Description
This easy homemade BBQ sauce is a perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors, made with simple pantry ingredients. It’s quick to prepare on the stovetop and delicious on grilled meats, sandwiches, or as a dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 ¼ cup ketchup
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Place the brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper into a medium saucepan. Whisk them together thoroughly until well combined.
- Simmer Sauce: Set the saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir the mixture occasionally while heating and wait for it to come to a simmer. This process helps the flavors meld and the sauce to thicken slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
- Cool the Sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat once simmered. Allow the BBQ sauce to cool to room temperature.
- Store and Marinate: Transfer the cooled sauce into an airtight container. Refrigerate the sauce for at least 4 hours to allow the flavors to develop fully. For best results, let it sit overnight before using.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness or tanginess by varying the amount of brown sugar or apple cider vinegar to your taste.
- If you prefer a spicier BBQ sauce, consider adding cayenne pepper or hot sauce during the initial mixing step.
- This sauce will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
- Stir the sauce before each use as it may thicken or separate slightly while chilled.
- This recipe is gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: BBQ sauce, homemade BBQ sauce, easy BBQ sauce, smoky BBQ sauce, sweet and tangy sauce, American BBQ sauce, grilling sauce
