Homemade BBQ Sauce

Name: Homemade BBQ Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar; 1 cup all-natural ketchup; 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar; 2 tablespoons molasses; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon dried mustard; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

By: Polly ConnerPosted: 10/4/23Updated: 6/20/25

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4.70 from 10 votes

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A little tangy, a little sweet, and a little heat. This Homemade BBQ Sauce has it all and only requires a few ingredients.

“Seriously guys, you should be trumpeting your BBQ sauce recipe from the rooftops. Since I first used this back in testing your last book, I haven’t purchased a bottle of BBQ sauce because they all SUCK in comparison to your recipe!” – JoAnn

Table of Contents

Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe

Customization: You can tailor the sauce to personal taste preferences.
Freshness: Using fresh ingredients yields a vibrant and authentic flavor.
Convenience: Like with our Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup, if you run out of the store bought, you can always make your own.
Quality Control: Homemade BBQ sauce allows people to control the quality of the ingredients they use.

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes:

Apple cider vinegar – Gives great tang and flavor, but white vinegar will work in a pinch.
Ketchup – We suggest buying all-natural or organic to avoid additives and HFCS.
Dark brown sugar – Light brown sugar will work, if you don’t have dark.
Molasses – This is the ingredient you may not have on hand. I store it in the refrigerator and it keeps a long time.

How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce

Combine Ingredients

Simply dump all the ingredients in a mixing bowl or large measuring cup. Using a fork or a whisk, combine all of the ingredients.

Cook the Sauce

Next, bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Then let it simmer on the stove for about 20 minutes over medium-low heat until it thickens.

A wooden spoon with a scoop of homemade bbq sauce on it.

Store the BBQ Sauce

Let it cool and then ladle it into a mason jar.

Refrigerate or Freeze: Depending on how long you intend to store it, you can choose to refrigerate or freeze the sauce:

Refrigeration: If you plan to use the sauce within a few weeks, store it in the refrigerator. Homemade BBQ sauce can typically last in the fridge for 2-4 weeks.
Freezing: For longer-term storage, you can freeze homemade BBQ sauce. Use an airtight, freezer-safe container. Leave some space at the top to account for expansion. BBQ sauce can be frozen for up to 3-6 months without significant loss of quality.

A full mason jar of homemade BBQ sauce with a funnel on top and a saucepan in the background.

Recipes That Use Homemade BBQ Sauce

You’ll love using your amazing homemade bbq sauce in some of these recipes from our site.

BBQ Chicken Sliders

BBQ shredded beef on a bun with corn on the cob and coleslaw on a plate.

Crock Pot BBQ Beef Sandwiches

BBQ chicken drumsticks served with crinkle cut celery and carrots.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Two pulled pork sandwiches on a plate with a small bowl of BBQ sauce on it as well.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

FAQs

It was a little tangy for our preference. Can I reduce the amount of apple cider vinegar, or do I need to add extra liquid to replace that?

You can for sure tinker with the ingredients. That’s the beauty of making condiments at home! While I haven’t done it personally, I don’t think reducing the apple cider vinegar will affect the texture outcome.

How long will homemade BBQ Sauce keep in the refrigerator?

2-4 weeks is what is recommended.

Can I freeze BBQ Sauce?

Absolutely. Use an airtight, freezer-safe container. Leave some space at the top to account for expansion. BBQ sauce can be frozen for up to 3-6 months without significant loss of quality.

More Homemade Condiments You’ll Love

A significant challenge when following a clean, real foods diet is dealing with condiments, as store-bought ones are often laden with additives and preservatives. Crafting your own condiments, whenever possible, is both healthier and more flavorful.

Try some of our other popular homemade condiments, like these:

Cilantro Lime Aioli (or Avocado Aioli) – For tacos, burritos, sandwiches.
Homemade Salad Dressings – Takes salads to the next level.
Homemade Pesto – Only 5 ingredients.
Marinara Sauce – Slow cooks all day in the crockpot.
Pizza Sauce – Fast and easy.
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce – Great with chicken nuggets or chicken meatballs.

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.