Introduction
Barbecue sauce is an essential condiment for barbecued meats like ribs, chicken, pulled pork, and brisket. With its sweet, tangy, and sometimes spicy flavors, barbecue sauce brings these smoked and grilled meats to life. While store-bought barbecue sauce is convenient, homemade barbecue sauce is worth the extra effort. Making barbecue sauce yourself allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor to your taste. This guide will provide tips and step-by-step instructions for making barbecue sauce from scratch.
Basic Ingredients for Homemade BBQ Sauce
The basic components of any good barbecue sauce include:
Tomato Product
Tomato-based products like tomato paste, ketchup, tomato sauce, or crushed tomatoes form the base of barbecue sauce. The tomato product provides the thick consistency, red/orange color, sweetness, and tanginess.
Sweetener
Sugar or other sweeteners like honey, molasses, maple syrup counterbalance the acidity from the tomatoes. Brown sugar or molasses add deeper caramelized notes.
Acid
Vinegar provides the signature zing in barbecue sauce. Apple cider, white, malt, red wine, and balsamic vinegars work well.
Spices and Herbs
Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper add depth of flavor. Fresh or dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, parsley brighten up the sauce.
Liquid
The sauce needs some liquid to balance out the thicker ingredients. Stock, beer, juice, or even water prevent the sauce from getting too thick.
Fat
Oil or butter provide a glossy richness and help blend all the flavors. Canola, vegetable, olive, avocado oils are good neutral choices.
Extras
Ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, mustard, hot sauce, soy sauce, coffee, and chocolate introduce even more complex notes.
BBQ Sauce Styles
There are 4 main styles of barbecue sauce to suit different regional barbecue flavors:
Kansas City Style
- Thick, sweet tomato-molasses based sauce
- Balance of sweet, tangy, spicy
- Uses molasses, brown sugar
- Often finished with honey
South Carolina Style (Mustard Sauce)
- Tangy, spicy yellow mustard-based sauce
- Little to no tomato
- Turmeric and paprika provide color
- Vinegar tang with some honey
North Carolina Style (Vinegar Sauce)
- Very thin, vinegar-forward sauce
- Cider or white vinegar
- Pepper flakes, hot sauce for heat
- Minimal sweetener
Texas Style
- Thin tomato-based sauce with robust seasoning
- Chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic
- Moderate sweetness
- Pepper flakes for heat
Step-by-Step Guide for Making Basic Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Follow these simple steps to make a basic homemade barbecue sauce:
1. Sauté the Aromatic Vegetables
- In a saucepan, heat 1-2 tbsp of oil or butter over medium heat.
- Add 1 small diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
- Add 3-4 minced garlic cloves and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant.
2. Add the Tomato Product and Sweetener
- Add 1 cup of your choice of tomato product – ketchup, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes etc.
- Add 1/2 cup of sweetener – brown sugar, honey, maple syrup etc.
- Simmer for 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors.
3. Season with Vinegar, Spices, and Other Flavorings
- Add 1/4 cup vinegar of choice – cider, white, red wine, balsamic etc.
- Add 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce.
- Add seasoning: 1-2 tsp each of paprika, chili powder, dried oregano, onion and garlic powder.
- Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, hot sauce etc. to taste.
4. Simmer and Reduce
- Add 1/2 to 1 cup stock, water, beer, juice to thin out the sauce.
- Simmer sauce for 15-20 minutes to reduce and thicken slightly.
- Taste and adjust sweetness, tanginess, seasoning as needed.
5. Finish with Fat and Herbs
- Turn off heat and stir in 1-2 tbsp butter or olive oil.
- Add 2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs like parsley, basil, oregano, thyme.
You now have a basic homemade barbecue sauce! Tweak and customize it to your preferences.
Tips for Making the Best Homemade BBQ Sauce
Here are some tips to take your homemade barbecue sauce to the next level:
- Roast vegetables like onions, garlic, peppers, carrots before adding for deeper flavor
- Simmer low and slow – a long simmer time allows the sauce to thicken and meld
- Use smoked paprika for extra smoky flavor without actually smoking the sauce
- Toss in a chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce for smoky heat
- Finish with bourbon or whiskey for a boozy kick
- Blend in some crispy bacon pieces for smoky salty flavor
- Stir in grated ginger for some fresh spiciness
- Include a splash of fish sauce or soy sauce for extra umami savoriness
- Garnish with chopped scallions or cilantro for freshness
- Add espresso powder or cocoa powder for richness without much flavor
- Let cool completely before using – this allows flavors to develop fully
How to Use Homemade Barbecue Sauce
A homemade barbecue sauce takes ribs, pulled pork, chicken, and other barbecued meats to the next level. Here are tips for using barbecue sauce:
- Marinade meats in some of the sauce overnight or up to 24 hours for maximum flavor infusion. Reserve some sauce for basting and serving.
- Baste meats during the last 10-15 minutes of grilling or smoking. Avoid burning the sugars – wait until nearly cooked to baste.
- Toss with pulled pork or chicken once shredded to coat the meat.
- Brush on during the last few minutes of cooking ribs or chicken to create a sticky glazed coating.
- Simmer meatballs, beans or veggies in the sauce for a saucy entree.
- Use as a sandwich or burger condiment in place of traditional ketchup.
- Employ as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders, fries, mozzarella sticks etc.
- Drizzle over baked potatoes, sweet potatoes or tater tots for a sauce-smothered side.
- Incorporate into meatloaf, burgers or sausage for built-in barbecue flavor.
Storage Tips for Leftover Homemade Barbecue Sauce
To extend the shelf life of leftover homemade barbecue sauce:
- Store barbecue sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
- For longer term storage, freeze barbecue sauce in freezer bags or containers for 4-6 months.
- Fill ice cube trays with barbecue sauce for easy frozen individual portion control.
- Always put hot barbecue sauce in clean containers – don’t reuse containers without washing first.
- If barbecue sauce shows signs of mold, bubbles, or smells bad, toss it. Don’t taste test bad looking sauce!
- For the freshest flavor, try to use within a week if refrigerated or 2-3 months if frozen.
- If sauce separates, give it a good stir until well blended again before using.
- For best results, let frozen barbecue sauce thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
Common Questions About Homemade BBQ Sauce
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about making and using homemade barbecue sauce:
Is it better to make barbecue sauce with ketchup or tomato paste?
- Ketchup provides great tangy tomato flavor, while paste makes a thicker, richer sauce. For balance, you can use half ketchup and half tomato paste.
How spicy should barbecue sauce be?
- Spiciness is a matter of personal taste – add chili powder, cayenne, hot sauce, etc. to your desired level of heat. Start with less and adjust up.
What’s the difference between barbecue sauce and steak sauce?
- Steak sauce has more emphasis on umami flavor from ingredients like Worcestershire and soy sauce. BBQ sauce highlights sweet, tomato, vinegar notes.
How long does homemade barbecue sauce last in the fridge?
- Properly stored in an airtight container, homemade barbecue sauce will last 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze and reheat barbecue sauce?
- Absolutely! Frozen barbecue sauce keeps 4-6 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating gently on the stovetop or microwave.
What are the best foods to put barbecue sauce on?
- Great on ribs, pulled pork, chicken, brisket, meatloaf, burgers, wings, sandwiches, fries – the possibilities are endless!
3 Simple Variations for Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Try these easy variations on basic homemade barbecue sauce:
Hawaiian Style
- Use pineapple juice instead of stock for liquid.
- Replace half the brown sugar with honey.
- Add a diced mango and pinch of cayenne.
Asian Inspired
- Use rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger.
- Stir in a dash of fish sauce, 5-spice powder, sambal oelek.
Smoky-Sweet
- Add a minced chipotle pepper and 1 tsp smoked paprika.
- Use maple syrup for sweetness and bourbon for liquid.
- Finish with chopped bacon pieces.
Conclusion
Making your own barbecue sauce from scratch may seem intimidating, but it is a very approachable process. With a few simple ingredients and easy steps, you can whip up a flavorsome homemade sauce in under 30 minutes. Experiment with regional styles and spice mixes until you create the perfect balance to complement your grilled, smoked, and sauced meats. When cooled and stored properly, barbecue sauce keeps for weeks to maximize your efforts. Homemade always tastes better – give it a try!