5 from 51 votes
Best BBQ Sauce Recipe
This BBQ sauce combines ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, white vinegar, and molasses with a blend of spices including paprika, chili powder, and optional liquid smoke. The ingredients are cooked together to develop a thick, flavorful sauce that balances sweet, tangy, and smoky notes. It can be simmered longer to deepen the flavors and adjusted with water for desired thickness.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
10
(makes about 3 cups)
Calories:
76 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked, if possible
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke optional
- 1/4 cup water optional, for simmering
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a medium pot on the stove: 2 cups ketchup, 1/3 cup Worcestershire, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 3 tablespoons molasses, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (use less if all you have is table salt), 1 teaspoon black pepper (use a pepper grinder if you have one!), 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke.*
- Add 1/4 cup water if you have a half hour to simmer. If you're short on time, leave the water out.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat. Simmer 5 minutes if you didn't add the water.
- Simmer at a low bubble for about 25 minutes if you did add the water, or up to an hour. (add more water in increments if it starts to get too thick.) The longer you cook, the more time your ingredients will have to marry and meld together, enhancing flavor. (The extra water we added should all bubble off by the time it has simmered a half hour. We want nice and thick BBQ sauce. The water is added so that it doesn't get too thick as you simmer to achieve more flavor.)
- Once you have simmered as long as you like, turn off the heat and let come to room temperature. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Serve warm or room temperature with anything you can think of! Slow Cooker Pulled Pork, Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork, use it on an epic Tri-Tip sandwich, slap it on Nana's Ribs, brush your grilled chicken, top a hot dog, make BBQ Meatballs. The possibilities are endless!
- Store leftovers tightly sealed in the fridge for several weeks, as long as you would keep ketchup.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use a liquid smoke brand with only water and smoke for authentic flavor.
- Freeze the sauce in sealed bags for up to 3-4 months; thaw overnight or gently reheat from frozen with added water.
Nutrition Information
Calories
76kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
20g
(7%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
0.1g
(0%)
Saturated Fat
0.02g
(0%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0.02g
(0%)
Potassium
307mg
(7%)
Fiber
0.3g
(1%)
Sugar
16g
(32%)
Vitamin A
412IU
(8%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
32mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10 (makes about 3 cups)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 76
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 76kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 7% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 0.1g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.02g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.02g | 0% |
| Potassium | 307mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 0.3g | 1% |
| Sugar | 16g | 32% |
| Vitamin A | 412IU | 8% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 32mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.