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    Home » Recipes » Condiment Recipes

    Semi-Homemade Barbecue Sauce

    Published: Jun 11, 2023 by Chef Ryan Littley

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    5 from 23 votes
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    Pinterest image for semi-homemade barbecue sauce.

    Create your own signature barbecue sauce using my semi-homemade barbecue sauce recipe. Tangy, spicy, and sweet with your favorite spices will create a bbq sauce your friends and family will think you made from scratch.

    semi-homemade barbecue sauce in a glass bowl.

    It’s easy to make the best barbecue sauce you ever had. Stating with your favorite brand of bbq sauce, add in my suggested ingredients or your ingredients of choice to make your very own signature barbecue sauce.

    My semi-homemade barbecue sauce will turn an ordinary weeknight meal into a special event. All it takes is a handful of ingredients and grocery store bbq sauce to create the best homemade barbecue sauce you ever tasted!

    If you love barbecue chicken, try my bbq baked chicken drumsticks.

    Table of Contents:

    • Ingredients to make semi-homemade barbecue sauce
      • Made with simple ingredients
      • What other ingredients can I add to barbecue sauce?
    • How to make semi-homemade barbecue sauce
    • Recipe FAQ’s
    • More Barbecue Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Easy No-Cook Barbecue Sauce
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Notes
      • What other ingredients can I add to barbecue sauce?
      • Nutrition

    Ingredients to make semi-homemade barbecue sauce

    ingredients to make recipe.

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make semi-homemade barbecue sauce. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Made with simple ingredients

    • bottle of barbecue sauce
    • apple cider vinegar
    • prepared horseradish
    • water
    • red pepper flakes
    • cayenne pepper (optional – more or less depending on your taste buds)

    What other ingredients can I add to barbecue sauce?

    • Worcestershire sauce
    • hot sauce
    • soy sauce
    • brown sugar
    • yellow mustard
    • spices – smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, coriander, black pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder.
    • sriracha
    • orange juice or pineapple juice
    • harissa

    Think of store-bought barbecue sauce as a starting point, and add your favorite seasonings and ingredients to make your own signature bbq sauce. No cooking is needed.

    Honey, agave, maple syrup, or molasses can be added instead of brown sugar(or in addition to, for a sweeter sauce) for the sweet flavors of my easy bbq sauce. For a little kick, add an ounce of Jack Daniels.

    Hot sauce, sriracha, harissa, and cayenne will make a spicy sauce. Adding smoked paprika or liquid smoke will add a smoky flavor to your semi-homemade barbecue sauce.

    How to make semi-homemade barbecue sauce

    ingredients in a glass bowl.

    Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl.

    semi-homemade barbecue sauce in a glass bowl.

    Whisk to combine. Keep the homemade barbecue sauce refrigerated in an airtight container for 7-10 days.

    smoked chicken thighs coated in barbecue sauce.

    I used my semi-homemade barbecue sauce on my smoked chicken thighs, and it couldn’t have been more delicious. The perfect combination of sweet and spicy.

    Use my easy-to-make semi-homemade barbecue sauce on chicken, ribs, brisket, lamb, pork tenderloin, or your favorite grilled meats to bring deliciousness to a whole new level that your whole family will love.

    Another delicious homemade barbecue sauce is my Alabama White Sauce. It’s a nice change from ketchup based sauces.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    What gives barbecue sauce its flavor?

    Traditional barbecue sauce gets its flavor from brown sugar, vinegar, and seasonings like smoked paprika, garlic, and onion. Different brands offer varying styles of sauce by adding additional ingredients such as Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and spices. Honey and molasses can also be added.

    Do I have to cook homemade barbecue sauce?

    Some recipes call for the sauce to be cooked, but for the most part, simple barbecue sauce doesn’t need to be cooked. The reason to cook a sauce is that heating the ingredients combines them more thoroughly. Cooking the sauce for 5-10 minutes will help the ingredients bind and result in a smooth sauce with all the ingredients equally distributed.

    More Barbecue Recipes You’ll Love!

    • barbecue chicken legs on white platter
      Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
    • Korean Pork Barbecue and spinach on a white plate
      Korean Pork Barbecue Recipe
    • bbq chicken sandwich with cole slaw and pickles on bun.
      Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
    • sliced barbecue beef brisket on white platter
      Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with Barbecue Sauce

    Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

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    semi-homemade barbecue sauce in a glass bowl.
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 23 votes

    Easy No-Cook Barbecue Sauce

    My semi-homemade barbecue sauce is tangy, spicy, and sweet with your favorite spices. When it's time for your next cookout create a bbq sauce your friends and family will think you made from scratch.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: condiment, Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 50kcal
    Author: Chef Ryan Littley

    Ingredients

    • 16 oz honey barbecue sauce I used Sweet Baby Rays
    • ¼ cup water
    • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper -optional if you like heat (more or less to taste)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • add all the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
    • Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for 7-10 days.

    Notes

    What other ingredients can I add to barbecue sauce?

    • Worcestershire sauce
    • hot sauce
    • soy sauce
    • brown sugar
    • yellow mustard
    • spices – smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, coriander, black pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder.
    • sriracha
    • orange juice or pineapple juice
    • harissa
    Think of store-bought barbecue sauce as a starting point, and add your favorite seasonings and ingredients to make your own signature bbq sauce. No cooking is needed.
    Honey, agave, maple syrup, or molasses can be added instead of brown sugar(or in addition to, for a sweeter sauce) for the sweet flavors of my easy bbq sauce. For a little kick, add an ounce of Jack Daniels.
    Hot sauce, sriracha, harissa, and cayenne will make a spicy sauce. Adding smoked paprika or liquid smoke will add a smoky flavor to your semi-homemade barbecue sauce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.02g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 108IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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