Homemade BBQ Sauce

By John Willoughby

Updated Feb. 9, 2024

Homemade BBQ Sauce
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
5(4,097)
Comments
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Smoked paprika is the secret weapon in this simple barbecue sauce, which goes beautifully with pork and chicken. If you’re painting the sauce onto cooking meat, thin it out with water to about a one-to-one ratio, which will keep the sugars from burning too quickly over the fire. Serve the full-strength stuff alongside the finished meat.

Featured in: Mixed Grill, the American Way

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Ingredients

Yield:About 1½ cups
  • ⅔cup ketchup
  • ½cup cider vinegar
  • ¼cup brown sugar
  • 2teaspoons pimentón (smoked Spanish paprika)
  • 1teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (3 servings)

117 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 29 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 23 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 492 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
4,097 user ratings
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Comments

David Blackwell

I would not change a thing. Except split the ½ cup cider to be ¼ cup cider + ¼ cup bourbon. Very good as a general cooking sauce. It is also a great way to take leftover grilled flank steak (or any cut of steak or pork), place it in the bottom of a slow cooker, pour this sauce over, and heat on high for two hours, or low for three or more. It becomes a very easy pulled steak or pork bbq sandwich.

So - I guess I did change a thing...

Erich Hayner

As almost everyone who has commented here has said, make your BBQ sauce YOUR BBQ sauce! I have never made the stuff the same way twice and never will. Experiment! One of the most admired sauces I have ever made consisted of blackberry puree and jam instead of ketchup. Rummage people!

Kevin Osinski

Sauce was good, particularly if, as suggested, you add some spicy paprika or cayenne. I wasn't so fond of it diluted and used as a mop, however. Thinning by 1:1 made it too dilute and flavorless. One part water to two parts sauce might be a better ratio.

Kerri

Delicious and easy.

Jim N

As much as have a couple of go to BBQ sauces ( a couple for ribs, a favorite Piedmont style for pulled BBQ pork and one for my brisket (sorry Texans, I do put a little and I stress little bit of sauce on my brisket) this one is very good and quick. Most of my sauces take some time but this is quick and works for most things. I like the fact it is not too sweet and is slightly vinegar forward but not so much it can be used on ribs. In a pinch it would even do for pulled pork.

susan in Austin

I riffed off on Bob Morgen's 8 year old comment: "...1/4 cup soy sauce and 1/4 cup rice vinegar (or cider) in place of the 1/2 cup vinegar. Place all of the ingredients in a blender with a small red onion and a couple of garlic cloves." Those ingredients and method, only adding 2/3 c sriracha ketchup. Nothing else, and no cooking. It was heaven in a blender and on my pork ribs this 2026 NY Day, to go along with my black-eyed peas and cornbread lunch.

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