Recipe: Homemade BBQ Sauce (2024)

FAQs

How to make BBQ sauce taste homemade? ›

Making BBQ sauce is a lot easier than many people think. It requires only a few ingredients most people have already in their homes and minimal cooking! I prefer to make most of my condiments homemade. That way you can control the taste and quality, and it's cheaper than buying store-bought versions.

Spices and seasonings: A variety of spices and seasonings are added to BBQ sauce to enhance its flavor. Common spices include paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and mustard powder. These ingredients contribute to the distinct taste and aroma of the sauce.

You can use either flour or cornstarch to thicken BBQ sauce. Just mix together 2 tbsp (16 g) of flour and ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of water, or combine 1 tbsp (9 g) of cornstarch with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water. Continue mixing the thickener until there are no lumps of flour or cornstarch.

Take a tip from North Carolina and look to vinegar—white vinegar, apple cider vinegar—as the key to great barbecue sauce, cutting its sweetness and lending a little tang. Or take a tip from South Carolina barbecue (we're not picking sides) and achieve the same effect with a generous dose of yellow mustard.

Barbecue sauce is one of those kitchen staples that can be used in a number of ways, including marinating meat, dipping, topping, and basting. It typically has a tomato base and a flavor that's sweet and a little bit spicy.

The sauce will keep well in a Mason jar or other airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months.

The base ingredients of barbecue sauce usually include tomato sauce or ketchup, vinegar, and sweeteners, such as molasses or brown sugar. Other common ingredients include Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, onion powder, and various spices, which can include paprika, cumin, and chili powder.

What two ingredients were common flavorings is Southern barbecue sauces? ›

Most southern barbecue sauce recipes have the base ingredients of ketchup, vinegar, and dark brown sugar. In general, the ratio of ketchup to vinegar was four to one for the Memphis and Texas sauces. Carolina sauces are the exact famously opposite – roughly four to one vinegar to ketchup.

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Tomato Paste, Red Wine Vinegar, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Contains 2% Or Less: Modified Food Starch, Spices, Soy Sauce (water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Soybean Oil, Dextrose, Xanthan Gum, Natural Smoke Flavor, Garlic Powder, Cellulose Gum, Chili Peppers, Caramel Color, Sodium ...

Adding fruit juices like apple, pineapple, mango, or any citrus (orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit) can lighten and add freshness to a sauce and will cut any greasiness with bright acidity. Brown sugar can also help when you find a sauce that is too tangy or vinegary.

If it has a good strong flavor you could thin it with something complimentary like a little water, beer, or whiskey. If it needs a little acidity thin it with some vinegar or citrus juice and then balance that with some sugar or honey.

Stretching Your BBQ Sauce

Mix in other ingredients: Mix in ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or other pantry staples to stretch the sauce and add flavor.

Smoked paprika will always add a deep smoky flavour, but there many others to choose from, including smoked salt, lapsang souchong, chipotle powder, black cardamom and smoked garlic powder. Barbecue rubs and marinades will do the job also.

The most common volatile compounds found in BBQ smoke are phenols, which are responsible for the sweet, smoky aroma. The smoke also contains a variety of other compounds, such as nitrogen oxides, which are responsible for the flavor of BBQ.

Seasonings: Garlic, onion, ginger, lemongrass, rosemary, and cumin seed, among others, provide endless flavor variations in otherwise simple marinades. Chopped garlic and fresh, whole leaf herbs may scorch over high heat, so brush them off the food before grilling.

Use Smoky Spices/Seasonings

Some of the most common include smoke paprika and chipotle seasoning, which you can find in powder, whole, or canned. Bacon salt and smoked salts can also flavor things up. Add these spices to your food directly or to a rub, sauce, or marinade.