Sweet and Spicy Homemade Bar-B-Q Sauce
I am so excited about this bar-b-q sauce! For the last couple years I have been looking for a sweet and spicy sauce that is similar to the one I like at the grocery store. There is just something about being able to make something from scratch that really appeals to me. For one thing, you know exactly what is in it. And the best thing is, you can customize it to your tastes. Anyway, I have tried so many only to be disappointed that it didn’t taste like I thought it was going to. Until now. This is it! It is sweet, smoky, spicy, rich, and thick. I just love it!
Bar-B-Q sauce is so easy to make! You can have this made in 20 minutes. Basically you just dump all of the ingredients into a pan and simmer for a short time so they can meld together and thicken a little bit. There is something that is so satisfying to me about putting a bunch of items together, and having the result be something entirely different (and delicious)! I get the same feeling when I make soup or granola or mud pies. Actually, I haven’t made mud pies for a long time (since I was about 4), but I remember it was very fun.
I realize bar-b-q sauce is very personal. The kind you like may very well be due to where you were raised. I was born in Arizona, so spice has always been a part of my life. And I have a huge sweet tooth, so that is probably why I love this sauce. Another reason I like it is because it is not overly tangy. Most of the ones I tried before this were tangy, and it just wasn’t what I was looking for. This sauce is very similar to Bullseye Original Bar-B-Q sauce so if you are a fan of that brand you probably would like this one.
This sauce is great to have on hand for all kinds of things. I think my favorite way to use it is on grilled chicken. My hope is to use it as a sauce for pulled pork or shredded beef sandwiches. I also think it would make a great gift for a new neighbor or a housewarming present. If you love spicy and/or sweet bar-b-q sauce, or you really liked making mud pies as a kid, I highly recommend you give this one a try. Just be sure to leave out the sticks and leaves! 🙂
Sweet and Spicy Homemade Bar-B-Q Sauce
- 1 ¼ c ketchup
- 1 ¼ c light brown sugar
- ¼ c molasses
- ¼ c apple cider vinegar
- ¼ c water
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 2 ½ tsp. ground mustard
- 2 tsp. smoked paprika
- ½ garlic powder
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. coarse ground pepper
- ¼ to ½ cayenne pepper (You might want to start out with ¼ and go from there. It does mellow a little bit over night.)
- Combine all ingredients in a medium size saucepan.
- Whisk until smooth and then bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Let cool before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating until needed.
Recipe from Cook AZ I Do, slightly adapted from Barefeet in the Kitchen
Shari
My name is Shari, and I am an Arizona native and married mother of 3 who loves to cook and bake and figure out how to garden successfully in our suburban home in the desert. On this blog you will find a combination of savory and sweet recipes that have been tested by me, along with many tips to help you be successful. I hope you enjoy them!
Hi Shari, I love making my own foods from scratch too, it is very satisfying. Your sauce is a beautiful color and sounds exactly how we like ours. Have a wonderful 4th!!!
Thank you very much, Cheri! I tend to like the darker colored bar-b-q sauces better as they seem to be less tangy. I hope you had a great 4th as well!
I’m thrilled that you liked the sauce so much, Shari! Your photos are gorgeous. Enjoy!
Thank you so much, Mary! I am very grateful to you for the wonderful sauce recipe. I can’t even tell you how excited I was to find it. I am looking forward to trying it out on your bar-b-q sundaes. I hope you had a great 4th of July weekend!
Your pictures look so wonderful, Shari. The recipe looks exceptionally good too!
Thanks a lot, Teresa! That means a lot to me since the pictures are where I struggle usually. It is a wonderful recipe if you don’t mind spicy, although you can really control the level. It is still a great sauce if you leave the cayenne out altogether as it has enough pepper in it to give it a slight kick. I hope you enjoyed the holiday weekend!
I love this bbq sauce, Shari. It sounds perfect for so many grilled meats. Sweet and spicy is my favorite. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much, Julie! It would go great on top of some grilled meat with your spice rub on it. The spice rub continues to be a favorite in our family. I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well!
Bull’s Eye Bold Original BBQ Sauce is a real weakness with me. Honestly, I could drink it straight out of the bottle.
This sounds like a marvelous (and very easy!) sauce. Can’t wait to try it!
P.S. Last weekend we tried the “Father’s Day” steak marinade you posted. It was a HUGE hit! One person said it was the way steak should be eaten From Now On.
I think we have similar taste buds, Ruth! 🙂 If you like Bull’s-Eye bar-b-q sauce, I think you would really like this recipe. If you don’t like as much spice, start by leaving out the cayenne altogether and taste it, and then go from there. It makes me really happy you enjoyed the steak marinade! Thanks so much for letting me know. Have a great week!
That looks phenomenal, Shari!! So hungry right now 😀
Thanks a lot, Shamira! It was so easy to make. Wish I could give you some! 🙂
With BBQ season is full gear at our home, it seems we’re concocting new sauces weekly… I’ll have to add your special blend to the rotation! It sounds excellent, Shari!
Thanks, Nancy! The mention of your sauces has piqued my interest. Will you be sharing any of them on your blog? I love sauces! 🙂