Smoky Sweet and Tangy Barbecue Sauce

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this smoky sweet and tangy barbecue sauce is incredibly easy to make and versatile – once you try it you’ll want to use this sauce all the time! 

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I have been making this smoky sweet and tangy barbecue sauce for as long as I can remember. The recipe came from my mom and I can tell you she has no idea where it came from. I’m sure we’ve tweaked it over the years too.

Better than anything I have found in the bottle, and so easy to make, this 7 ingredient sauce takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish.  It is great to make ahead and refrigerate; it should keep for a few weeks (probably even more).

I love this barbecue sauce. Since I started making it, I almost never buy store bought.

But you guys know, sometimes life happens, and a bottle of store bought is all I can muster.

I use Liquid Smoke in this recipe to give the sauce that slow cooked barbecue flavor.  It adds a deep smoky flavor to the sauce, so even if you don’t use a grill, you will still get a touch of that smoky flavor.

Liquid smoke is awesome guys. Especially if you enjoy condo living (or are just stuck with it) and don’t always have access to a grill to get that nice smoky flavor.

But beware, it can be intense so you only need a little bit.

The ingredients are really quite simple.  It takes me 5 minutes (not even) to measure everything out and get it ready to “cook.” Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat and stir until butter is melted. Continue to stir until sauce starts to bubble. Then you’re done.

I mean guys, come on. There is no excuse to not make your sauce from scratch. You know I’m a bit lot lazy, and I don’t even mind making this sauce. It is so much better than store bought, I can’t even compare.

And it’s prefect for chicken. Ooooh, and ribs. And beef, and pork, and potatoes. Yes potatoes. Really, guys, this stuff is good on everything. Try it on a burger. I haven’t done this yet, but I’ll bet it’s tasty!

Now that you’re on a sauce kick, check out some of these other awesome sauce recipes:

Bacon Chipotle Avocado Sauce

Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce

Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

This Homemade Barbecue Sauce might just be the best you will ever have! It's smoky, sweet, tangy and comes together in just 5 minutes! 

5 from 4 votes

Print Rate

Course: sauce

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 164kcal

Author: Danielle Wolter

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons liquid smoke

Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat and stir until butter is melted. 
• Continue to stir until sauce starts to bubble. Remove from heat and let cool. Transfer to a jar with a lid for storing.

Expert Tips:

1. Be sure to continue stirring so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan;
2. Add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper if you'd like a little spice in your sauce;
3. Add a whole chipotle crushed chipotle pepper in adobo sauce for more spice and a deeper flavor to the sauce;
4. For a tangier sauce, add in a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar;
5. Store it in a covered container in the fridge for about 10 days;
6. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Keep in mind the consistency may change slightly when using previously frozen sauce. 

Nutrition

Serving: 0.13cups | Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 336IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

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