Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe Recipe
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is easy to make, in just 25 minutes! It's deep and smoky, tangy, sweet with a little bit of heat. Vegan, gluten-free adaptable!
How to Make the Best Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
There’s something deeply satisfying about making your own homemade BBQ sauce from scratch. This recipe delivers all the bold, smoky flavors you crave—tangy, sweet, and just a touch of heat—without any of the artificial ingredients found in store-bought versions. In just 30 minutes, you’ll have a rich, deeply flavored sauce that rivals anything you’d find at a barbecue joint.
The secret to this BBQ sauce’s incredible depth of flavor lies in the aromatic base of slowly caramelized shallots and garlic, combined with smoked paprika and toasted tomato paste. These simple steps create layers of complexity that elevate this sauce far beyond the ordinary. Whether you prefer it mild or want to kick up the heat with chipotle powder or cayenne, this recipe is endlessly customizable to suit your taste.
Use this versatile sauce on grilled chicken, pulled pork, ribs, burgers, or even as a dipping sauce for fries and onion rings. Once you’ve tasted homemade BBQ sauce, you’ll never want to go back to the bottled stuff again.
Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is easy to make, in just 25 minutes! It's deep and smoky, tangy, sweet with a little bit of heat. Vegan, gluten-free adaptable!
Ingredients
BBQ Sauce
Optional Additions
Instructions
Make the BBQ Sauce
- Finely chop shallot and garlic, or mince in a food processor.
- Heat oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Add shallot and garlic and sauté, stirring continuously for 3-4 minutes. Turn heat down to medium-low, and cook until they are deeply golden, fragrant and softened, about 5 more minutes.
- Add thyme, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and tomato paste. Sauté one minute to brown the tomato paste (this adds depth). Add broth, vinegar, soy sauce, and scrape up any browned bits. Add molasses, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
- Simmer gently, uncovered, for about 10 minutes, letting it reduce slightly, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
- Taste and adjust salt, vinegar and sweetness to your liking. If it lacks depth, add salt, more soy sauce, or even a little miso paste. Add more brown sugar to taste.
- To add smoky heat, add a little chipotle powder to taste, or the adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers one tablespoon at a time, or cayenne to taste.
- For extra smoky flavor, add liquid smoke, ¼ teaspoon at a time to desired effect. (Usually about 1 teaspoon works well.)
- Store in a sealed jar in the fridge.
Notes
- This sauce is vegan and can be made gluten-free by using tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- The BBQ sauce will keep in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- For a smoother sauce, blend it with an immersion blender after cooking.
