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Isha Joe

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Homemade barbecue sauce is cheaper and tastier than store-bought BBQ sauce, and you can use better ingredients with fewer preservatives. This is a mild BBQ sauce. It has a hint of spice when tasted right off the stove, but mellows out even further when applied to grilled meats. For a spicier BBQ sauce, add cayenne pepper to taste. (Yields 2 1/4 cups)
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 20 servings (2 Tbsp per serving)
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: American
Calories: 56
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup tomato ketchup
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard, or Dijon (or 1 Tbsp mustard powder)
  • 1 tbsp paprika, or to taste
  • 2 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup water

Method
 

  1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until sauce is thickened.
  2. Add more sugar or seasonings to taste if desired, then remove from heat. Cool completely to room temperature then cover and store in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks. You can use it right away for grilling, but the BBQ sauce will taste best with a 1-hour rest in the refrigerator before use.*

Notes

*Let the BBQ Sauce Rest! Right off the heat, you will still be able to smell some vinegar, and it will taste a little spicy, but the sauce will mellow out in flavor as the flavors meld and deepen in the refrigerator.
 
Make-Ahead and Storage – You don’t need a fancy bottle for your BBQ sauce; a glass Mason jar is perfect (or empty jam jars, which is what I used), or you can even store it in an airtight plastic container.
 
  • To Refrigerate: Store homemade BBQ sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  • Freezing: Transfer the sauce to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag; press out the excess air and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • To Thaw: Frozen barbecue sauce can be thawed in the refrigerator overnight before using, or if you’re in a time crunch, you can place the sealed freezer bag in a bowl of warm water to thaw it faster.