Sweet BBQ Sauce Recipe

Who doesn't love a sweet barbecue sauce? Whether you use it to top your burger, pulled pork, BBQ chicken, or as a delicious dip for French fries, having a favorite BBQ sauce that you can easily whip up is a must. Having a go-to sauce that you can make in a quick 20 minutes to provide great flavor to all your barbecue dishes is a necessity if you want to be the king of the grill and host a BBQ.

We use barbecue sauce all year, but in the summer it seems like we go through gallons of it. It can be hard to find a store-bought sauce that isn't full of high-fructose corn syrup and other additives, so we prefer to make our own. This recipe is a favorite of our whole family, and we tend to double or even triple it when we make a batch. The older members of the fam also like this Sriracha BBQ Sauce and Hot Honey BBQ Sauce, which bring a little heat.

There are many ways you can vary this great sweet BBQ sauce to your own taste buds, so make sure to read through our section on variations. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Key Ingredients:

• Tomatoes - Canned crushed tomatoes are all you need. If you have fresh tomatoes or want to use Smoked Tomatoes, you can do that too. Several BBQ sauces use ketchup as a base; I like to start from scratch with tomatoes. This is the base for the BBQ sauce.
• Apple Cider Vinegar - This is a key ingredient that helps to balance the sweetness and acidity. If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute red wine vinegar or even balsamic.
• Smoked Paprika - This is one of my favorite seasonings. It adds a great smoky richness to the sauce. 
• Sugar - This is how we get the sweetness. A combination of white sugar and brown sugar creates the sweetness in this BBQ sauce.
• Tomato Paste - Helps thicken the barbecue sauce.
• Molasses - Adds a rich sweetness and deeper flavor to the sauce.
• Worcestershire Sauce - Adds a savory flavor that balances the sweetness.
• Salt - Brings out the flavors of the other ingredients.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Sweet BBQ Sauce

There is really only one step here. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to combine. Give it a taste as you go, so if you want to change anything you can. If you are using crushed tomatoes or even whole tomatoes, use an immersion blender when you are done cooking to thoroughly blend all the ingredients. You can also use a whisk to ensure all the ingredients are combined and none of the spices or sugar have clumped up.

Substitutions

• Vinegar - If you don't have apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar can work. Balsamic will give the sauce a slightly sweeter flavor.
• Sugar - You can use all brown sugar or all white sugar if that's what you have on hand. Brown sugar gives the sauce a deeper flavor.

Variations

This is a great sauce that can easily head in different directions if you want to provide some options to your pantry. 

• Spicy - Sriracha sauce is a great way to kick up a BBQ sauce. You can also go with ground cayenne pepper or even crushed red pepper flakes to add some heat.
• Sweeter - Add some honey, maple syrup, or just more sugar if you are looking for an even sweeter sauce. 
• Fruit - Fruit is a great way to help balance the heat. Peaches and mango are a great addition to combine when kicking up some heat in the sauce. The cranberries in our Cranberry BBQ Sauce also give BBQ some tartness that will pair well with smoked turkey or grilled chicken. Or try our Apricot BBQ Sauce Recipe, which uses apricot jam.

Equipment

You'll need a medium saucepan and a whisk or spoon for stirring. An immersion blender is helpful if you prefer a completely smooth BBQ sauce.

Storage

The goal is to keep it in an airtight container. I like to use a mason jar and store it in the refrigerator. Just pop it out of the fridge anytime you use it and pop it back in when done. For best results, use the sauce within one week.

You can also freeze the sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator before using.

Common Questions

How to Use Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Sweet BBQ sauce is great when grilling BBQ chicken, Traeger Ribs, beef brisket, Smoked Wings, and burgers. You can also use it for making BBQ Chicken Flatbread or pizza.

Can I Make Sweet BBQ Sauce Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! You can make it a day or two before your cookout and keep it refrigerated until you're ready to use it. Just give it a good stir before serving.

Recipe

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