A homemade BBQ sauce recipe with ketchup and brown sugar that’s not only delicious, it’s also easy to make. You’ll never go back to store-bought BBQ sauce after you have tried this homemade BBQ sauce!
We go through so much BBQ sauce in our house it’s crazy. My kids eat it with pretty much everything, especially my son. If he can dip it in sauce, he will. This includes everything from chicken to potatoes.
We use this homemade barbeque sauce for dipping fries, chicken, and other finger foods. We also use it for ribs, hamburgers, pork, and to make BBQ chicken. We typically even put some extra BBQ sauce on the side, so we can have extra BBQ sauce to dip the food in.
The one thing we have not tried it on was chicken cooked in the air fryer. So if you do, please let me know how it goes!
This BBQ sauce recipe is a huge it at our 4th of July and holiday gatherings. We always have a cookout with tons of delicious food and drinks that we have with friends and family and then we watch the fireworks that night.
The drinks and desserts are my favorites! If you are looking for a festive 4th of July drink, I have an extremely easy red, white and blue drink you will love.
We also use this ketchup-based BBQ sauce for our Labor Day get-togethers and weekly barbecues that we have.
Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe with Ketchup and Brown Sugar
If you’re looking for a homemade BBQ sauce recipe, it doesn’t get much easier than this. Made with common ingredients and spices you most likely already have at home, this comes together super quick.
BBQ Sauce Ingredients
You will need:
2 cups ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
3 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon mustard powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
Here is the easy part of putting it all together.
Now, before we go further, my daughter and I have had a bit of a debate about how to mix the sauce properly. She has her way and I have my easier way.
I’ll list both below, even though the only difference is the order of how you mix the ingredients!
Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix it until everything is all nice and stirred up.
The preferred way:
First, mix the ketchup and the brown sugar together. Make sure it’s stirred well so that everything is combined.
Next, add the mustard powder and paprika and stir until it’s all combined. The last part would be to add the Worchestershire sauce, stir, then add the vinegar. Add any salt or pepper to fit your taste.
If you happen to try it both ways, please let me know if you like it better one way or another. It’s something I really need to know!
What To Use BBQ Sauce for:
BBQ sauce for ribs
BBQ Chicken (or as a dipping sauce for chicken)
Meatballs
Holiday appetizers
As a dip for meat, chicken, or fries
For BBQ pizzas
Turkey (my son loves dipping any meat, even turkey, in BBQ sauce)
As a meatloaf glaze
Grilled Foods
Tailgating recipes (don’t forget the tailgating dips!)
I have known some to use this BBQ in sweet potato recipes (not sure how I would feel about BBQ and sweet potatoes though)
When to add BBQW sauce while grilling?
As a tip for grilling, wait to put on any BBQ sauce on your meat until you have about 10 minutes of cooking left. This will allow the BBQ to glaze over the meat well without having the sugar burn or not soak up the BBQ flavor.
Using Homemade BBQ Sauce In A Smoker
If you are using it in a smoker, since the smoker slow cooks the meat, putting the sauce on early is OK since it won’t burn the sauce.
With this simple barbeque sauce recipe, you can taste and adjust to your personal preferences which is great for picky eaters or those who like their BBQ with a certain zing to it.
How to store homemade grilling sauce?
Store the sauce in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 2 months. You can also use these fun BBQ sauce bottles.
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Print and save this recipe for future use!
Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce with Ketchup & Brown Sugar
A simple, easy homemade BBQ sauce that can be whipped up in a matter of minutes.
2 c ketchup
1/3 c brown sugar
1/3 c apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
3 tsp paprika
1 tsp mustard powder
salt & pepper to taste
Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix it until everything is all nice and stirred up.
Store the sauce in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 2 months.
Ketchup is the base of the sauce, Worcestershire sauce adds umami, light brown sugar brings sweetness, vinegar brings tang, and two spices, paprika and cayenne pepper, add a smoky flavor and some heat.
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.
Try adding some molasses for a rich flavor, honey for a subtle sweetness, or brown sugar for a simple sweet taste. You may need to add some spices like garlic or cumin to help it blend properly.
Combine brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce in a blender.Season with mustard, paprika, salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce.Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Ingredients vary, but most include vinegar or tomato paste (or a combination) as a base, as well as liquid smoke, onion powder, spices such as mustard and black pepper, and sweeteners such as sugar or molasses.
To me, a good BBQ sauce has the right mix of smokiness, tanginess, sweetness, and spice. If your sauce isn't sweet enough, add some brown sugar or molasses. If the sauce isn't tangy enough, add some apple cider vinegar. If the sauce needs some heat, add your favorite hot sauce or red pepper.
Add smoky, spicy, or tangy flavors for a semi-homemade bbq sauce that tastes just like it's from scratch. You can spice up bbq sauce and add some texture and flavor to store-bought bbq sauce with chopped kimchi, bacon bits, sautéed onions, or jalapeños, fresh herbs, or fruit like pineapple and peaches.
The problem is that most store-bought barbecue sauces just aren't that stellar. They're off-the-scales sweet, packed with fake "smoke" flavor, or weirdly viscous like butterscotch. If you want to really elevate your barbecue, you're going to have to make your own 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.
To me, a good BBQ sauce has the right mix of smokiness, tanginess, sweetness, and spice. If your sauce isn't sweet enough, add some brown sugar or molasses. If the sauce isn't tangy enough, add some apple cider vinegar. If the sauce needs some heat, add your favorite hot sauce or red pepper.
Brown sugar adds a rich, sweet, and nutty flavor to baked goods, desserts (and even some savory dishes, too). Molasses is the key element that distinguishes brown sugar from granulated sugar, and it's this ingredient that makes brown sugar shine in banana bread, gingerbread cookies, and scores of other recipes.
That added molasses in dark brown sugar is what gives it more depth of flavor, which is why you'll see it in recipes where it's an important ingredient like when you make barbecue sauce.
It is extremely sweet and contrasts the strong flavors of smoked meats very well. I developed this sauce over the years, and I have had people tell me that they wanted to drink it through a straw or eat it out of a bowl as a dessert because it was so good.
Directions. In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix the ketchup, brown sauce, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Blend in the brown sugar and dry mustard until dissolved. Simmer 10 minutes, until thickened.
Brown sauce is typically made with vinegar, molasses, dates, tamarind, spices, and tomato paste. This gives it a slightly more complex flavor than ketchup.
First, let's clear this up right away: no, BBQ sauce is not just ketchup. Not even close. The difference here is that ketchup is tomato puree and sugar (with vinegar and some other flavorings), and BBQ sauce is art (with a whole host of flavor-filled ingredients).
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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