Best Ever Homemade BBQ Sauce
This will be THE BEST BBQ Sauce you ever have! It is deliciously sweet and tangy with a flavor that can’t be beat and is super easy to make!
BBQ Sauce is such a favorite of mine. As far as store bought brands go, I absolutely adore Sweet Baby Rays. I have tried many out and I keep coming back to that one.
That being said, I wanted to try my own homemade version and this beautiful recipe was created. It is seriously THE BEST! And that is coming from a BBQ lover herself ;)
With it being grilling season, we are out grilling more often than not! Keeps the heat outside and it is always super simple.
Barbecue sauce is such a staple product and this took a couple trial and errors to get it just right. Three to be precise.
This BBQ Sauce made dinner extra special and was loved and adored by all. It will now be my go-to BBQ sauce recipe and I am sure it will be yours as well!
- 1¼ cup ketchup
- 4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup molasses
- ¼ cup honey
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan and stir well.
- Bring to a boil over medium high heat and then turn the heat down to medium low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring constantly.
Enjoy!
Kristen Tenley
How long does this keep in the fridge?
Steve
Can't really say myself I used in every thing I ate so it didn't have much shelf life..but I would say it would last as long as any household bbq sauce would
Kristen Tenley
How long does this keep refrigerated?
Coral
Hi how long does this last refrigerated please
Christine @ myblissfulmess
I did a google search to see, and I'm guessing here from what I've read on various BBQ and smoking sites, that because there's fresh garlic in this sauce, 1-2 weeks in the fridge. It's just an educated guess, I could be wrong. You can can the stuff and it'll last a very long time. But after opening, I'm going to follow the 1-2 weeks just to be safe. I hope that helps!
Christina Lakey | Food Apparel
You are right on point - sweet baby ray's or bust as far as store bought goes. This homemade one looks awesome too! I make homemade once in a while, usually never measure though cuz I'm just adding whatever I can find! This looks classically good - I'll have to give it a try for sure and actually measure! ha!
Maureen
I plan to try this for July 4th! I like SBR's but not the HFCS it has in it.
Thank You!!!
Thomas
Havent made this 1 yet but when I get back from this next trip this will be on the stove. I know I will add 2tbsps of JimBeam to it. My mouth is watering already.
Lauren
Made this today and it's amazing. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Veea'ne
I finally made your Best Ever BBQ Sauce . Nikki, in my opinion it is without a doubt the Bestest In The Whole Wide World ? !!! We ate it on grilled chicken thighs and legs while out camping and fishing . It is the Bomb girl ! Thanks for sharing ?
Alexis
Making this now. Did you really want both minced garlic and garlic powder? I do like garlic but both seemed a lot.
Skip
Tried this yesterday for for our New Years party. It was fantastic, and verified by the empty jar this morning. Goodbye SBR, this is my new "go to" sauce. Thank you for sharing!! I will make a double batch from now on! p.s.-The garlic level was perfect too.
Maureen
This BBQ sauce is awesome! I made meatballs and used this recipe for them in a he crockpot. Everybody loved it. I was looking for a sauce to use with meatballs that didn't contain soy as my grandson is allergic to soy protein and soy flour, also peanuts. This worked perfectly for us. Thanks for the recipe. ?
Karri
Can this be canned? I mean I am sure it can but would like to know if you have canned it and if it needs a pressure cooker or water bath...I am new to canning lol
Jose
How long will this keep for if you made extra sauce?
Deb
Excellent! It also lends itself to being easily adjusted (more Heat?... add more cayenne, Sweeter? add more honey!) For sure, a great take on Sweet Baby Ray's.... Thanks so much for sharing ; )
Aline
What kind of molasses die you use?
Sugar cane of sugar beets?
Aline
I made this last night. But it doesn't look as sticky as yours. I followed the recipe, the only thing I can image to be different is the kind of honey, and the kind of molasses. I used acacia honey and blackstrap molasses from sugar beets (I live in Europe). What kind did you use?
Steve
Can't really say myself I used in every thing I ate so it didn't have much shelf life..but I would say it would last as long as any household bbq sauce would
Jenna
This sauce was good. But it was more like a sweet and sour sauce than a BBQ sauce. I also feel like there was to much apple cider vinegar for my liking. I think the next time I make it,I would add some smoked paprika,or smoked chilli peppers to add the smokey flavour that I feel like BBQ sauce should have. And omit half of the apple cider vinegar. Either way,it's a good base sauce that you could totally adjust to your taste!
Sonya
How much does this recipe make?
Rick
How long will this last if you can it ?
Kay Thompson
Oh.My.Goodness. This is one good BBQ sauce!! I made it for chicken...but plan to use it next time I make ribs.
For those asking about fridge shelf life...it should last awhile. If you omitted the FRESH garlic, it would last (almost) indefinitely in the fridge...within reason, of course!
Charlene
Your recipes always amaze me. I made this BBQ sauce last night to go over the ribs and added a little jack daniels to it. Everybody said it is the best BBQ sauce they have tasted so big well done to you xx
Christine @ myblissfulmess
This looks fabulous! I'll definitely be trying this.
deana phillips
So so GOOD! I use hit garlic chili paste instead of cayenne. Gives it a richer less ?HOT flavor. Love it
Donna Brock
Can the sauce be canned?
Tracy
I rarely buy BBQ sauce anymore since I found this recipe. The kids always ask now if its my BBQ sauce or bought. If it's mine, they dig in. Can't recommend this recipe enough! Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
Tre
Sauce was great very easy to follow, quick. This is a keeper. Definitely a good starter bbq sauce... can bounce around with flavor profile to your liking.
Jennifer
Easy to make and super tasty!
Kayla B
I have made this a couple times now and my family just loves it!! I have been instructed not to buy store bought anymore. Thank you so much for sharing. Next time I make I might add a little liquid smoke! My favorite part is I know everything that is going into this and everyone in my house (5 adults and one toddler) love it!
Mo
Love this recipe try adding a touch of lemon juice yummy
Christine Volzer
This is very tasty BBQ SAUCE!
Ronn
You are right. Best ever. Family and friends loved it. Thanks
Christine Allen
Hi,
How long can I store this in the refrigerator?
laura cooper
I made this yesterday for some pulled pork and it was quite tasty. I found it to be a bit on the sweet side, but otherwise great! Next time I'll just use less brown sugar.
Ken
I made this sauce for a pork butt I smoked all day. I didn't have any molasses on me when I made it but my friends brought some when they came over. I ended up adding the molasses to the sauce and thinned it out with the pork butt juice and reduced the sauce for another 20 minuets. The sauce was AMAZING! I can't wait to make some more.
Ben
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. Made this twice and it is the BOMB!!!!
lj Franks
The problem with ketchup as an ingredient is that not all ketchups are the same.
Deana Phillips
Hands down the best EVER!
Kayane
Oh my dear lord - I had to take a break from stuffing my face to let you know how amazing this tastes!!! I didn't have any molasses on hand so I subbed with maple syrup and I had no garlic powder (wtf I know) so I subbed with more garlic!!! I'm never buying from the store again.
Steve
Very good sauce..I had to leave pepper out for the women in my family...but I'm set to make another jar for myself..I brushed on steak on grill was they cooked.....should have a label on it ...was divine for taste buds
Deborah H Dorminy
SO Good! It was delicious right after I made it today but this is one that will get even better!
Ronn
Best ever great for all meats
Terri
good but too much garlic for me/ next time, i will use about 1/2
Marilyn Lee
After reading the comments, I reduced the sugar and omitted the honey and fresh garlic, added smoked paprika. Thank you for the recipe! @cantstopcooking
Sandy Butler
I just made this recipe and it is now my go to BBQ Sauce recipe! I’m grilling Spatchcock chickens today and one will have this sauce on it. The family tasted the sauce an hour after I made it and said it was their favorite.
Luke
I make this all the time everyone in my family loves it. I can't even think about store bought after this. I like to add things to it like liquid smoke or hit honey to spice it up. Easy and awesome.
Julie
This is the BEST BBQ sauce. It keeps so well in the fridge for a long time. Don’t like the little bit of heat, just illuminate the cayenne pepper. We put this on our ribs for a competition smoking contest and won first place. 🥰