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A jar of fresh, rich bbq sauce homemade, ready for dipping and grilling.

Tangy & Smoky Everyday BBQ Sauce Homemade

Craft your own homemade Tangy & Smoky Everyday BBQ Sauce with this easy recipe. Perfect for grilling, dipping, or slathering, this sauce delivers a delicious balance of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 cups
Calories 95 kcal

Equipment

  • medium saucepan or Dutch oven
  • blender (optional)

Ingredients
  

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1.5 cups ketchup
  • 0.5 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.25-0.5 teaspoon water or chicken/vegetable broth if needed for thinning

Dry Spices & Sweeteners

  • 0.25 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
  • 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 0.25 teaspoon onion powder
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 0.125 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, for a little heat
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt or to taste

Optional Enhancements

  • 0.25-0.5 teaspoon liquid smoke optional, for extra smokiness

Instructions
 

Sauté Aromatics

  • Heat olive oil in a saucepan, then sauté diced yellow onion for 5-7 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Combine Wet Ingredients

  • Stir in ketchup, apple cider vinegar, molasses, and Worcestershire sauce.

Add Dry Spices and Sweeteners

  • Add brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt; stir well to combine.

Simmer and Thicken

  • Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 25-35 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the sauce becomes too thick, thin with water or broth.

Add Liquid Smoke (Optional)

  • During the last 5 minutes of simmering, stir in liquid smoke, starting with ¼ teaspoon and adding more to taste for extra smokiness.

Adjust Seasoning

  • Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed to achieve your desired balance of sweetness, tang, or salt.

Optional Blending

  • For a super smooth sauce, carefully transfer the hot sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender and blend until the desired consistency is reached.

Cool and Store

  • Allow the BBQ sauce to cool completely before transferring it to clean, airtight jars or containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks.

Notes

This homemade BBQ sauce is incredibly versatile and can be used on ribs, chicken, pulled pork, or as a dipping sauce. For a spicier kick, increase the amount of cayenne pepper. Adjust the salt and brown sugar to your taste when done. Always use caution when blending hot liquids.