Let’s talk about BBQ sauce. If you are picky like my family, you have a hard time finding a bottled sauce that tastes just like you want it to. Make this recipe for homemade BBQ sauce for your next dinner. A good sauce is paramount for a successful BBQ. Really, it is.
Make Homemade BBQ Sauce
One day I casually flipped through one of my favorite cookbooks, The Joy of Cooking, and looked to see if there was a recipe for BBQ sauce. Of course there was! And not just that–it’s a good recipe. A REALLY good recipe. My husband declared it to be the best BBQ sauce ever. (We never exaggerate in our family.)
I have tweaked it a bit, but not too much. You can tweak it too. I’ve included some variations and other ideas below the recipe.
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
adapted from Joy of Cooking
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. molasses (I add this in, it’s not in the original recipe)
2 Tbsp. brown mustard (we like Gulden’s)
2-4 Tbsp. chili powder (start w/ a little and work up)
1-2 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger (can use 1 tsp. ground ginger)
2 garlic cloves, grated or minced
3 lemon slices, seeds removed (these are optional, but really good)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp. or so liquid smoke (or to taste)
(optional–Tabasco or cayenne to make it extra spicy)
Method:
Mix all the ingredients together in a non-reactive saucepan and simmer on medium low for about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Variations and other ideas:
This sauce is easy to change up. Try substituting peach, apricot, cherry or blackberry jam for some of the sugar. Use red wine vinegar in place of the apple cider vinegar. Add different kinds of chili powder–chipotle, ancho, etc. Add a bit of cumin, cinnamon, cloves, or other spices. Add pineapple and more soy sauce and use with pork for an island flavor.
We have used this sauce to make BBQ baked beans, pulled pork and chicken, mixed with mayo for a spicy sweet fry sauce, and on burgers. Basically, anywhere you’d use store bought sauce, you’d use this instead and it would be 10 times better.
Make a huge batch and bottle it. Take it with you as a hostess gift or use as neighbor gifts at Christmas. (You can tell them it’s a super secret family recipe.)
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp. molasses I add this in, it's not in the original recipe
- 2 Tbsp. brown mustard we like Gulden's
- 2-4 Tbsp. chili powder start w/ a little and work up
- 1-2 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger can use 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 2 garlic cloves grated or minced
- 3 lemon slices seeds removed (these are optional, but really good)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp. or so liquid smoke or to taste
- optional--Tabasco or cayenne to make it extra spicy
-
Mix all the ingredients together in a non-reactive saucepan and simmer on medium low for about 5 minutes.
-
Taste and adjust seasonings.
This sauce is easy to change up. Try substituting peach, apricot, cherry or blackberry jam for some of the sugar. Use red wine vinegar in place of the apple cider vinegar. Add different kinds of chili powder--chipotle, ancho, etc. Add a bit of cumin, cinnamon, cloves, or other spices. Add pineapple and more soy sauce and use with pork for an island flavor.
This isn’t the original sauce from the earlier printings. Original had diced onions sautéed in butter. It used cider vinegar instead of red wine. No chili, garlic or ginger. No lemons either. Once it cooled, it was like jelly from the butter and fat solids. Amazing! I have been searching for the original recipe! Can’t seem to find it!
This is excellent. I recommend using NON HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP ketchup. Natural food store, or some grocers I expect. It is way better tasting, as well as for you, and you family and friends.
My mom taught me this a loooong time ago. It is a great sauce to use with pork loin or roast for pulled pork sandwiches. Slow cook for 5-6 hours in oven – unbelievable.
This is the best BBQ sauce ever! Made it twice and came out awesome both times, I did replace some of the sugar with homemade strawberry jam.
I do have one question though, is there a way to make it thicker?
Thanks!
I just made this tonight. I had to simmer it for a few hours to reduce down (thicken). I bet you could boil it for a bit if you watched it closely. I left out the lemon. Mine turned out very acidic so next time might reduce the vinegar. I even added a few teaspoons of sugar. The hubby said it was a good pork BBQ sauce. Would make again. Found this via Pinterest.
Awesome sauce. I will change it up, because that is what I do, but fantastic basic recipe. We started with a homemade roasted tomato ketchup. Yummmmmmmmy!
I ALWAYS make my BBQ sauce. I like it sweeter than normal so I can dial it up a bit to my liking. Once you make it you’ll always prefer it over store bought.
This sounds awesome! I’m definitely going to have to give it a try.
So yummy! I’ve never made homemade BBQ sauce, and can’t wait to try!
Sounds good but I do have a question ………………….
How long will it keep ? Refrigerated? Properly canned? or just poured into a jar?
Sounds like a good xmas gift……………
thx