Kansas City-Style BBQ Sauce

Recipe from Ollie Gates

Adapted by Jed Portman

Updated October 13, 2025

  • Kate Sears for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Chris Lanier.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
10 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
5(23)
Comments
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This isn’t exactly the barbecue sauce that Gates Bar-B-Q, a Kansas City institution, serves at its five locations in Missouri and Kansas and sells in supermarkets. But it’s as close a recipe as Ollie Gates, the 93-year-old owner, is willing to give up. “It’s close enough,” he said. Like the original, this version uses ketchup and apple cider vinegar as its foundation, and it’s warm with red pepper and perfumed with cumin and celery seed. It tastes like Kansas City tradition, from before the rise of sweeter “Kansas City-style” bottled sauces like KC Masterpiece. “Some people say it’s sweet,” Mr. Gates said. “It’s sweet when you first taste it. Then it blossoms in your mouth, and then the heat comes.” —Jed Portman

Featured in: Is Kansas City Still the Barbecue Capital of America?

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Ingredients

Yield:About 3 cups

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

  • 1 ½ teaspoons celery seeds

  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground red pepper or cayenne pepper

  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder

  • ¾ teaspoon chili powder

  • 2 cups ketchup

  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar

  • ¼ teaspoon high-quality hickory-flavored liquid smoke, such as Wright’s

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

32 grams carbs; 125 calories; 1 gram fiber; 739 milligrams sodium; 1 gram protein; 26 grams sugar

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 large bowl and mix well. Serve warmed (on the stovetop or in the microwave) or at room temperature. The sauce will keep for up to 1 month in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
23 user ratings
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Comments

jduncan

I've had the Gates BBQ... very delicious! This recipe is similar to my own version. I add about 1/4 cup of espresso, and a shot of Jack Daniels.

Pc

Use brown sugar and or molasses for deeper flavor.

A. Cooke

Add lemon peel

Zach

Kansas city native here, loved this but just tweaked it a bit by adding about a tablespoon of strong, ground black pepper and swapped the white sugar for brown sugar and topping up the sweetness with maple to my taste. I also heated it to a low simmer for 5 minutes before putting in a jar.

Asher Zelig Ben Menashah

I make Ollie's sauce for Pesach when I smoke a brisket or rolled chuck roast. Very excellent real KC sauce; not too sweet with a nice kick.

HMM

You have good instincts. The recipe should include 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice.

Northern Illinois Gal

Very similar to what I make, but I use dark brown sugar instead of regular, and black pepper instead of cumin. Bring to a boil, then simmer until reduced and thick. My favorite BBQ style.

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Credits

Adapted from Ollie Gates, Gates Bar-B-Q, Kansas City, Mo.

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