Making homemade BBQ sauce can be a fun and rewarding cooking project. However, many home cooks run into issues when their sauce turns out too thin and watery. A properly thickened BBQ sauce clings well to food and packs some nice texture. Luckily, there are several easy methods to thicken up homemade BBQ sauce to achieve that ideal sticky, rich consistency.
Use a Roux
One of the most effective ways to thicken BBQ sauce is by making a roux. A roux is a mixture of equal parts fat and flour that is cooked together before liquid is added. Here is how to use a roux to thicken BBQ sauce:
- In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once melted, sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.
- Whisk the butter and flour together constantly for 2-3 minutes. This cooks the raw flour taste out of the roux.
- Slowly pour in 1 cup of the BBQ sauce, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, allowing it to thicken for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Once cooled, stir the roux-thickened sauce into the remaining BBQ sauce. The starch in the roux will thicken the overall batch nicely.
Add Pureed Vegetables
Pureeing vegetables is another excellent way to add natural thickness to homemade BBQ sauce. Vegetables like onions, carrots, bell peppers, and tomatoes work very well.
- In a food processor or blender, puree 1 cup each of roughly chopped onions, carrots, and red bell peppers with 1 (15 oz) can of tomato sauce until smooth.
- Transfer the vegetable puree to a saucepan. Add your remaining BBQ sauce and whisk together over medium heat for 5-10 minutes until nicely thickened.
- Let cool and adjust seasoning if needed. The natural starch in the vegetables will thicken the BBQ sauce beautifully.
Simmer Down
One of the easiest ways to thicken homemade BBQ sauce is to simply simmer it down. Reducing the sauce evaporates some of the water content, leaving behind a richer, thicker mixture.
- Pour your BBQ sauce into a wide saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Allow the sauce to simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and check thickness. Repeat simmering in 10 minute increments until desired consistency is reached.
Mix in Cornstarch
Cornstarch is an ideal thickening agent that can be easily stirred into BBQ sauce. It quickly breaks down and absorbs liquid to create a thicker texture.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water until smooth.
- Pour the cornstarch slurry into the BBQ sauce in a saucepan and whisk thoroughly to incorporate.
- Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until sauce reaches desired thickness.
- Remove from heat. The cornstarch will continue thickening the sauce as it cools.
Blend in Instant Tapioca
Instant tapioca is another handy item to have in the pantry when a quick thickness boost is needed. Here’s how to use it:
- Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of instant tapioca over the BBQ sauce in a saucepan and let sit for 5 minutes to soften.
- Whisk the tapioca into the sauce and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring regularly, until sauce thickens up.
- Remove from heat and let cool. The tapioca will absorb liquid and add body to the BBQ sauce.
Add Puréed Beans
If you want to add thickness to your BBQ sauce without dulling the flavor, try puréeing canned beans. White beans work especially well.
- Drain and rinse 1 (15 oz) can of cannellini or navy beans. Transfer to a food processor or blender.
- Puree the beans, adding a little water if needed, until completely smooth.
- Whisk the bean purée into the BBQ sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
- The bean purée will lend thickness without overpowering the flavor. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Let Simmer Overnight
For an ultra-thick, rich BBQ sauce, try letting it simmer overnight on very low heat. This draws out maximum moisture.
- Transfer BBQ sauce to a heavy bottomed dutch oven or crockpot insert.
- Cook over low heat, uncovered, for 8-12 hours, stirring occasionally. The sauce will reduce significantly.
- If the sauce gets too thick, thin it with water, broth, or juice to desired consistency.
- The long cook time creates wonderful richness and intensity of flavor in the sauce.
Strain Out Excess Liquid
An easy trick is to simmer the BBQ sauce, then strain out some of the liquid to produce a thicker mixture.
- Bring the sauce to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Pour the sauce into a fine mesh strainer placed over a bowl. Press out excess liquid using a spoon or spatula.
- Discard the strained liquid or save for use in soups, stews or gravies. The remaining sauce left in the strainer will be thicker.
- Return the thickened sauce to the pan and adjust seasoning if needed before using.
Key Takeaways
- Roux, pureed veggies, and cornstarch are great thickeners for BBQ sauce.
- Letting the sauce simmer down or straining out liquid will also make it thicker.
- Beans can add thickness without dulling flavor.
- For ultra thick sauce, simmer overnight on very low heat.
- Adjust thinning liquids like water, broth or juice to get the ideal texture.
- Thick, rich BBQ sauce clings well to food for maximum flavor.
Using one or more of these handy methods will help you easily achieve the perfect thickness for homemade BBQ sauce. Adjust to your preferences and enjoy your thick, finger-lickin’ sauce on all kinds of grilled meats, sandwiches and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thickening Homemade BBQ Sauce
Q: What are good store-bought thickeners to use?
A: Popular pre-made thickeners include cornstarch, arrowroot powder, instant tapioca, and xanthan gum. They provide an easy shortcut and blend seamlessly into sauce.
Q: Is flour a good way to thicken BBQ sauce?
A: Yes, flour adds nice thickness when cooked into a roux first. Plain flour can work in a pinch but tastes best when cooked into a butter roux.
Q: Can I thicken BBQ sauce with tomato paste or puree?
A: Definitely. Tomato paste and pureed tomato add great flavor and natural thickness. Start with a couple tablespoons and add more to reach desired consistency.
Q: Why does my BBQ sauce get runny after refrigerating?
A: The starch molecules can start breaking down again when cooled. Simply re-heat the sauce gently while stirring to regain proper texture.
Q: What liquids can I add to thin BBQ sauce if needed?
A: Water, broth, cider vinegar, fruit juices and even beer make good thinning agents for balancing out BBQ sauce consistency.
Q: Is there a way to make BBQ sauce thicker without changing the flavor?
A: Yes, simmering down the sauce or straining out liquid will naturally concentrate flavors without diluting. Starches like cornstarch also won’t affect taste much.
Q: How can I fix lumpy BBQ sauce from adding cornstarch?
A: Make sure cornstarch fully dissolves in cold water before adding. Slowly raise heat while constantly stirring to avoid lumps forming. Or use an immersion blender to smooth it out.
Q: Are there any downsides to thickening BBQ sauce too much?
A: Overly thick sauce can become unpleasantly pasty or gluey in texture. It also won’t coat or cling to food as well. Find the right balance for sauce to nicely coat but still easily pour.
Q: What meats go best with a nice thick homemade BBQ sauce?
A: Thick, sticky BBQ sauce complements boldly flavored meats like beef ribs, pulled pork, smoked brisket, chicken drumsticks, and even meatloaf.
Conclusion
Achieving the ideal rich, clinging consistency for homemade BBQ sauce is easy with the right technique. Letting the sauce reduce slowly on a simmer or adding starch-based thickeners does the trick nicely. Pureeing flavor-packed ingredients like tomatoes or beans also lends natural thickness. Adjust the sauce to your preferences and smother it on all kinds of succulent grilled and smoked meats for finger-lickin’ good barbecue.