This BBQ sauce is the best and it goes wonderfully with chicken breast, wings, ribs, pulled meats, sandwiches, and so much more. It’s sweet, tangy, smokey, and very easy to make in less than 30 minutes.
This basic BBQ sauce has a classic flavor to compliment every type of meat whether you need to slather it over your ribs, mix it with shredded brisket, or dip you chicken wings.
BBQ SAUCE
Many of my friends are tired of me constantly saying that “homemade is the best,” but I can’t help myself. Homemade really is the best whether you are talking about sauces, seasonings, mixes, marinades, or anything else. It’s especially true when the homemade recipe is super easy.
And when I say “easy,” it’s truly as easy as combining ingredients together in a sauce pot and simmering for about 20 minutes. That’s all it takes and in result, you will have a sauce that tastes better than store-bought. Even a simple chicken breast will be full of flavor with a coat of BBQ sauce on it.
Don’t even get me started on wings. Grilled wings slathered in homemade BBQ sauce is pure heaven. And if you have some homemade ranch dressing to dip it in, that’s the perfect wing. (Unless you prefer blue cheese, of course.)
HOW TO MAKE BBQ SAUCE
As simple as the process is for making this sauce, I do have two methods for it. Sometimes, I make it quickly on the stove-top and simple add a little liquid smoke for a hint of smokey flavor.
When I already have the grill going, I pop a grill-safe sauce pot on the grill to simmer the sauce. Simmering it on the grill will infuse it with natural smokey flavors from the coals and wood. In the summer, this is the perfect way to make my BBQ sauce.
On the stove-top, add ketchup into a sauce pot and whisk in all other ingredients. Bring the mixture to simmer over medium heat and then lower the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes and make sure to stir it from time to time.
When the sauce is done, take it off the heat and let it cool to room temperature and store or use it right away in other recipes.
HOW TO MAKE IT ON THE GRILL
To make sauces on the grill, use a grill-safe sauce pot and wooden spoon so you don’t damage the pot. Whisk all the ingredients together and pour it into the pot. (You don’t need to use liquid smoke when making this sauce on the charcoal or wood grill but you will want to add some if using a gas grill.)
Place the pot on the preheated grill, directly over coals and let it come to simmer. Move it off to the warm side, not over the coals, close the grill lid and let it cook for 10-15 minutes. Stir a couple of times while it’s cooking.
Sauce will be ready to slather over the meat or cool it and store in the refrigerator.
GRILL NOTES:
Coals: briquettes (you can still use lump, you may just need to add a few bricks to keep the heat going)
Grill temperature: medium: 350°-450°
Placement on the grill: direct first and then indirect. Two-zone fire is a must.
Wood if desired: most wood will go well but it also depends on the meat you plan to use.
STORING HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE
Make sure to store the sauce in the refrigerator, in a glass jar or another food storage container with an air-tight lid. Stored properly, it should last for 7-10 days.
Can I freeze homemade BBQ sauce?
Yes, you can freeze this sauce but the quality won’t be as good once thawed. I would recommend using thawed sauce mixed in cooked dishes like pulled meats, rather than as a dip or coating on wings and ribs.
To freeze it, transfer cooled sauce into a freezer zip-lock bag and get as much air out as you can. Close it tight, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen sauce overnight in the refrigerator.
MORE RECIPES TO TRY
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BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 2 dashes liquid smoke* for stove-top preparation
Instructions
On Stove-top:
- Pour ketchup and beef stock into a sauce pot and whisk it together.
- Whisk in all other ingredients (including liquid smoke*) and bring the mixture to simmer over medium heat.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Make sure to stir it from time to time.
- When the sauce is done, take it off the heat and let it cool to room temperature and store. Or, use it right away in other recipes.
On The Grill:
- Start the coals and build a two-zone fire when coals are ready. (Or set your gas grill to medium.) Close the lid and let the grill preheat for about 10 minutes.
- Use a grill-safe sauce pot and wooden spoon so you don’t damage the pot.
- Whisk all the ingredients together and pour it into the pot. (You don’t need to use liquid smoke when making this sauce on the charcoal or wood grill but you will want to add some if using a gas grill.*)
- Place the pot on the preheated grill, directly over coals and let it come to simmer.
- Move it off to the warm side, not over the coals, close the grill lid and let it cook for 10-15 minutes. Stir a couple of times while it’s cooking.
- Sauce will be ready to slather over the meat or cool it and store in the refrigerator.
Storing:
- Make sure to store the sauce in the refrigerator, in a glass jar or another food storage container with an air-tight lid. Store properly, it should be good for 7-10 days.
Notes
Nutrition
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