How to Make Barbecue Sauce (Including 14 Deeeelicious Recipes!) (2024)

You NEED to learn how to make barbecue sauce. Because it is an essential condiment for ANY cookout!

It can take some baby back ribs from great to INSANELY delicious!

There are tonnes of BBQ sauce recipes, variations, and styles out there.

Nearly every backyard pit master has their own secret recipe. That they protect better than their own children.

I have my own recipe, however I am open to share my IT! I encourage people to use it, hell even add your own flare to it. After all, that is how we improve things, isn’t it?

In this article we will cover some of the different BBQ sauce styles from Alabama white sauce to Texas style! Then finish off my with my secret barbecue sauce recipe!

Table of contents

That’s right you read that correctly. White BBQ Sauce. This beauty was created back in 1925 by a man who goes by the name of Bob Gibson.

This sauce was first made by Bob to go with his famous backyard BBQ chicken and was never intended to be used on pork or beef. The zesty, creamy sauce is perfect for chicken. However, nowadays you see the sauce as a side for everything from pretzels to grilled fish.

The white consistency comes from its main ingredient, mayonnaise. Like every BBQ sauce, there are a million different variations out there now, but a basic recipe for this sauce is:

Ingredients
1 clove of crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon finely ground cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 tablespoon powdered garlic

Method
In a medium sized bowl whisk together all the ingredients. You can use this sauce right away, however for a better flavour it is best to make a day in advance and chill in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before serving.

A lot of Americans out there these days are looking for healthy alternatives for classic meals, sides, and condiments. Unfortunately, BBQ sauce does not escape this. However, that is not necessarily a bad thing, is it? barbecue sauce without ketchup in the recipe is actually quite a good thing. Ketchup is loaded with un necessary salt, sugar and other additives.

If it gets the wife excited about BBQ I’m all in! This all natural BBQ sauce recipe takes a little longer than some of the others and is not a sauce that you can just decide to whip up for dinner, some of the ingredients do take time to prepare.

Ingredients
40g chopped onion
40g sun-dried tomatoes (soaked overnight)
120g dates (soaked overnight)
1/4 teaspoon smoked Chipotle powder
1 small garlic clove minced
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 tablespoon Tamari sauce
2 medium roasted tomatoes
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
liquid smoke

Method
The evening before you want to use this sauce, soak your dates in 1 cup of fresh water and your sun-dried tomatoes in 1/2 a cup of fresh water. Remember to keep all the liquid for the blending process.

The next day, preheat your oven to 350˚F and roast your tomatoes until the skins darken. You want to rotate them a couple of times throughout the cook. This should take around 1 hour. Once cooled peel the skins and remove the seeds

In a sauce pan heat your olive oil and brown your garlic and chopped onion.

Combine your garlic and onion mixture in a blender with all other remaining ingredients and blend. If there is not enough moisture add in the soaking liquid from the sun-dried tomatoes and dates.

Once blended add the mixture back in the sauce pan and cook over a low heat until the water evaporates and the sauce starts to thicken.

Carolina BBQ sauce is a vinegar and mustard based sauce that is considered the mother of all the American barbecue sauces. It is a spicy and vinegary sauce that does not include any tomatoes, instead opting for (usually) cider vinegar.

This is a very thin sauce and is mainly used to soak/ baste pork as it slowly cooks over an open flame. Some of the earlier recipes used ingredients such as oysters for a unique saltiness.

Ingredients
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon of ground pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 cups apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Method
First place all of your ingredients in a sauce pan

Cook down over a medium heat, stirring often.

Bring to a boil and whisk until the salt and sugar and completely dissolved. Once dissolved remove from the heat immediately.

Let sauce cool to room temperature and store in a jar. Before using this sauce it is best to refrigerate and shake well.

The South Carolina BBQ sauce is another sauce that is a thin, mustard based sauce. It again it is of German descent and has a nice punch of hot sauce and mustard.

This sauce is perfect for pulled pork, however, has found its way into grilled chicken in my household. Typically I will use a little less mustard than in this recipe and a little more hot sauce.

Ingredients
1 teaspoon hot sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1/4 apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup honey
3/4 cup prepared yellow mustard

Method
Simple whisk all ingredients together in a bowl.

For the best flavor make this sauce a day or two in advance, store in a jar in the refrigerator and shake very well before using.

Ingredients
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup apple butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 1/2 cups tomato ketchup

Method
In a saucepan add all ingredients except the lemon juice and simmer until all ingredients are well combined and the sugar has melted.

Bring off the heat and whisk in the lemon juice.

Place in a jar and refrigerate overnight and shake well before using.

Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon creamy peanut butter
1 cup tomato juice
1–1 1/2 cups brown sugar

Method
In a saucepan add all ingredients except the tomato juice and simmer until all ingredients are well combined and the sugar and peanut butter have melted.

Bring off the heat and whisk in the tomato juice.

Place in a jar and refrigerate overnight and shake well before using.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup hot sauce
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

Method
Add all ingredients to a blender and mix well.

Once well blended, place in a well sealed jar and refrigerate overnight.

Shake well before serving.

The Texas BBQ sauce is a tomato based sauce that has a nice little bit of heat and sweetness. They are often a thicker, more sticky sauce that is perfect for dipping, marinating and grilling.

My favorite thing to have with Texas style BBQ sauce is pulled pork.. or ribs.. or chicken wings.. to be honest, there s not much I don’t enjoy Texas Style sauce with. It’s just to dang good!​

Charlie’s Hot Tip
We all love BBQ sauce but you may want to try a dry rub. It really penetrates the meat and can bring out some delicious flavors! I’ve put together a list of my thepork BBQ rubs(pork is my top choice for smoking, if you hadn’t guessed)

Ingredients
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons molasses

Method
Add all ingredients to a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat for 30 minutes. Be sure to stir throughout the simmer.

Remove from the heat and transfer into a jar. Serve immediately or let cool to room temperature and refrigerate. Be sure to shake well before use.

There is one thing that a Tennessee BBQ sauce must have. I think you can already guess what that is. It’s whiskey.

No Tennessee BBQ sauce is complete without it (in mine and many other opinions). Many people add in liquid smoke to give this recipe a lot of extra smoky flavor. I personally don’t like liquid smoke too much and don’t use it unless there is not BBQ, grill or smoker in sight.​

Ingredients
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon Tabasco
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 cup of your favorite whiskey
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2/3 cup ketchup
2 – 3 drops of liquid smoke (if you have too)

Method
In a saucepan heat the canola oil. Saute the onion until translucent.

Get your favorite whiskey and deglaze the pan with a good glug (and a good glug for yourself). With a wooden spoon scrape the pan down and remove any pieces of onion from the pot. Add in the rest of your ingredients and whisk together.

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and leave for 20 minutes.

Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Use immediately or place into a jar and refrigerate. Always shake thoroughly before use.

​​St Louis Style BBQ sauce is known to be tangier than most other BBQ sauces. It also has one of the thinnest consistencies of all BBQ sauces.

Unlike most BBQ sauces St Louis is one the few that doesn’t have liquid smoke in it.

Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 cups Ketchup

Method
Add all ingredients to a saucepan and stir over a low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer for 30 minutes

Let cool to room temperature and place in a jar. This sauce is best used a couple of days after making it so its best to let sit in the refrigerator for a couple of days before use. Shake well before using.

Ingredients
1/2 cup yellow ballpark-style mustard
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup steak sauce
1/4 cup dark molasses
1/4 cup of honey (or more for a sweeter taste)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 finely chopped medium onion
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons chili flakes
2 cups ketchup
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 medium garlic cloves crushed

Method
In a bowl mix together the salt, pepper and chili powder. In a separate bowl mix together brown sugar, honey, hot sauce, ketchup, lemon juice, mustard, molasses, steak sauce, vinegar, and Worcestershire.

In a large saucepan add the oil and heat over a medium heat. Add your onions and saute until translucent. Add your crushed garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Add in your dry spice mix and cook for a further minute until combined well. Add the combination of wet ingredients and simmer on a medium heat for 20 minutes.

Use immediately or cool to room temperature and place in a jar. It’s best to refrigerate for a couple of days and then use. Make sure you shake well before use.

​Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon Tabasco
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup mustard
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Method​
In a large saucepan add all ingredients and gently simmer over a low – medium heat for 30 minutes.

Best used a day or two after making. Cool to room temperature and place in a jar inside the refrigerator for a couple of days. Shake before using.

Everyone needs his own go-to BBQ sauce recipe.It’s important to have the base down where you can make it at the drop of a hat and adjust it according to the situation, what you are cooking or who you are cooking for.

This basic BBQ sauce recipe is made from everyday ingredients that you should find in your cupboard. Every backyard BBQ-er should know how to make a BBQ sauce from scratch!

Every year more & more Americans are becoming more health & conscious. More & more brands are finding unique ways to keep up with the current health trends and to be honest I think this is a really good thing. It is great to see brands supplying the demand!

My wife dabbles in vegan foods and condiments, and over the years we have found these vegan BBQ sauces to be really great.