10+ BBQ Sauce Recipes You’ll Love to Try

10+ BBQ Sauce Recipes You’ll Love to Try

ByCook Fanatic Team Reading Time: 8 minutes

BBQ sauce can elevate any meal, whether you’re grilling with friends or enjoying a quiet family dinner. Learning how to make delicious BBQ sauces at home will impress your guests and enhance your favorite dishes. With various flavors and styles, you can create the perfect sauce to match your taste.

A wooden table with various ingredients like tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and spices, along with a bowl of homemade BBQ sauce

From tangy and sweet to smoky and spicy, each BBQ sauce has its own unique character. You’ll discover recipes that suit any occasion or preference, making it easy for you to add a homemade touch to your next barbecue or meal. Get ready to spice up your cooking with some fantastic homemade BBQ sauce recipes!

1) Classic Smoky BBQ Sauce

A grill with smoke billowing up, surrounded by jars of ingredients like tomatoes, vinegar, and spices

Making a classic smoky BBQ sauce is simple and rewarding. This sauce adds rich flavor to grilled meats and veggies, enhancing any meal outdoors.

To get started, combine 1 cup of ketchup, ½ cup of cider vinegar, and ½ cup of molasses in a mixing bowl. Then, add ½ cup of packed light brown sugar, 3 tablespoons of smoked paprika, and 2 teaspoons of chili powder to create a balance of sweetness and heat.

Stir the mixture well until everything is blended. For a deeper flavor, simmer the sauce on low heat for about 20 minutes. This helps the ingredients meld together beautifully.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ cup cider vinegar
  • ½ cup molasses
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine ketchup, cider vinegar, and molasses.
  2. Add brown sugar, smoked paprika, and chili powder.
  3. Mix well until combined.
  4. Simmer the sauce on low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2) Tangy Carolina Mustard Sauce

A bottle of Tangy Carolina Mustard Sauce sits next to a spread of bbq ingredients on a wooden cutting board

Tangy Carolina Mustard Sauce is a Southern favorite. It’s perfect for grilled meats and adds a zesty kick to any dish.

This sauce features a mix of yellow mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar. The combination creates a sweet and tangy flavor.

You can use it as a marinade or a dipping sauce. It pairs wonderfully with pork, chicken, and even ribs.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup yellow mustard
  • ½ cup honey
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix together the yellow mustard and honey.
  2. Add the apple cider vinegar and ketchup, stirring until well combined.
  3. Finally, add the brown sugar and mix until dissolved.
  4. Serve the sauce on grilled meats or as a dip. Enjoy!

3) Sweet and Spicy Chipotle BBQ

A wooden cutting board with a bowl of chipotle peppers, tomatoes, and spices, surrounded by bottles of vinegar and molasses

This Sweet and Spicy Chipotle BBQ sauce hits all the right notes. It combines the sweetness of honey with the smoky heat from chipotle peppers. You can use it to enhance grilled chicken, ribs, or even vegetables.

To make this sauce, gather your ingredients and mix them together in a pot. Simmer it gently to blend the flavors. You’ll love how easy it is to make and how delicious it tastes!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup apple juice
  • ¾ cup all-natural ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
  • 4 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons molasses
  • 2 to 4 teaspoons chipotle in adobo sauce (adjust to taste)

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine apple juice, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and soy sauce.
  2. Stir in honey and molasses until well blended.
  3. Add chipotle in adobo sauce to the mixture, adjusting for spice level.
  4. Simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes.
  5. Let cool before using on your favorite BBQ dishes.

4) Memphis-Style Sauce

A colorful array of ingredients and spices arranged on a kitchen counter, including tomatoes, vinegar, mustard, and various seasonings

Memphis-style barbecue sauce is known for its tangy and slightly sweet flavor. It’s a great complement to ribs, pulled pork, and chicken. This sauce is thinner than some others, making it perfect for a light drizzle over your meat.

To make it, you typically start with ingredients like ketchup, vinegar, and mustard. The balance of these elements gives it that signature taste you love. You can customize the spice level by adding hot sauce or paprika.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients.
  2. Heat over medium heat until the mixture starts to bubble.
  3. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Let it cool before using. Enjoy your sauce!

5) Kansas City BBQ Sauce

A bottle of Kansas City BBQ sauce surrounded by ingredients like tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and spices on a wooden cutting board

Kansas City BBQ sauce is known for its rich and sweet flavor. It combines tangy, smoky, and sweet notes, making it a favorite for many barbecue enthusiasts.

To make your own Kansas City BBQ sauce, gather some key ingredients. You will need ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and molasses. You can also add some spices like paprika and chili powder for extra flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup molasses
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

Cooking Instructions:

  1. In a saucepan, mix the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and molasses.
  2. Add the smoked paprika and chili powder.
  3. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it starts to simmer.
  4. Stir well and let it cook for about 10 minutes.
  5. Allow the sauce to cool before using it on your favorite meats.

6) Alabama White Sauce

A cook brushes tangy white sauce onto sizzling barbecue chicken. Smoke rises from the grill, and a jar of homemade sauce sits nearby

Alabama White Sauce is a unique and tangy barbecue sauce that adds a creamy touch to your grilled dishes. This sauce is perfect for chicken, but you can use it on other meats as well. It has a blend of flavors that makes it stand out.

To make it, combine ingredients like mayonnaise, vinegar, and spices. The result is a delicious sauce that complements the smoky taste of grilled meats. It’s easy to whip up in just a few minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon horseradish
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together.
  2. Stir until smooth and well combined.
  3. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
  4. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to a week.

7) Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce

A bubbling pot of honey bourbon BBQ sauce simmers over a crackling fire, with a wooden spoon resting on the edge

Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce is sweet and smoky, perfect for grilled meats. It adds a rich flavor to chicken, ribs, and even veggies.

To make this sauce, you only need a few simple ingredients. Honey and bourbon blend nicely for a sweet kick. The combination of ketchup and vinegar adds tanginess.

You will need:

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Black pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine ketchup, bourbon, honey, and apple cider vinegar.
  2. Stir in brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
  3. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it begins to bubble.
  4. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat and let it cool before use. Enjoy!

8) Texas Style Mop Sauce

A rustic wooden table with various ingredients and spices scattered around, including tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and spices. A large bowl of Texas-style mop sauce sits in the center

Texas Style Mop Sauce is a tasty addition to your barbecue. This sauce is great for keeping your meat moist while it cooks. It has a nice balance of vinegar and spices that adds flavor.

To make it, combine ingredients like vinegar, oil, and Worcestershire sauce. You can also add some lemon juice for a zesty touch. This sauce works well with beef, especially brisket.

As you cook, simply mop the sauce onto your meat to build layers of flavor. It’s simple and effective for great barbecue.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups vinegar
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 2/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 lemons, halved and pulped
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce

Cooking Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix vinegar, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and water.
  2. Squeeze the lemon halves into the mixture, stirring well.
  3. Add in hot sauce and combine all ingredients.
  4. Use the sauce while grilling or smoking your meat.

9) Pineapple Habanero Sauce

A bottle of Pineapple Habanero BBQ sauce surrounded by fresh pineapple slices and fiery habanero peppers

Pineapple habanero sauce brings a perfect blend of sweet and spicy flavors to your meals. This sauce can elevate your grilled dishes or even be used as a dip. The combination of fresh pineapple and habanero peppers creates a unique taste that many love.

To make this sauce, you will need a few simple ingredients. It’s easy to prepare and will impress your friends and family.

Ingredients

  • 6 habanero peppers, seeded
  • 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
  • 1 cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

Cooking Instructions

  1. Seed and chop the habanero peppers.
  2. In a blender, combine the habanero peppers, fresh pineapple, balsamic vinegar, molasses, and garlic powder.
  3. Blend until smooth.
  4. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and heat over medium heat.
  5. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

10) Ginger Peach BBQ Sauce

A peach tree with ripe fruit and ginger root beside a bubbling pot of BBQ sauce on a rustic outdoor grill

Ginger Peach BBQ Sauce adds a sweet and tangy twist to your grilled foods. The combination of fresh ginger and ripe peaches makes it a delightful addition to any summer cookout.

Start by gathering your ingredients. You’ll need olive oil, onion, garlic, fresh ginger, and peaches. This sauce pairs well with pulled pork, chicken, or even grilled veggies.

To make the sauce, first, heat the olive oil in a pan. Sauté the onion and garlic until soft. Then, add grated ginger and chopped peaches, cooking until the peaches break down and blend well.

Let the mixture simmer. You can adjust the sweetness by adding a bit of brown sugar if desired. Once done, blend the sauce until smooth for a perfect texture.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 large cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 peaches, peeled and chopped

Cooking Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
  2. Sauté the diced onion until soft.
  3. Add the crushed garlic and cook for another minute.
  4. Stir in grated ginger and chopped peaches.
  5. Let the mixture simmer until the peaches are soft.
  6. Blend the sauce until smooth.

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