Best Homemade Barbecue Sauce {BBQ Sauce}
Smokey and tangy with just the right amount of sweetness, this is the best homemade barbecue sauce I have ever made.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (7 ounces) ketchup I use Hunts
- 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- ½ cup (3.75 ounces) brown sugar see note
- ½ cup (4 ounces) apple cider vinegar I use Bragg's
- ¼ cup (3 ounces) unsulfured molasses
- ¼ cup (2 ounces) pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon butter see note
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke I use hickory flavored, see note
- 1 tablespoon ground mustard
- 2 teaspoons paprika see note
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch cayenne pepper see note
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
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In a large saucepan, add all the ingredients and whisk together. Heat sauce over medium heat.
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Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour, stirring occasionally. The longer the sauce simmers (up to an hour), the better flavor it will have.
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Remove from heat and let sauce cool (it will thicken as it cools). Once cooled, the sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks or frozen. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator or on a saucepan on the stove over low heat and use as needed.
Recipe Notes
1. I haven't tried it yet but I plan to adapt this recipe to use honey in place of the brown sugar. I will update the recipe when I do.
2. I think you could easily omit the butter in this recipe if you are trying to make it dairy free.
3. Liquid smoke is normally found near the barbecue sauce aisle in the grocery store.
4. This is also excellent with smoked paprika in place of regular paprika.
5. This is definitely a family friendly barbecue sauce as far as the heat level goes. If you enjoy a little more heat, add more cayenne pepper, to taste.