Homemade Sweet BBQ Sauce
This homemade sweet BBQ sauce is perfectly sweet and not too overpowering. So easy and quick to make. It's great for a variety of dishes.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time25 minutes mins
Course: Dressings and Sauces
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 cups
Calories: 46kcal
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup water plus more as needed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all the ingredients to a small saucepan until combined.
Bring to a boil. Once it has come to a boil, reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 18 to 20 minutes until thickened, stirring every few minutes to ensure that the bottom doesn’t burn. As it's simmering, give it a taste and adjust ingredient quantities as needed (see notes below for guidelines).
Let cool slightly if serving immediately. If storing, let cool completely first. Enjoy!
- How to adjust the ingredient quantities to taste:
- Sweeter: Add more brown sugar.
- Thicker and sweeter: Add more molasses and ketchup, and simmer down 5 additional minutes.
- More tangy: Add more vinegar.
- Thinner: Add more water, a few tablespoons at a time.
- More flavor: Add more Worcestershire sauce or dijon mustard.
- Smokier: Add more smoked paprika or a dash of liquid smoke.
- Make ahead and storage: Let cool completely and store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezing: Let cool completely and freeze for up to 3 months in freezer-safe container or bags. Thaw in the fridge.
Substitutions and variations:
- Apple cider vinegar: Distilled white vinegar.
- Dijon mustard: regular yellow mustard.
- Dark brown sugar: Light brown sugar. Do not use granulated sugar.
Disclaimer: Nutritional values (per serving) are approximates only.
Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 46kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.02g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 74IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.3mg