Homemade BBQ Sauce
Homemade barbecue sauce is cheaper and tastier than store-bought BBQ sauce, and you can use better ingredients with fewer preservatives. This is a mild BBQ sauce. It has a hint of spice when tasted right off the stove, but mellows out even further when applied to grilled meats. For a spicier BBQ sauce, add cayenne pepper to taste. (Yields 2 1/4 cups)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups tomato ketchup
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp yellow mustard, or Dijon (or 1 Tbsp mustard powder)
- 1 Tbsp paprika, or to taste
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until sauce is thickened.
- Add more sugar or seasonings to taste if desired, then remove from heat. Cool completely to room temperature then cover and store in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. You can use it right away for grilling, but the BBQ sauce will taste best with a 1-hour rest in the refrigerator before use.*
Notes
*Let the BBQ Sauce Rest! Right off the heat, you will still be able to smell some vinegar, and it will taste a little spicy, but the sauce will mellow out in flavor as the flavors meld and deepen in the refrigerator.
Make-Ahead and Storage - You don’t need a fancy bottle for your BBQ sauce; a glass Mason jar is perfect (or empty jam jars, which is what I used), or you can even store it in an airtight plastic container.
- To Refrigerate: Store homemade BBQ sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezing: Transfer the sauce to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag; press out the excess air and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To Thaw: Frozen barbecue sauce can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight before using, or if you’re in a time crunch, you can place the sealed freezer bag in a bowl of warm water to thaw it faster.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Serving Size
2 Tbsp
Amount per Serving
Calories
56
% Daily Value*
Fat
0.1
g
0
%
Saturated Fat
0.02
g
0
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.05
g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.05
g
Sodium
228
mg
10
%
Potassium
107
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
14
g
5
%
Fiber
0.3
g
1
%
Sugar
12
g
13
%
Protein
0.3
g
1
%
Vitamin A
269
IU
5
%
Vitamin C
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
17
mg
2
%
Iron
0.4
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
