• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Frugal
  • Resources
  • About
  • Shop
  • Subscribe

BeeyondCereal logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Frugal
  • Resources
  • About
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Frugal
    • Resources
    • About
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Butters and Spreads

    Published: Sep 3, 2021 by Nicole This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    promotional graphic for Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce

    Making your own homemade barbecue sauce is easier than you may think. With a few minutes of your time, you can have a flavorful sauce perfect for any meal or occasion.

    a jar filled with homemade bbq sauce and a messy bowl of sauce in the background next to a green leaf plant

    Have you ever planned dinner to taste one way only to realize you were missing the main ingredient, like the sauce? I can't count how many times I picture something already being in the pantry and plan a meal around it only to realize it's gone when I go to actually cook the meal.

    Thankfully homemade barbecue sauces like this one have come in handy just as many times. Trust me when I say it makes everything taste even better. Try it with these Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breasts or Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs and see what I mean!

    Why This Recipe Works

    1. Basic ingredients. It's so easy to take a few basic staples and cook them into a flavorful sauce. Most of the ingredients needed are probably in your own home already.
    2. The steps are easy. All you need to do to make this BBQ sauce from ketchup is measure, boil, and whisk. Easy enough, right?
    3. Flavorful possibilities. You can use this sauce on everything from chicken to Instant Pot Beef Back Ribs and still enjoy every bite.
    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🍽 Equipment Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 📖 Variations
    • 💭 FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe
    labeled ingredients needed to make barbecue sauce

    🥘 Ingredients

    Ketchup- This will be the base of our sauce, as most bbq sauces tend to be tomato based.

    Water- Adding in just enough to help us get the right consistency.

    Brown sugar- You can use regular granulated sugar if you don't have brown sugar, but the depth of flavor from the molasses really makes the sauce taste great.

    Onion- Any onion will do, but I prefer yellow, white, or sweet onions.

    Worchestershire sauce- This stuff adds a depth of flavor that you're going to love!

    Vinegar- You can use any vinegar, but I prefer apple cider vinegar.

    Lemon juice- Add in a little lemon juice to help freshen the taste.

    Mustard- Adding in mustard will help to cut down on the sweetness a little.

    Salt and Pepper- Keep the seasonings simple and basic with just some salt and pepper.

    For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.

    🍽 Equipment Needed

    BeeyondCereal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Whisk
    • Medium-sized pot

    🔪 Instructions

    Check out how to make an easy homemade barbecue sauce with these simple step-by-step instructions:

    Add the onions and water to a pot over medium heat and cook for about 3 minutes until softened.

    diced onions and water in a pot
    cooked diced onions and water in a pot

    Add in the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.

    whisk in a pot with mustard seasonings water and cooked onions
    diced onions and brown liquid in a pot with a w shik

    Whisk in the ketchup, continue to whisk until boiling, and then reduce the heat to medium-low.

    ketchup added to a pot with a whisk and brown onion mixture
    whisk in a pot with ketchup based barbecue sauce

    Allow the sauce to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until thickened.

    Remove from heat and let cool. Use as desired.

    a ball mason jar filled with homemade bbq sauce with a green leaf plant in the background

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    Making this easy BBQ sauce is pretty simple and straightforward, so there are not too many tips to share.

    Every batch will make enough for multiple uses or layers of sauce if you like to apply it thickly.

    Keep in mind that at the beginning of the cooking process, it will smell more like tomatoes thanks to the ketchup, and as it cooks, the tomato flavor and smell will become toned down and lend together better with everything that we have going on.

    📖 Variations

    Adding in ¼-1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke can really take the flavors up a notch.

    If you want the ketchup BBQ sauce to be blended smoothly, simply take it and add it to a food processor in batches to puree until smooth. This is optional and not necessary.

    💭 FAQs

    How long is homemade BBQ sauce good for?

    This sauce can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or it can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

    Is BBQ sauce vegan?

    This recipe, as written, is not vegan friendly because Worcestershire sauce is traditionally made with anchovies. You can use a vegan-friendly soy sauce in its place though. That would make this recipe vegan-friendly!

    Can bbq sauce be used as a marinade?

    Yes, this sauce could be used as a marinade for meats. Simply place thawed meat into the cooled sauce in a covered container for up to 4-6 hours in the fridge, or place meat and sauce in a sealed container in the freezer for up to a few weeks. Thaw overnight in the fridge and then cook as desired.

    a spoon holding a scoop of sauce over a mason jar filled with bbq sauce

    More great butter and spread recipes to try

    • Maple Bacon Dip
    • Sugar Free Blueberry Jam
    • Copycat Texas Roadhouse Butter
    • Sugar Free Strawberry Jam
    • Not So Smoked Trout Dip
    • Creamy Vanilla Fruit Dip

    📖 Recipe

    a hand holding a spoon of sauce above a jar filled with barbecue sauce
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Easy Homemade Barbecue Sauce

    Making your own homemade barbecue sauce is easier than you may think. With a few minutes of your time, you can have a flavorful sauce perfect for any meal or occasion.
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 291kcal
    Cost Recipe $1.52
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Whisk
    • Medium-sized pot

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups ketchup ($0.80)
    • ½ cup water ($0.00)
    • ½ cup brown sugar ($0.19)
    • ½ cup diced onion ($0.35)
    • 2 tablespoon Worchestershire Sauce ($0.20)
    • 2 tablespoon vinegar ($0.08)
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice ($0.08)
    • 2 tablespoon mustard ($0.04)
    • ½ teaspoon pepper ($0.05)
    • ½ teaspoon salt ($0.05)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Add the onions and water to a pot over medium heat and cook for about 3 minutes until softened.
    • Add in the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
    • Whisk in the ketchup, continue to whisk until boiling, and then reduce the heat to medium-low.
    • Allow the sauce to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes or until thickened.
    • Remove from heat and let cool. Use as desired.

    Notes

    Recipe Tips

    • Every batch will make enough for multiple uses or layers of sauce if you like to apply it thickly. Keep in mind that at the beginning of the cooking process it will smell more like tomatoes thanks to the ketchup and as it cooks the tomato flavor and smell will become toned down and lend together better with everything that we have going on.
    • Adding in ¼-1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke can really take the flavors up a notch.
    • If you want the ketchup BBQ sauce to be blended smooth simply take it and add it to a food processor in batches to puree until smooth. This is optional and not necessary.

    Storage

    • This sauce can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 71.3g | Protein: 0.3g | Sodium: 1568.5mg | Potassium: 150.9mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 60.6g | Vitamin A: 240.5IU | Vitamin C: 15.1mg | Calcium: 39.7mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course sauce
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

    More Butters and Spreads

    • creamy vanilla fruit dip in a bowl with fresh and frozen fruits on top
      Creamy Vanilla Fruit Dip
    • a bowl of fresh tomato jalapeno salsa with chips and jalapenos to the sides
      Tomato Jalapeno Salsa
    • a close up view of a bowl filled with maple bacon dip
      Maple Bacon Dip
    • a spoon holding up a bit of strawberry jam above a jar
      Sugar Free Strawberry Jam

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Nicole from Beeyond Cereal

    I'm Nicole and I am the owner and recipe developer here at Beeyond Cereal. I love saving money and one of the best places to trim expenses is in the kitchen. With this site, we are serving up tasty and frugal homemade dishes that the whole family will enjoy.

    More About Me →

    Trending NOW

    • two bbq chicken thighs on a plate with more on a baking dish in the background
      Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
    • roasted chicken, carrots and potatoes in a baking dish with a sprig of rosemary on top
      Roasted Whole Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots
    • a close up of taquitos enchiladas in a bowl with a board filled with toppings in background
      20 Minute Lazy Enchiladas
    • an upclose view of honey lemon pepper wings on a plate
      Honey Lemon Pepper Wings

    Seasonal Recipes

    • bunny biscuits on a baking sheet
      Easy Easter Bunny Biscuits
    • an upclose view of a mug filled with easter egg hot chocoalte and topped with whipped cream and sprinkles
      Easter Egg Hot Chocolate
    • an upclose view of easter confetti cake with easter peeps and candies
      Easter Confetti Cake
    • a plate filled with mini egg fudge pieces
      Easter Mini Eggs Fudge

    As Seen In

    parade yummyle foodgawker the pioneer woman

    Footer

    ↑ Back to Top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Public Sharing Policy
    • Pricing Disclosure

    Follow

    • Sign Up! for emails
    • Follow on Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram
    • Follow on Pinterest

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Beeyond Cereal --Brunch Pro Theme by Feast Design Co.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Save & Accept