It only takes 15 minutes or less to make this easy homemade barbecue sauce recipe. It makes the best homemade barbecue sauce. Sweet and tangy and made from scratch! With cook and no-cook options!.
BBQ sauce is one of those topics that people can become really, really passionate about. Some regional styles of BBQ sauce are from North Carolina, Kansas City, Alabama, and Memphis. The Memphis style has no sauce at all (well, maybe just a bit). Everyone has their personal favorites.
I’ve shared my Mama’s Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce with you, which is the one I grew up with. I’ve also shared our Spicy Mustard BBQ Sauce, which we use from time to time, and my Peach BBQ Sauce, which is the perfect BBQ sauce with a fruity twist. I’ve also included our favorite molasses-based Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce in my cookbook, which just takes ribs to a whole new level!.
However, I’d like to share with you this quick and easy BBQ sauce that only needs a few things to make and always turns out great.
We’ve had friends who call this the best BBQ Sauce they’ve ever tasted and it’s pretty easy to see why!
Barbecue chicken is a classic summertime favorite. But if you want your barbecue chicken to be truly amazing, you need to make your own barbecue sauce. Store-bought barbecue sauce just can’t compare to the homemade version. With homemade barbecue sauce, you control the flavors and ingredients. To suit your tastes, you can make it as sweet, sour, or spicy as you like.
You probably already have a few simple ingredients in your pantry that you can use to make your own barbecue sauce. Once you know how to make a basic sauce, you can try different combinations of ingredients to find the best one for you. Read on for tips, tricks, and recipes on how to make homemade chicken barbecue sauce that will never fail.
Why Make Homemade BBQ Sauce?
Here are some of the benefits of making your own homemade barbecue sauce rather than relying on store-bought
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Customizable flavors – Tailor the taste to your preferences by adjusting sweetness, smokiness, tanginess, and spice level.
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Keep an eye on the ingredients—use natural ones and stay away from things like high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and so on. found in commercial sauces.
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Fresher taste – Homemade sauce won’t have that bottled flavor. It tastes fresher and brighter.
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Cost savings – Homemade sauce is way cheaper than store-bought.
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Fun to experiment – Once you have a basic recipe, you can tweak and customize to find your perfect blend.
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Impress guests – Serving homemade barbecue sauce makes an ordinary cookout feel special.
How to Make Basic Homemade Barbecue Sauce
The basic method for homemade barbecue sauce is straightforward:
1. Gather ingredients
Typical barbecue sauce contains a sweet ingredient, an acidic ingredient, spices, and tomato product.
2. Combine in a saucepan
Whisk together all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
3. Simmer
Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes to meld flavors and thicken slightly.
4. Cool and store
Allow sauce to cool before storing or using on chicken. Refrigerate in a sealed container up to 1 week.
Essential Ingredients
Here are key ingredients to include in a basic homemade barbecue sauce:
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Sugar – Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup. Provides sweetness.
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Acid – Cider vinegar, distilled white vinegar. Gives tanginess.
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Spices – Chili powder, cayenne, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder.
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Tomato product – Tomato paste, ketchup, tomato sauce. Gives classic red color.
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Liquid – Chicken broth, apple juice, water. Thins out consistency.
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Extras – Worcestershire sauce, mustard, soy sauce, liquid smoke. Provide flavor depth.
Recipe Ideas
Here are a few tasty homemade barbecue sauce recipes to try:
Basic Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Tangy Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons mustard
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
Sweet and Smoky Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1⁄2 cup honey
- 1⁄4 cup apple juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
How to Use on Chicken
Once you’ve made a tasty homemade barbecue sauce, here are some delicious ways to use it on chicken:
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Grilled chicken – Baste sauce on chicken last 5-10 minutes of grilling.
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Baked chicken – Brush sauce on chicken during last 10-15 minutes of baking.
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Rotisserie chicken – Glaze sauce on chicken in last 15 minutes of rotisserie cooking.
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Chicken wings – Toss wings in sauce after cooking. Bake or grill wings plain then coat with sauce.
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Chicken kebabs – Thread chicken chunks on skewers, grill, then brush with sauce at end.
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Chicken sandwiches/wraps – Spread or drizzle extra sauce on chicken fillets or tenders.
If you stick to the right recipe for barbecue sauce, your chicken will taste even better. Try putting different ingredients together until you get the best homemade barbecue sauce. Your taste buds will thank you!.
How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce
This BBQ Sauce comes together quickly with just a handful of ingredients that I generally have in my refrigerator or my pantry. This recipe is one that I think you all will fall in love with as well. I’ve had friends ask me to please make extra for them to take home and if I’d bottle it, they’d surely buy it. ♥️.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
To make this homemade BBQ Sauce, you’ll need:
- Ketchup: The base of this recipe is 2 cups of your favorite ketchup. I like to use one that doesn’t have high-fructose corn syrup and has the fewest ingredients.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The apple cider vinegar gives the sauce a great, tangy taste that helps it stay balanced.
- To make the sauce sweeter, add 1/4 cup of brown sugar. It also makes the flavor stronger by adding a hint of molasses.
- Honey: Use two tablespoons of your favorite honey. I always say that if you can find a trustworthy local honey provider, do it!
- Worcestershire sauce—this makes the sauce taste balanced between sweet and savory. If you can’t have soy or are gluten-free (like me!), you can use coconut aminos instead of Worcestershire sauce.
- Stone House Seasoning is my favorite and most-used seasoning blend, which I’ve talked about before. It’s a mix of kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic that quickly adds flavor to a lot of different foods. We called it Stone House Seasoning because we use it on almost everything except desserts.
- Lemon Juice—A tablespoon of fresh or bottled lemon juice gives this sauce just the right amount of acid to make it great.
- Hot Sauce—We like to add a little hot sauce to this BBQ sauce recipe. It is entirely optional if you’d rather not include it.
- Cook the BBQ Sauce. Mix everything together in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat. After the sauce starts to bubble, turn down the heat and let it cook slowly for 10 minutes. This helps to deepen the flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Serve. You can use this sauce right away, or read on for tips on how to store it.
No Cook Homemade BBQ Sauce – Whisk together all ingredients until well combined. Pour into an airtight container and serve immediately or store as directed.
To Store. Allow the sauce to cool and then pour it into a quart-size mason jar. Seal it with a tight-fitting lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
To Freeze. Transfer the cooled sauce to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Favorite Ways to Use BBQ Sauce
Here’s my best Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
How To Make BBQ Sauce 3 Ways
FAQ
Can you make homemade BBQ sauce for chicken?
In summary, homemade BBQ sauce for chicken is a fun and rewarding kitchen project that can elevate your grilling game to new heights. Whether you prefer a classic tangy sauce or a spicy kick, experimenting with different ingredients and flavors can lead to some delicious results.
How do you make homemade BBQ sauce?
To make homemade BBQ sauce, gather these common ingredients: Ketchup provides a familiar base for the sauce. Brown sugar adds sweetness and balances the tangy flavors. Apple cider vinegar contributes acidity and brightness to the sauce. Worcestershire sauce brings depth and umami notes to the flavor profile.
What goes well with homemade BBQ sauce?
Putting this homemade BBQ sauce on grilled chicken is great, but you should also have some tasty sides to go with it. The sweet and smoky sauce goes well with a classic coleslaw dressed in a tangy dressing. The cool, crunchy cabbage balances out the sweetness.
How do you glaze chicken with BBQ sauce?
Brush a lot of homemade BBQ sauce over the chicken pieces in the last few minutes of grilling to make a glaze. The heat caramelizes the sugars in the sauce and creates a beautiful, sticky coating on the chicken.
How to thicken BBQ sauce for chicken?
To thicken BBQ sauce, you can simmer it over low heat for a longer period or add a cornstarch slurry to achieve the desired consistency. In summary, homemade BBQ sauce for chicken is a fun and rewarding kitchen project that can elevate your grilling game to new heights.
How long does it take to make homemade BBQ sauce?
The biggest challenge when making homemade BBQ sauce is getting the right consistency – many home cooks rush the simmering process, but giving your sauce at least 15-20 minutes to reduce and thicken will create that perfect, sticky texture that clings to your chicken.
How to make a simple barbecue sauce for chicken?
Heat up a medium saucepan on medium-low. Add 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder. Allow the mixture to simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.
What ingredients are needed for barbecue sauce?
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar.
- 1 ½ cups ketchup.
- ½ cup red wine vinegar.
- ½ cup water.
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
- 2 ½ tablespoons dry mustard.
- 2 teaspoons paprika.
- 2 teaspoons salt.
What are the best ingredients for BBQ chicken?
- 2 cloves garlic, minced.
- 5 tablespoons ketchup.
- 3 tablespoons honey.
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar.
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar.
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
- salt and pepper to taste.
- 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves.
How to make a barbecue sauce for chicken wings?
- 5 tbsp tomato ketchup.
- 1 tsp mustard.
- 2 tbsp treacle or maple syrup.
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (or vegetarian Worcestershire sauce)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika.
- 1 tsp salt.