6 Homemade BBQ Sauces
Sweet and smoky, no-ketchup, Carolina vinegar, Alabama white, Carolina gold mustard and honey chipotle.
Regional American barbecue sauces are wonderfully different: thick and sweet, sharp and vinegary, mustardy, or even creamy and white. Each of these makes about a cup and takes 10 minutes or less.
When to add BBQ sauce
Sugary sauces burn easily. Brush them on during the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking, or serve them at the table. Thin vinegar sauces can be used as a mop throughout.
Classic sweet and smoky
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Simmer everything in a small saucepan for 10 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened.
Good with: Chicken, ribs, slidersFull recipe
BBQ sauce without ketchup
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Whisk together and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until glossy.
Good with: Pulled pork, chicken
Carolina vinegar sauce
- 1 cup cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon ketchup, optional
Stir until the sugar dissolves. Let stand for a few hours for the best flavor.
Good with: Pulled pork, coleslaw
Alabama white sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne
Whisk until smooth and chill.
Good with: Smoked or grilled chicken, turkey sandwiches
Carolina gold mustard sauce
- 1/2 cup yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring, until smooth.
Good with: Pork chops, sausages, chicken
Honey chipotle
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Blend for a smooth sauce.
Good with: Wings, burgers, shrimp
Storage
Vinegar-based and cooked tomato-based sauces keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge in a clean jar. Alabama white sauce contains mayonnaise; use it within 5 days. Never brush a sauce onto cooked food with a brush that touched raw meat.
Questions, answered
How do you make BBQ sauce without ketchup?
Use a can of tomato paste thinned with water, then add brown sugar, cider vinegar, molasses and smoked paprika and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
When should I put BBQ sauce on chicken?
In the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking. Sweet sauces burn if they go on at the start.
