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Sure you can buy it at the store, but homemade BBQ sauce tastes infinitely better and is so easy to make! Here’s how to make BBQ sauce.

Ever made BBQ sauce at home? If not, it’s time to try. This BBQ sauce recipe is so tangy and savory, you won’t want to buy store bought ever again! Whether it’s to paint onto burgers or steaks or shrimp, this homemade barbecue sauce goes with just about anything and takes only a few minutes to whip up.

My husband Alex first invented this sauce for this BBQ recipe inspired by a local restaurant, but we’ve been making it so much since then that I had to share it. So: here’s everything you need to know about making homemade barbecue sauce!

How to Make BBQ Sauce

Why make homemade barbecue sauce when it’s easy to find at the store? First of all, the flavor is out of this world. It tastes so, how do we say it…real, it’s hard to want to go back. Second, you can control the ingredients that go into your BBQ sauce, so you don’t have loads of sugar or preservatives. And lastly: it’s so easy! It’s truly nothing more than throwing ingredients into a pot and simmering.

Here are the main steps to make BBQ sauce:

Place the ingredients in a saucepan: organic ketchup, apple cider and white vinegar, maple syrup, smoked paprika, soy sauce, cumin, hot sauce, and salt.
Simmer for 10 minutes, until slightly thickened.
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

For the ketchup, it’s preferable to get an organic or natural ketchup. Take a look at the ingredients on the container and make sure they’re pretty normal: you may want to make sure there is no high fructose corn syrup.

Ways to Serve It

Of course, there are a multitude of ways to serve BBQ sauce that you probably have already thought of! But if you’re in need of inspiration, here are some delicious recipes with BBQ sauce that we love:

Best Veggie Burger Recipe: Our best veggie burger is grilled and painted with barbecue sauce
BBQ Bean Tacos with Pineapple Salsa: Here BBQ sauce makes for a delicious sauce for simmered pinto beans for this taco filling
Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich: Ever had jackfruit? It’s like vegan pulled pork and it’s extremely delicious! You could use this BBQ sauce instead of the one in this recipe
Grilled Teriyaki Mango Skewers These skewers are painted with teriyaki sauce, but they’d also be fabulous painted with homemade barbecue sauce!
Broiled Salmon with Bourbon Glaze Use the method for broiling salmon here, but then paint it with homemade barbecue sauce instead of the bourbon glaze!

Variations To Try

This BBQ sauce recipe has a few fun variations once you’ve mastered the standard type. Here are a few other ways to try it:

Mustard BBQ Sauce: This type is yellow mustard-based with a tangy flavor.
White BBQ Sauce: Zingy white BBQ sauce hails from Alabama and tastes incredible on just about anything! It’s creamy and savory, with a little heat.
Sugar Free BBQ Sauce: Here’s a sauce that’s super savory with no sweetener at all!
Vegan BBQ Sauce: This vegan BBQ is fully plant-based and packed with flavor.

Storage Info

Store this homemade BBQ sauce for up to 1 month refrigerated. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

Dietary Notes

This BBQ sauce recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, dairy-free, and refined sugar free.