This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is quick and easy to make. You’ll never want to buy another bottle of Barbecue sauce when you realize how to make BBQ sauce is so easy.
- You never have to worry about running out – it’s always available to make at home
- You know exactly what ingredients are going into it
- It tastes SO MUCH BETTER than ANYTHING store bought
How can you make Homemade BBQ Sauce?
A homemade BBQ sauce recipe isn’t difficult.
The base is ketchup. Use a salt-free ketchup for even lower sodium. You mix in apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, and maple syrup. The apple cider vinegar helps aid in the sweetness that is being heightened with the other sweeteners.
Then, to give that savory taste of the best BBQ sauce you’ve tried, you add in spices. We add in garlic and onion powders, smoked paprika, black pepper, chili powder, and ground cinnamon.
Stir everything together and you’re done. This easy BBQ sauce is so simple that you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before.
How to Make BBQ Sauce?
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is quick and easy to make. You'll never want to buy another bottle of Barbecue sauce when you realize how to make BBQ sauce is so easy.
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoke paprika
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
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Place all ingredients in a bowl.
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Mix until well combined.
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Store in an air tight container in the fridge up to 3 months.
For heated sauce: Place all ingredients in a skillet or pan. Mix together until well combined. Turn heat on low and cook until heated through.
What can I use Homemade BBQ Sauce for?
Possibilities are endless for how to use this easy bbq sauce recipe! Some of our favorite ways include:
- Pizza (instead of red sauce)
- Sandwiches
- Dip for nuggets or fries
- Grill Season (put it on everything!)
This post was originally posted on 7/14/2012. Same great recipe, but our photography has greatly improved. Old images below for laughs!
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Nice recipe!! I use pretty much the same ingredients minus the syrup, vinegar, an honey. I don't really like super sweet BBQ sauce. I add pineapple juice and hot sauce.
ohhh Pineapple juice sounds yummy. I like it sweet 🙂
I love this recipe. I have been using it for over a year. It is my go to recipe for BBQ sauce. I can't have bottled because of an allergy and now that I can make my own, it is wonderful!<br />
OMG, Thanks Katie! That made my day! I'm glad you love it!
Yo! Larisha! I’m in love with this BBQ sauce! I just about drank the whole thing! I’m never buying bottled BBQ sauce again! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
OMGGG!!! This makes me sooo soo sooo happy! I’m so glad you love it!
How did you figure the sodium content. That has to be wrong. The only thing that has sodium is the ketchup and maybe the spices.
Well! Great catch! I have no idea what it was calculating, but I just fixed it! Thank you for bringing it to my attention!
Sounds like a great recipe for homemade BBQ sauce! I cannot wait to try it and have it all summer long! Thanks for the share!