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–+ servings
Spoon scooping out BBQ sauce from glass jar.
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5 from 3 votes

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Made without ketchup and only a small amount of added sugar, this recipe for sweet and tangy Homemade BBQ sauce is not only healthier than store-bought barbecue sauce, it tastes better too!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Calories: 43kcal
Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 1 cup pineapple juice or water
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, stir together the tomato sauce, tomato paste, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, molasses, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, dry mustard, garlic, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
  • Bring to a gentle bubble over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let cook, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
  • Allow to cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

Honey: Feel free to use pure maple syrup in place of the honey. 
Pineapple Juice: 100% pineapple juice helps to sweeten the sauce. Feel free to use apple juice or water in place of the pineapple juice. Keep in mind if you use water, you need to increase the amount of honey to ½ cup to help sweeten the BBQ sauce. 
Paprika: If you don't have smoked paprika, feel free to use regular paprika.
Cayenne Pepper: Omit or reduce the cayenne to control the heat level. 
Vegan BBQ Sauce: Use vegan Worcestershire sauce and maple syrup in place of the honey.
Gluten-Free BBQ Sauce: Use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and gluten-free liquid smoke.
Sweeter BBQ Sauce: Add an additional tablespoon or two of honey as desired.
Low-Sodium BBQ Sauce: Use salt-free tomato sauce, low-sodium Worcestershire sauce, and omit the salt from the seasonings.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 43kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 231mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 362IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg