Name: Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: ½ cup dark brown sugar (packed); ⅓ cup ketchup (regular Heinz ketchup works best); ¼ cup Dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder; Salt and pepper (to taste)

Wait what…you can make barbecue sauce at home in just a few minutes without having to cook it? Yes, I said it. My barbecue sauce recipe is crazy easy to whip up, and will fool anyway into thinking you spent hours making it (or you bought it at the best smokehouse around).

This homemade BBQ sauce is rich and velvety, with molasses-like sweetness (without being too sweet), brightened by a good dose of tang and touch of umami. Smoked paprika and chipotle powder bring that smoke with a gentle kick of heat.

I’ve actually considered bottling and selling this sauce, it’s so good! Slather it on Grilled Chicken Thighs, on top of a Smash Burger, or dunk fries into it. You’re going to want it on everything…

Why You’ll Love This BBQ Sauce Recipe

This homemade barbecue sauce is the best I’ve had, with no yucky fillers that you’ll find in a lot of storebought versions. Here’s why you’ll love it too:

SO easy: we’re talking 5 minutes to make, with no cooking and no mess.
Balanced: this BBQ sauce is sweet yet not too sweet, tangy, smoky, and a little spicy.
Versatile: use it a zillion ways (almost!), from on top of Grilled Chicken Breast to a dipping sauce for crispy Smashed Potatoes.
Not too thick, but not too thin: this sauce is thick enough to be a dipping sauce but thin enough to easily spread on top of your protein of choice.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Let’s talk about the ingredients you need to make the easiest, yet most delicious homemade BBQ sauce (and variations in case you want to change things up):

BBQ sauce ingredients laid out on a blue and white dish towel

Dark brown sugar – dark brown sugar adds a touch of molasses flavor, while sweetening and thickening. You can use light brown sugar if that’s what you have on-hand. Don’t worry…this barbecue sauce isn’t too sweet!
Ketchup – ketchup adds a touch more sweetness but most importantly, it adds tomato undertones while thickening the sauce up. Regular Heinz ketchup achieves the best flavor.
Dijon mustard – for a tangy, creamy bite, Dijon is the hero. You can use regular yellow mustard but your BBQ sauce won’t be quite as complex!
Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire = umami! A little sweet, a little savory with a touch of acidity is exactly what Worcestershire is delivering.
Apple cider vinegar – apple cider vinegar has just the right level of tang while still adding complexity. If you don’t have it, feel free to use white wine vinegar as a substitute.
Smoked paprika – we need smokiness for that classic BBQ sauce flavor, and smoked paprika gives us just that!
Onion powder – since we aren’t cooking this BBQ sauce, onion powder is the way to go over chopped onion.
Garlic powder – garlic powder is super easy to use, but you can also use fresh, grated garlic if preferred.
Chipotle powder – chipotle powder is the secret ingredient! It has a rich smoky flavor with moderate heat. Don’t like heat? Just use smoked paprika! Like more heat? Add more chipotle powder or some cayenne!

How to Make BBQ Sauce

You won’t believe how easy this barbecue sauce is to make. It literally takes 5 minutes!

Add. Add all of the ingredients in a bowl.
Whisk. Whisk the ingredient together rapidly for about 1 minute.

Close up of barbecue sauce in a bowl with a spoon

Enjoy! Let the flavors meld together for 30 minutes (if time allows) or enjoy right away.

How to Use Homemade Barbecue Sauce

This sauce is finger-lickin’ good and can be used in SO many different ways, from slathered on chicken to mixed into pulled pork or as a dipping sauce for fries! Here are my favorite ways:

As a finishing glaze on ribs, Grilled Chicken Thighs, Baked Salmon, Baked Pork Chops, and burnt ends
Mixed into meats like Pulled Pork or for extra flavor on top of Homemade Baked Beans
As a condiment for chicken tenders, fries, Smashed Potatoes, or Coconut Shrimp
As a spread for a Grilled Chicken Sandwich or a Smash Burger

Grilled chicken with homemade barbecue sauce on it

How to Store Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Absolutely yes…you can make BBQ sauce ahead! Here are my tips for storage:

To store: store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
To freeze: store up to 4 months in the freezer, thawing overnight in the fridge before enjoying chilled, room temp, or warmed.