Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
This Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe is quick and easy to make with simple ingredients. This barbecue sauce is a little spicy, slightly sweet and perfectly tangy!
If you’ve ever wanted to make your own BBQ sauce from scratch, then this recipe is for you! It is so easy, simple and fast – 15 minutes is all it takes!
This homemade BBQ sauce is the best slathered on grilled chicken. It’s also perfect to serve with ribs, as a spread with my best Turkey Burger Recipe, or as a dip for chicken tenders. This BBQ sauce gives the best flavor to Crockpot BBQ Chicken and Instant Pot BBQ Chicken. The possibilities really are limitless for what you can serve with this delicious homemade barbecue sauce! And, if you love homemade BBQ sauce you will also love my honey mustard sauce recipe.
You can make a batch of this BBQ sauce recipe ahead of time and store it in your refrigerator for busy weeknights. When you’re not sure what to make for dinner, use it as a marinade for chicken for the grill!
Healthy BBQ Sauce Recipe
Many homemade BBQ sauce recipes call for using ketchup as the base. Instead of ketchup, I use a combination of tomato paste and water to make a homemade BBQ sauce that is thick and rich. You can adjust the amount of water to make your BBQ sauce thinner, if you want.
You can swap the brown sugar in this recipe for honey to make honey BBQ sauce. I tested the recipe this way and the honey flavor came through in the BBQ sauce, so use brown sugar or honey depending on your flavor preferences.
The key to the best BBQ sauce is the flavor! I’ve found the perfect combination of spices and seasonings to make homemade BBQ sauce that is flavorful and tangy. It has just the right balance of sweet and spicy.
How to Make BBQ Sauce
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is made with pantry ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right now.
Making this homemade BBQ sauce is so simple! You’ll start by combining all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. In addition to the tomato paste and water, you’ll need brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce and some common spices and seasonings.
Heat the BBQ sauce on the stove and let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes to blend the flavors together. Stir it often as it simmers, to help the BBQ sauce cook evenly.
After simmering, you can either use your BBQ sauce right away or let it cool and store it for using later.
Recipes to use Barbecue Sauce
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Ribs
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- BBQ Chicken Sliders
- BBQ Chicken Salad
- BBQ Sloppy Joes
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Cooking Tips for this Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
- You can add more water to thin the BBQ sauce if it is too thick.
- If you like a smoky flavor in your BBQ sauce, you can double the amount of smoked paprika or add 1 or 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke along with the other ingredients. I left the liquid smoke out of the main recipe because I wanted to keep it simple, and liquid smoke is not something that I keep in my kitchen.
- This recipe makes about 1 3/4 cups of BBQ sauce. You can double the recipe to make a bigger batch.
- You can make this barbecue sauce ahead and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Or freeze it for up to 3 months.
BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 cup water (plus more as needed to reach desired consistency)
- ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- 1-2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring or whisking often. Then reduce heat to a low simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring often.
- Add more water to thin the barbecue sauce if it is too thick. I usually add up to ½ cup more water to reach my desired consistency.
Notes
- Store BBQ sauce for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.
- For a smoky flavor, you double the amount of smoked paprika and/or add 1-2 teaspoons of liquid smoke.
- For sweeter BBQ sauce add another tablespoon or two of brown sugar.
- For tangier BBQ sauce add another tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
Nutrition
Recipe retested, improved and updated 5/20/21.
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I can’t wait to try this! I do have a bbq sauce recipe but never thought about using tomato paste! I’m going to also try freezing it! My kids go through A LOT of bbq sauce here so this would be a HUGE money saver! Plus, I hate processed foods. TY!!
I hope you love this one! It should freeze well. 🙂
Hi, if making in advance and refrigerating, how do I reheat at the time of using?
Kelsey, I would reheat on the stove under low heat and stirring occasionally.
This is a great bbq sauce! I made ours a little spicier and added a bit more water to thin out. Tasted great with our smoked brisket. I prefer using the tomato paste instead of ketchup, always taste better. Thanks!
Really enjoyed trying out this recipe. I will let you know how mu barbeque chicken went
Thank you or this recipe! I have an 11-month old baby and he generally eats what we do (with the exception of very salty condiments). This was a great replacement, I did add a drop of liquid smoke for the other members of the family who are more used to store-bought bbq sauce. This is very easy and (IMO) much tastier!