This homemade barbecue sauce recipe is so easy and made using pureed tomatoes and honey in place of ketchup and sugar.
Homemade is always better as far as I am concerned. And while I feel its perfectly fine to take shortcuts in the kitchen, making homemade versions of our favourites is something I strive to do. Not only is the freshness unmatched, but knowing the ingredients that go into our food is important to us.
This homemade barbecue sauce is made without any questionable, hard to pronounce ingredients. Just items already on hand in our pantry and fridge. I opted for some healthier swaps too in this recipe and it is so easy to make adjustments to suit our tastes.
As listed, the barbecue sauce produces a mild flavour that is not too spicy. Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your tastes!
Ingredients in Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- Pureed tomatoes
- Honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce
- Smoked paprika
- Onion powder
- Chili powder
- Cayenne pepper
Simple steps to making homemade barbecue sauce:
- Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low.
- Cover partially with a lid (you can rest the saucepan lid on a wooden spoon) to reduce splatter but still let steam escape. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the sauce has reduced to a desired consistency.
That is it, folks! It really couldn’t be easier!
Substitutions for homemade barbecue sauce
- Add more heat: you can adjust the spices in this homemade barbecue sauce to suit your own taste preferences. Add more cayenne for added heat, or use dashes of hot sauce instead.
- Brown sugar: I often use honey in this recipe to avoid refined sugar (also why I don’t use ketchup) but if you can always use brown sugar instead. Brown sugar adds a hint of molasses flavour which goes so well in barbecue sauce.
What to serve with barbecue sauce
This sauce goes well with:
- meatballs
- ribs
- grilled chicken
- pulled pork
- barbecue chicken pizza
- mozzarella sticks
- barbecue baked beans
- and so many more!
How to store barbecue sauce:
Homemade barbecue sauce should be stored in the refrigerator. Allow it come to room temperature first and then transfer it into a jar with a secure lid. Store it in the fridge.
I hope you enjoy this recipe!
-Cathy
You may also like my other homemade sauces and seasonings:
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Sweet Chili Sauce
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
- 750 ml pureed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low.
- Cover partially with a lid (you can rest the saucepan lid on a wooden spoon) to reduce splatter but still let steam escape. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the sauce has reduced to a desired consistency.
Note: Metric ingredient measurements are provided as a courtesy using a third-party calculator and are rounded to the nearest unit. The recipes provided on this site have not been tested with metric measurements and their accuracy cannot be verified.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is based on third-party calculations and is an estimate only. Accurate nutritional facts will vary based on the particular brands used, portion sizes, measurement accuracy and more.
