Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Ditch the store-bought options! This homemade barbecue sauce is packed with flavor, super flexible, and made with simple pantry ingredients. You’ll want to save this highly-rated recipe for your next cookout.

What’s In Barbecue Sauce?

Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up the homemade BBQ sauce you’ve been craving:

Ketchup
Tomato-based barbecue sauces always begin with ketchup, and in this recipe, it forms the perfect base.

Brown Sugar
Brown sugar adds that classic sweet touch, giving the sauce its signature richness.

Vinegar
Red wine vinegar provides the right tang to balance the sweetness of the brown sugar.

Water
This recipe calls for ½ cup of water, but feel free to adjust the amount to achieve your desired sauce consistency.

Spices and Seasonings
Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, paprika, salt, and black pepper combine to create a perfectly balanced flavor profile.

Hot Sauce
Add a spicy kick with a few splashes of hot sauce, such as Frank's or Crystal, to bring the heat.

How to Make Barbecue Sauce

Creating your own barbecue sauce is simple—just blend all the ingredients until smooth. No cooking required! But if you prefer a thicker sauce, recipe creator JRNEUMILLER recommends simmering the uncooked mixture for about a minute. This will thicken it and deepen the flavor.

Find the complete recipe with step-by-step instructions below.

What Can You Do With Barbecue Sauce?

The real question is: What can't you do with barbecue sauce? Coat your ribs, mix it with pulled pork, spread it on your favorite sandwich or burger, or serve it as a dipping sauce for fries or chicken fingers.

Need some inspiration? Here are a few mouthwatering recipes that make the most of barbecue sauce:

Slow Cooker Barbecue
BBQ Meatballs
Baby Back Ribs
Busy Day Barbecue Brisket
Creamy Pulled Pork Soup

Explore more recipes: 15 Creative Ways to Use BBQ Sauce

How to Store Barbecue Sauce

Once your barbecue sauce has completely cooled, store it in an airtight container, like a Mason jar, in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Can Barbecue Sauce Be Frozen?

Absolutely! If you don't plan to use your barbecue sauce within two weeks, freezing it is a great option. Simply transfer the sauce to a freezer bag, label it with the date, press out any air, seal the bag, and lay it flat in the freezer. It will keep for up to three months. When you're ready to use it, thaw it in the fridge overnight.

Dinogo Community Tips and Praise

"This is my family's go-to BBQ sauce," says Janet West. "I took a couple of tips from other reviewers: I added a teaspoon of liquid smoke per 12 servings and simmered it to use as a dipping sauce, which gave it a richer color and thicker texture. Otherwise, I follow the recipe exactly. It’s fantastic!"

"The whole family loved it, and best of all, it was super quick to make," says Karla. "I already had everything I needed in my pantry!"

"Wow," says Grady Sullivan. "I’ll never buy BBQ sauce again. I added a tablespoon of molasses and simmered it gently. After boiling for 5 minutes while stirring constantly, the sauce turned out thick, rich, and absolutely delicious. Perfection!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams.

Ingredients

• 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

• 1 ½ teaspoons black pepper

• 2 dashes hot pepper sauce

Instructions

Gather all your ingredients together.

In a blender, combine brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce. Add mustard, paprika, salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste. Blend until smooth.

Enjoy your homemade BBQ sauce!

Recipe Tips

Nutrition Facts (per serving)