Barbecue Sauce
Ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar and smoked paprika simmered for 25 minutes into a thick, sweet, smoky sauce. Twelve servings of a spoonful in 30 minutes.
Shop barbecue sauce is mostly sugar and thickener. The homemade version takes five minutes of work, then it looks after itself on the hob.
Ketchup is the base, which gives body and sweetness, and cider vinegar cuts through it. Brown sugar brings molasses depth, mustard adds a little sharpness, and smoked paprika gives the barbecue taste with no smoker.
Bring it to a bubble, then lower the heat so it simmers lazily and spits only now and then. Stir every few minutes, as the sugar will stick to the base of the pan.
The sauce is ready after about 25 minutes, when it is thick enough to coat a spoon and has darkened a shade. If your hob runs hot, check at 18 minutes. It thickens further as it cools, so do not overcook it. Add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne for heat, or a teaspoon of molasses if you want a deeper, darker flavour.
What People Ask
How long does Barbecue Sauce take to make?
About 30 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 12.
What are the key tips for making Barbecue Sauce?
Stir every few minutes. Keep it at a lazy simmer. If your hob runs hot, check at 18 minutes. Stop before it gets too thick, as it thickens when cold.
What should I serve with Barbecue Sauce?
Pulled pork; Ribs; Grilled chicken; Burgers.
How should Barbecue Sauce be stored?
Keeps in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Is Barbecue Sauce suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is dairy-free, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How to Make Barbecue Sauce
Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.
-
Put everything in a small pan and stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
-
Simmer on low heat for 25 minutes, stirring often, until thick.
-
Cool and pour into a clean jar. Keep in the fridge.
Tips That Matter
- Stir every few minutes.
- Keep it at a lazy simmer.
- If your hob runs hot, check at 18 minutes.
- Stop before it gets too thick, as it thickens when cold.
What to Serve With It
Pulled pork · Ribs · Grilled chicken · Burgers
Leftovers and Storage
Keeps in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Barbecue Sauce Nutrition Facts
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
Cooked this? Leave a review
Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
Related Recipes
More American cooking and appetizers ideas from Weekly Delight.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brown butter, a 24-hour rest and two sizes of chocolate produce cookies with crisp edges, a chewy middle and pools…
Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
Tall, tender pancakes with a tangy edge and a golden, even surface. The lumps in the batter are not a mistake — they…
Classic Smash Cheeseburger
A smash burger with lace-edged, deeply browned patties, American cheese melted to the edges and a soft toasted bun…
Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
Cocoa-based brownies with a paper-thin crackly top and a dense, fudgy middle. No chocolate to melt, no mixer needed…