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Homemade BBQ Sauce

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This easy Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe whips up in just minutes and will keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. By making your own BBQ sauce, you get to control the ingredients and adjust the flavor to your preference. With just a handful of pantry ingredients, you’ve got a tasty sauce that is great on chicken, pork, beef, even on burgers or in quesadillas (sounds weird, I know, but it’s delicious!)

homemade bbq sauce in white bowl with pink trim on marble counter with title text "homemade bbq sauce"

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Homemade BBQ sauce is one of the easiest condiments to make at home. In fact, my daughter whipped up this batch and loved helping in the kitchen.

Making BBQ sauce and other pantry staples at home allows you to control the ingredients AND it usually winds up saving you money! This BBQ sauce recipe consists of ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, mustard powder and salt and pepper.

The best part: it really is as simple as dumping all the ingredients in a bowl and stir it up. Use your homemade BBQ sauce to make these insane Air Fryer BBQ Pork Chops!

homemade bbq sauce ingredients in clear glass bowl with child's hand adding tablespoon of paprika

If you’re wanting to avoid using brown sugar, you can use honey. Cut the measurement in half anytime you are switching to honey from a different sweetener.

homemade bbq sauce in clear glass bowl with wooden spoon

How to Use Homemade BBQ Sauce

Homemade BBQ sauce can be used the exact same way as store-bought sauce and your homemade sauce will last covered in the fridge for up to 2 months. My favorite thing to do with BBQ sauce is make freezer meals and cook them up in the crock pot.

Simply place 1 lb of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs in a gallon-size freezer bag. Top with 2 cups of your homemade BBQ sauce. Add sliced onions and green peppers if you desire. Seal the bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

To cook, place the freezer bag in your fridge overnight to thaw. Dump the whole bag in your crock pot. Cook on high for 6-8 hours or on low for 3-4 hours. Once cooked, you can remove the chicken, shred it, and add it back to the sauce. This is such an easy, hands-off, way to make shredded BBQ chicken. You can do the same with a pork roast or ribs for deliciously tender, fall apart meat.

Check out Karrie’s recipe for freezer meal Pulled Pork with a secret ingredient (Dr. Pepper!)

More Homemade Pantry Recipes

Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe

Yield: 2 1/2 Cups

Homemade BBQ Sauce

homemade bbq sauce in white bowl with red pastry brush on paisley tablecloth

Making your own BBQ sauce allows you to control the flavor and quality of ingredients. Plus, it is so easy to make your kiddos can mix it up.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Ketchup
  • 1/3 cup Brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup Apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Mustard powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined
  2. Taste and adjust to your personal preferences.
  3. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Notes

BBQ sauce flavors can be a very personal taste. If you like a more tangy sauce, feel free to increase the apple cider vinegar by one Tablespoon at a time until the flavor is to your liking. If you prefer a more Carolina mustardy flavor, increase the mustard powder to 2 or 3 teaspoons. Paprika provides the smoky flavor and brown sugar is for sweetness. Keep this in mind and you can adjust your BBQ to your personal favorite flavor.

As written, this recipe provides a BBQ sauce that is really balanced between sweet and tangy.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

40

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 20Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 125mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 0g

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By on January 28th, 2020

About Sarah

Hi, I'm Sarah. The voice behind Feast for a Fraction. I've been a penny-pincher all my life, but still have a taste for nice things. I'm here to show you that you can eat (and live) well on a budget. From recipes and DIY tips to ways to make extra money, we'll be in control of our budgets together!

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