bought BBQ sauce!
Okay…I guess it’s okay to grab a bottle once in a while if you’re in a time crunch, but only for emergencies. This homemade BBQ sauce is so much better!
It's the perfect balancing act of smokey, sweet, and spicy flavors that will really make your mouth water.
And the best part? You probably have all of the ingredients you need on hand already!
Just toss everything together in a saucepan and let all those flavors meld together for about 30 minutes. That’s all there is to it!
What is BBQ Sauce Made Of?
- Tomato Sauce: Plain old tomato sauce creates the perfect sweet base for our BBQ sauce.
- Ketchup: Ketchup adds to the tomato flavor with a little extra tang.
- Molasses: Adds a rich sweetness.
- Brown Sugar: I recommend light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar is more rich, and the molasses has that covered.
- Liquid Smoke: A little goes a long way!
- Seasonings: Our homemade barbecue sauce is seasoned with a simple blend of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce
Scroll to the recipe card below for full instructions and ingredient amounts!
This easy BBQ sauce recipe takes just 5 minutes to prepare! Here’s how:
- In a saucepan, whisk together all of the ingredients. Heat over low-medium heat until simmering, then keep at a simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, then cool completely. Serve or store.
Tips and Notes
- Go easy on the salt. Start with less and only add more after you do a final taste test to make sure you get the flavor just right.
- Make it smokier. The liquid smoke already brings a delicious smokey element to the sauce. BUT, if you like it a bit smoker, try swapping the regular paprika out for smoked paprika.
- Spice it up. Want to heat things up? Sprinkle in some extra cayenne powder. Only do so after a taste test. A little goes a long way!
Serving Suggestions
As you probably already know, BBQ sauce is so incredibly versatile. Serve it any way you’d serve the store-bought stuff!
Here are a few of my favorite recipes for this barbecue sauce to accompany:
Storage
This BBQ sauce will last in an airtight container or jar with a lid in the fridge for up to a week. Be sure to let it cool completely at room temperature before storing it.
Is It Worth Making Your Own BBQ Sauce?
Yes! Making homemade BBQ sauce could not be easier (just 5 minutes of hands-on time), is made with super simple ingredients, and is so much tastier than the store-bought stuff.
Plus, you can customize the flavor to your liking by adjusting the ingredients to suit your tastes! There really is no downside to making BBQ sauce at home.
More DIY Condiments to Try
Recipe Card with Ingredient Amounts and Instructions
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 1⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon paprika, smoked or sweet
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup ground black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium saucepan. Then, simmer over low-medium heat.1 ½ cup tomato sauce1 cup ketchup⅓ cup molasses1⅓ cup light brown sugar2 teaspoons liquid smoke1 teaspoon paprika1 teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon onion powder½ teaspoon cayenne pepper¼ teaspoon kosher salt¼ cup ground black pepper
- Continue simmering for 30 minutes before turning the heat off.
- See post for tips, FAQs, and storage instructions.
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