Try this pleasantly sweet ‘n’ tangy BBQ sauce for your next cook-out! So easy it comes together in minutes, and it’s so much tastier (and healthier!) than bottled BBQ sauce!
Homemade BBQ sauce. ‘Cause we’re doin’ the 4th of July completely homemade this year.
Because I’m crazy, that’s why.
Seriously though….I wanna eat this sauce straight outta the jar with a spoon. It’s that good, people.
So did you know that one of the first ingredients in bottled BBQ sauce is almost always high-fructose corn syrup? That stuff is just scary, and I’m sorry, but I just cannot stomach eating that.
Solution? Make ‘yer own.
In literally less than 10 minutes. With basic pantry ingredients
Yessss!! I’m dead serious!
Your 4th of July is gonna be an epic one this year. I can feel it. 😀
This BBQ sauce is finger-lickin’ good. Sweet ‘n’ tangy, not too spicy, and seriously guys, it is SO MUCH BETTER THAN STORE-BOUGHT.
Sorry for yelling, but I’m pretty excited about this sauce, guys.
Just in time for the 4th, too.
Don’t you just love it when the stars align and things work out that way? 🙂
You probably have all the ingredients to make this sauce already in your pantry! You’ll need to grab some tomato sauce, coconut sugar (brown sugar is fine sub) dark molasses, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce (am I the only one who can’t spell that to save my life??) cornstarch, fresh garlic, and then just a few spices for flavoring.
Then you’ll just dump it all in a pan. Cook ’til bubbly and thickened, andddddd…..Voila’! Homemade BBQ sauce ready to smother just about any kind of food.
This sauce isn’t overly spicy. It’s a perfect balance between sweetness, tangy-ness, and just a little bit of heat; but feel free to add a little more chili powder to this sauce if you like yours a little zippy!
Grilled barbecue chicken with extra BBQ sauce is like my ultimate dinner choice in the summer. Paired with a fresh summer salad and some icy-cold watermelon and I’m in summer heaven.
I always make sure to dollop some extra BBQ sauce on my plate for dipping. Just can’t ever get ‘enuff of the stuff. 😀
This BBQ sauce makes an amazing dipping sauce for just about anything: Grilled chicken, fries, chicken nuggets, spareribs, just about any burger…..anything else I should add to this list??
Top 4 reasons you should make this BBQ sauce:
1. It’s SO MINDLESSLY EASY.—10 minutes, tops is all the time you’ll need.
2. It’s 1000x better than storebought. Sorry, did I say that already?
3. It’s about 5000x healthier than the bottled stuff. Half the ingredients in bottled BBQ sauce I can’t even recognize…. Can you say GROSS??!
4. Last but not least, it is SO deliciously-addicting. You might wanna grab a spoon.
KIDDING. I’m pretty sure that’s just me who’s weird like that. 😉
Try these recipe favorites with your barbecue sauce!
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1/4 cup dark molasses
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika or regular
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder or more if you like your sauce spicy
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, except water and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Whisk water and cornstarch together in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
- Bring tomato-sauce mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then whisk in water-cornstarch mixture until smooth. Cook sauce until thickened and bubbly.
- Cool BBQ sauce completely before storing in refrigerator.
Arpita@ TheGastronomicBong says
This bbq sauce look delicious and is dead simple to make…. will make this for my upcoming bbq… 🙂
Sarah says
It’s SO simple, you can make it in minutes and then go relax during your BBQ! LMK how you like this sauce, Arpita! 😉
Kaylin @ Enticing Healthy Eating says
Yum!!! And I love that it’s a much healthier BBQ sauce too. Thanks for sharing! I have made a homemade bourbon BBQ sauce before and it was out of this world.
Sarah says
Bourbon BBQ sauce?! Sign me up, that sounds amazing, Kaylin! 🙂
Ashley says
I love making my own BBQ sauce! It’s so good – and really quite easy! This looks delicious – or should I say finger lickin’ good! : )
Sarah says
Thanks Ashley! Isn’t homemade BBQ sauce the best?! Totally finger-lickin’ worthy. I may or may not have ended up doing this. LOL.
Danielle says
I love homemade versions of things, they really are better than any store bought item! I’ve never made BBQ sauce before, but that needs to change soon. I love that you used coconut sugar too, I would’ve never thought to do that! Pinning!
Sarah says
Homemade almost always trumps storebought, in my opinion and it’s def the case in this BBQ sauce! I hope you get around to trying this recipe sometime this summer, Danielle! and thanks for the pin love, girl! 🙂
Emily of Sugar Plum says
This sounds amazing! I’ve never tried homemade BBQ sauce before.
Sarah says
Oh, you’ll love homemade BBQ sauce even more than the bottled stuff, Emily! 😉
Rachael | Spache the Spatula says
Oh yum! I’m a big fan of making my own BBQ sauce! I love that you used coconut sugar and molasses in yours—sounds totally drool-worthy!
Sarah says
Isn’t homemade BBQ sauce just so so fun, Rachael?! Glad I’m not the only one who loves it!
Joanne says
I refuse to buy storebought sauce for that EXACT reason. Just, no. Love love love your homemade version!
Allison says
Yes! I love that you used coconut sugar and molasses in this recipe! Those are a couple of my favourite natural sweeteners. I am totally with you on the HFCS thing -icky. I’d take this sauce any day over a bottle. And I love the styling in the Ball jar! Perfection.
Kelly @ The Pretty Bee: Cooking + Creating says
This looks delicious! I love making my own BBQ sauce…I agree, HFCS is gross, and I avoid it for my family. Pinning this for sure!
Sarah says
Thanks for the pin love, Kelly!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
You are so talented making your own BBQ sauce! I’ve never made my own before, but I think I just so happen to have all of those ingredients at home. I bet freshly made tastes a million times better than store bought.
Sarah says
Awww..Nat you’re so sweet. 🙂 And awesome that you have everything you need to make this BBQ sauce! Sooo you should make it like now. LOL 😉
Isadora @ she likes food says
I’ve been thinking about trying to make my own BBQ sauce for some time now and you have convinced me! I’ll be there right with you, eating it with a spoon! It looks so easy to make and I’m pretty sure I have most of those ingredients in the kitchen already! That’s it, no more excuses, I’m making BBQ sauce this week! I’m so glad you shared this recipe 🙂
Sarah says
Yeaaaah! Glad I’m not the only one who understands about BBQ sauce and a spoon. It’s really all I need in this life. LOL. You will have to let me know how this sauce turns out for you, Izzy! 😉
Tom says
Can this homemade BBQ sauce be used for Pulled Pork?
Sarah says
This sauce can be used for pretty much anything, including pulled pork!
Kelly says
Wow, this BBQ sauce looks amazing Sarah! I loved that you used coconut sugar – I would be eating this straight from the jar too!
Sarah says
Thanks, Kelly! The coconut sugar really does add an amazing flavor to this sauce that I <3. 🙂
Rachel (teacher-chef) says
I really enjoy the fact that this uses tomato sauce instead of ketchup – that has all those yucky added fillers to it too! What a beautiful looking sauce – and the want to eat with a spoon is the only way that I consider a sauce/marinade a success!
Sarah says
I’ll admit that I WAS thinking of adding ketchup this sauce, since nearly every recipe I found called for it, but then I was like oh what the heck, it’ll be so much healthier if I just sub tomato sauce. I guess it worked! LOL. 😉 Thank you so much, Rachel!
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
I can’t stand that nearly every bottle sold in stores has HFCS. Who needs that?! love how easy BBQ sauce is to make and yours looks great!
Sarah says
Thank you Cindy! And right?! Nobody needs that “poison”! 😉
marcie says
I love making my own barbecue sauce — it’s the best! This sounds like it has all the flavors I love, and is perfect for whatever I’m grilling. 🙂
Sarah says
Isn’t it the best?! I’m never buying bottled BBQ sauce again now that I have this keeper recipe! Thanks so much, Marcie!
Tiffany says
Just made this sauce and it is everything I love in a BBQ sauce! Sweet, spicy, and thick! I added a squirt of Sriracha chili sauce and it’s just A-May-Zing!!
Sarah says
Yay! So happy to hear that you love this sauce, Tiffany! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Diane Ritchie says
Your barbecue sauce is a lot like mine, and you’re right – it’s amazing!
Sarah says
There’s nothing quite like homemade BBQ sauce!!
Katie says
I just got through making your barbeque sauce and I must say it is delicious. You are right about wanting to just eat the sauce. I am using it to make what my husband calls Hobo chicken. You take foil and make “boats” with the foil. Pour the barbeque sauce in each boat and put a chicken breast over the barbeque sauce. Place on a grill and cook until done turning the chicken periodically. Thanks for the recipe.
Tom says
Would this homemade BBQ sauce work well for Pulled Pork sandwiches? Is this recipe more for use with grilling? I had seen where you had a published a Pulled Pork Recipe and the ingredient are total different. It does look good, I just want to be sure I use it for the right application.