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Taste the result of years of experimentation with my perfected Sweet BBQ Sauce Recipe! One taste of this perfectly balanced homemade BBQ sauce and you’ll never buy bottled sauce again. It’s easy, simple, and delicious!
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Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
There’s just nothing like a good BBQ sauce. Sweet, tangy, spicy, and just a little smoky, BBQ is all about flavor, and getting just the right mix of everything. And if you’ve tried bottle after bottle of store-bought sauce before, you know that finding that balance isn’t easy!
That’s where this easy BBQ sauce recipe comes in. With ingredients you probably have sitting around at home, and less than 15 minutes of cook time, this homemade barbecue sauce recipe is not just easy- it’s delicious.
The secret is in the customization! Mix it up, toss in your favorite seasonings, or kick up the spice with extra cayenne, and your friends and family will be asking for the recipe at the next big BBQ party!
Sweet BBQ Ingredients
- Brown sugar
- Ketchup
- Apple cider vinegar
- Water
- Worcestershire sauce
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Cayenne
How to Make BBQ Sauce
- Set a large saucepan over medium heat, and add all of the ingredients to the pan. Stir well.
- Bring the sauce to a boil, then immediately drop the heat to low, being careful of spatters. Cook until it reaches your desired thickness.
- Let cool, then pour into an airtight container or use immediately, and enjoy!
Simple BBQ Sauce Recipe Tips
- For spicy BBQ sauce, add extra cayenne pepper and a teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes.
- For sweeter BBQ sauce, add extra brown sugar. If you have a little honey, you can make honey BBQ sauce – that will add an extra dimension of sweetness!
- Feel free to add more flavors such as your favorite whiskey or beer. If you add an alcohol, just make sure to let the BBQ sauce boil for a little longer, to let the alcohol boil off.
- This is the perfect BBQ sauce for slathering on beef ribs, chicken thighs, pork, and more! It’s so versatile, it will work for everything!
Barbecue Sauce Recipe FAQ
Sweet BBQ sauce is a sweet sauce made from brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and a mix of spices such as garlic and onion powder, paprika, and chili powder. These ingredients are mixed together with water to form a thick, sweet, spicy sauce.
BBQ sauce can be sweetened multiple ways, but one easy way is by using brown sugar! The molasses in brown sugar adds a deep, rich flavor with more dimension than white sugar, and it helps thicken the sauce so it coats meat well. It also helps the sauce caramelize when cooked!
The classic spices to add to BBQ are chili powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper, and garlic and chili powder. These spices will add great depth of flavor and a smoky spice perfect to customize to your liking!
BBQ Recipes
Try homemade BBQ on these incredible BBQ recipes, and it’ll be an immediate hit!
And of course, don’t forget the sides! I’ve got all sorts of amazing Sides for BBQ all ready for you to enjoy!
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📋 Recipe
Sweet BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Large sauce pan
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Brown sugar
- 1½ cups Ketchup
- ½ cup Apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup Water
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ Tablespoons Chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon Onion powder
- 2 teaspoons Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1½ teaspoons Black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Cayenne or more to taste
See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!
Instructions
- Set a large saucepan over medium heat, and add all of the ingredients to the pan. Stir well.1½ cups Brown sugar, 1½ cups Ketchup, ½ cup Apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup Water, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1½ Tablespoons Chili powder, 1 Tablespoon Garlic powder, 1 Tablespoon Onion powder, 2 teaspoons Paprika, 2 teaspoons Salt, 1½ teaspoons Black pepper, ½ teaspoon Cayenne
- Bring the sauce to a boil, then immediately drop the heat to low, being careful of spatters. Cook until it reaches your desired thickness.
- Let cool, then pour into an airtight container or use immediately, and enjoy!
Notes
- For spicy BBQ sauce, add extra cayenne pepper and a teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes.
- For sweeter BBQ sauce, add extra brown sugar. If you have a little honey, that will add an extra dimension of sweetness!
- Feel free to add more flavors such as your favorite whiskey or beer. If you add an alcohol, just make sure to let the BBQ sauce boil for a little longer, to let the alcohol boil off.
- This is the perfect BBQ sauce for slathering on beef ribs, chicken thighs, pork, and more! It’s so versatile, it will work for everything!
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