A traditional American barbecue sauce is a delicious mixture of tangy and sweetness, which is used to marinate and coat many protein options. Although the marketplace is saturated with a plethora of bottled BBQ sauce options, there’s nothing better than a homemade barbecue sauce. Just ask my family. Come on in, and let me share my basic barbecue sauce recipe, which will wow any dish every time.
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Inspiration Behind the Homemade Basic Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Whenever possible we prefer to cook from scratch. There are some things which are just more convenient to buy premade and not worth the hassle to make at home. BBQ sauce might fall into that category for many, but I’m here to tell you homemade barbecue sauce makes a world of difference.
Although store bought BBQ sauce is convenient and can be delicious in its own right, it still contains many preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. By making a homemade classic barbecue sauce you can control exactly what you put into your body.
Recipe for the Basic Barbecue Sauce
This is a classic American BBQ sauce which can be paired with so many dishes. It’s super versatile with the perfect combination of sweetness and tanginess.
Cooking Pro Tip: The fresher the ingredients are, the better the end result of any dish.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup catsup
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco
- S&P to taste
Tools
- Grater
- Sauce Pan
Cooking Pro Tip: Always read a recipe all the way through before starting. Then re-read the recipe and assemble all your ingredients so you are fully prepared, knowing all the things you need (ingredients and tools included).
Instructions
- Read entire recipe and assemble all your ingredients and tools
- Grate onion
- Mince garlic
- Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat
- Add onion and garlic and sauté until soften (2-3 minutes; don’t let garlic brown since it becomes bitter)
- Add water and remaining ingredients
- Mix well
- Simmer for 30 minutes on medium-low heat, mixing occasionally
- Allow to cool before handling with food
- Bon Appetit! Enjoy your homemade BBQ sauce with your protein of choice
Tips & Tricks for a Classic BBQ Sauce Recipe
This recipe is fairly easy and quick to make. The hardest part is grating the onion. The grating process generates onion juice, which can be irritating to the eyes, more so than regular chopped onions. Keep this in mind. The consistency of the grated onion is key to the texture and formulation of the barbecue sauce, making it a necessary evil.
When you sauté the garlic and onion make sure it’s quick for 2 to 3 minutes. You do not want the garlic to start to brown since it can become bitter at that point. You simply want to sauté the garlic and onion to soften them and meld with the melted butter creating a base for the sauce.
We’ve used this BBQ sauce on ribs, boneless chicken and chicken on the bone. It would be great with pulled pork or can even be used as a dipping sauce for french fries and chicken nuggets. If you are on a plant based diet, it would be great for tofu as well. You won’t be disappointed in the depth of flavor.
I’m telling you, after trying this recipe, you’ll want to skip the store-bought stuff! Homemade barbecue sauce is delicious, incredibly versatile, and oh-so easy to make with pantry staples. Trust me, you’ll want to pin this recipe. A simple American classic, which adds great zing to so many dishes.
Closing Thoughts
Do you BBQ once the weather starts to warm up? Here in California we actually barbecue all year round. And my father-in-law would BBQ back in New York in the snow so there’s no excuses. lol.
The weather in Northern California is very spring like, and I am looking forward to more outdoor time. I am looking forward to start playing in the garden and blurring our outdoor and indoor living spaces. There’s plenty of springtime content coming to the blog. See you soon!
Shop the BBQ Sauce Recipe Look
- Grater
- Saucier Pan
- Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Glass Measuring Cups
- Wooden Spoon
- Natural Basting Brush
- Set Stainless Steel Basting Brushes
- Silicone Basting Brush
Basic BBQ Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Garter
- 1 Saucier Pan
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 each Yellow Onion
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 2 cups Water
- 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
- 4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 4 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 4 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 cup catsup
- 1 tsp Tabasco
- 1 taste Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Read entire recipe and assemble all your ingredients and tools
- Grate onion
- Mince garlic
- Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat
- Add onion and garlic and sauté until soften
- Add water and remaining ingredients
- Mix well
- Simmer for 30 minutes on medium-low heat, mixing occasionally
- Allow to cool before handling with food
- Bon Appetit! Enjoy your homemade BBQ sauce with your protein of choice
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Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.”
Anthony Bourdain