Homemade BBQ Sauce
Not only is this homemade BBQ sauce recipe cheaper than store-bought, but it tastes so much better. It’s savoury and sweet. The best part is that you can prepare it with less preservative and better ingredients.
We frequently make our own sauces and condiments in an effort to cut costs, but when those low-cost recipes also happen to taste better than the original, that’s a win-win situation. The satisfaction of creating basic kitchen staples such as marinara, hummus, and BBQ sauce at home is immense.
Five minutes for prep
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Thirty-five minutes total
Components For Homemade BBQ Sauce
- One and a half cups ketchup
- Half a cup of vinegar made from apple cider
- One-fourth cup Worcestershire sauce
- Light brown sugar, 3/4 cup packed
- Two tablespoons of mustard
- One tablespoon 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 For Homemade BBQ Sauce
- 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.
- Remove from heat and taste and adjust with more sugar or seasonings. Allow it cool fully to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for up to two weeks.
* Notes: *
The sauce will taste a touch spicy right out of the stove and will still have a strong vinegar scent, but as it cools in the fridge, the flavour will soften.
Storage Tips:
For your BBQ sauce, a glass Mason jar works great (or empty jam jars, like I did), or you can store it in an airtight plastic container. You don’t even need a fancy bottle.
To Keep Cold: You may keep homemade barbecue sauce cold for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
Freezing: Pour the sauce into a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container, remove any extra air, and freeze for up to three months.
To Thaw: If you’re pressed for time, you may quickly thaw frozen barbecue sauce by placing the sealed freezer bag in a basin of warm water. Alternatively, you can thaw the sauce in the refrigerator overnight before using it.
You won’t ever buy store-bought BBQ sauce again after trying this recipe for homemade.