Homemade BBQ Sauce

Name: Homemade BBQ Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 2/3 cups ketchup; 2 2/3 cups white vinegar; 2 cups brown sugar; 3 tablespoons salt; 5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 5 tablespoons yellow mustard; 2 tablespoons chili powder (or to taste); 2 tablespoons fancy molasses

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Jump to Recipe

This easy homemade BBQ sauce comes together quickly with simple pantry ingredients and hardly any prep. Everything goes into one pot, simmers for a bit, and turns into a thick, tangy sauce you’ll love.

Homemade BBQ sauce in a jar with some dripping off a spoon back into the jar.

It’s great for brushing on ribs, chicken, or pork, and also works great as a dipping sauce or sandwich spread. Once you see how easy it is to make from scratch, you’ll want to keep a jar in the fridge all the time.

A Quick Look At The Recipe

Recipe Name: Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce
Cook Time: About 35 minutes
Servings: about 5 cups
Main Ingredients: Ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, molasses
Dietary Info: Gluten-free (check Worcestershire), dairy-free, one-pot
Difficulty Level: Easy

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Sauce

Easy To Make: Everything goes into one pot and simmers until thick. No special steps or equipment needed.
Made With Pantry Staples: You probably already have most of the ingredients on hand.
Customizable Flavor: Easily adjust the sweetness, tang, or spice level to suit your family’s taste.

Ingredients

2 2/3 cups of ketchup
2 2/3 cups of white vinegar
2 cups of brown sugar
3 tablespoons of salt
5 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
5 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons of chili powder or to taste
2 tablespoons of fancy molasses

How To Make Homemade BBQ Sauce

The ketchup and vinegar were added to the saucepot.

The brown sugar was added to the sauce ingredients.

Add the ketchup and vinegar to a medium saucepan, then add the brown sugar.

The yellow mustard and molasses were added to the sauce.

Add the yellow mustard, molasses, and seasonings to the pot, give everything a good stir to combine

Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring the sauce to a boil, stirring often so nothing sticks to the bottom.

Once it starts boiling, turn the heat down to medium and let the sauce simmer gently. Keep stirring occasionally and let it cook for about 30 minutes, or until it thickens to the consistency you like.

If you want a smooth sauce, blend it with an immersion blender or leave it as is for a rustic sauce.

When the sauce is done, remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly. Pour it into mason jars or condiment bottles and store in the fridge until you‘re ready to use it.

Homemade BBQ sauce in a jar with a spoon drizzling some back into the jar.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Simmer Gently: Once it comes to a boil, turn the heat down and let it simmer slowly. This helps the sauce thicken without burning.
Adjust to Taste: This sauce is easy to tweak. Add more chili powder for heat, extra brown sugar for sweetness, or a splash more vinegar if you like it tangy.
Don’t Overcook: The sauce will thicken more as it cools, so don’t overcook it if it seems slightly thin while hot.

How To Store

Refrigerator: Store the cooled BBQ sauce in mason jars or airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2-3 weeks.

Freezer: This sauce freezes well. Pour it into freezer-safe jars or containers, leaving some headspace at the top for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge before using.

More Easy Recipes:

FAQ’s

Yes, you can reduce the brown sugar slightly or replace part of it with honey or maple syrup for a different sweetness.

It’s mild as written. The chili powder adds flavor without much heat, but you can easily add more if your family likes it spicier.

It’s great on grilled chicken, ribs, pulled pork, burgers, meatballs, and even as a dipping sauce or pizza base.

Homemade BBQ Sauce

This easy homemade BBQ sauce is sweet and tangy, made with simple pantry staples you likely already have on hand. It’s quick to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for everyday meals, grilling nights, and simple family dinners.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Total Time 35

Serving Size cups

Ingredients

2 2/3 cups ketchup
2 2/3 cups white vinegar
2 cups brown sugar
3 tablespoons salt
5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
5 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons chili powder or to taste
2 tablespoons fancy molasses

Instructions

Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir constantly until all the ingredients are mixed together.
Turn the heat down to medium and boil gently for 30 minutes or until the sauce is as thick as you like, stirring occasionally.
Remove the BBQ sauce from the heat and let it cool, then transfer to mason jars or condiment jars and store in your fridge.

Notes

If you want a very smooth sauce, after it cools a little, puree it using a stick blender or a normal blender before storing.
Store in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

These values are from a nutritional database and automatically calculated, and should only be used as an approximation.

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Kim

Kim Mills is a homeschooling mom of 6 and lives on an urban homestead in Ontario, Canada. Blogging at Homestead Acres she enjoys sharing tips to help you save money, grow and preserve your own food.