Name: Simple 30 Minute Barbecue Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 32 (Make 2 cups)
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 small onion (finely chopped (about 1/3 cup)); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 cup ketchup; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 1/3 cup honey; 4 tablespoons white vinegar; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard; 1 teaspoon chili paste (optional if your BBQ sauce a little spicy)

Barbecue Sauceis a staple condiment in many homes, and what is better than making it yourself! This recipe is easy to follow, uses common ingredients, and tastes amazing with anything you pair it with.

small glass jar with barbecue sauce and a golden spoon inside.

Homemade barbecue sauce is not a necessity, but it can definitely make a huge difference in your dish! The flavors are bright and fresh and will elevate whatever you choose to use it on. I love that you have some control over the flavor of this sauce that you don’t have with store-bought.

Whether you want to make it spicy or keep it more mild it is your choice, plus you know exactly what ingredients are going in which is always nice. All of the basic ingredients work together well to create a sauce that is perfectly balanced with sweet, savory, and umami flavors. With a recipe this easy, you will want to keep a bottle of this sauce in your fridge at all times!

small glass jar with a golden spoon above with barbecue sauce recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It is easy to make! The sauce can be done in less than 20 minutes.
You can use the sauce for anything, it is very versatile.
The flavor is bright, bold, and fresh!

Recipe Ingredients

portion bowls each with digitally labeled raw ingredients to make barbecue sauce recipe.

Olive Oil—You’ll only need a little to cook the onion and garlic.
Onion—Finely chopped.
Garlic—Minced. Fresh works best, but canned garlic or dried garlic can be used in a pinch.
Ketchup—Most barbecue sauces have a tomato base, and ketchup works perfectly!
Brown Sugar—To add a signature sweet flavor to your sauce.
Honey—This will add some natural sweetness and help give your sauce a smooth texture.
White Vinegar—Adds some acidity to balance out the sweetness.
Worcestershire Sauce—Helps tie all the other flavors together.
Spicy Brown Mustard—For a little extra tang.
Chili Paste—This is optional, but it will make your BBQ sauce a little bit spicy!

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Popular Substitutions and Variations

I love this barbecue sauce recipe because you can use it in so many different ways that will add flavor and depth to any dish. Try out new things and find what you love! Here are some ways I typically use it:

Sandwiches—Use the sauce on a variety of sandwiches including grilled chicken sandwich,pulled porkor beef sliders, orhamburgers.
As a dip—You can use barbecue sauce as a dip for chicken tenders,mozzarella sticks, french fries, orjalapeno poppers.
Pizza—Use BBQ instead of tomato sauce for a chicken BBQ pizza. Top with mozzarella cheese, diced chicken, red onion, and an extra drizzle of BBQ sauce to finish it off.
Marinade—Spread it onto meat for a quick marinade. Try it for any meat, seafood, or poultry for a nice flavor.

How to Make Barbecue Sauce

pot with barbecue sauce recipe boiling down in progress.

Step #1.In a medium saucepan, cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil until the onion softens. Stir frequently. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine.

Step #2.Allow the mixture to simmer. You can use the sauce as is, or make it more smooth by blending it in a blender. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

How can I thicken my barbecue sauce?

The reason we simmer the barbecue sauce is to allow much of the liquid to be released, therefore thickening the sauce. You can simmer it for longer than 20 minutes if you are noticing that it is not as thick as you would like it to be. But, be careful not to burn the barbecue sauce by keeping it on the heat too long. If you are not seeing the results you want, you can also thicken the sauce by adding 1 tablespoon of flour or cornstarch. Mix it with a little water before you incorporate it, and then continue stirring until there are no lumps.

Is it possible to burn BBQ sauce?

Yes, it is possible to burn this barbecue sauce. Although it might be tempting to speed things up, you want to keep the temperature at a simmer once you have all of the ingredients combined. Because of the sugar in the sauce, it will caramelize if the heat is too high or it is cooking for an extended period of time. This will ruin the texture and can’t be fixed. It shouldn’t take too long to cook the sauce, so just be patient.

Is it better to blend the barbecue sauce before using?

That is totally up to you! The onion and garlic will still be about the same size you cut them into once the sauce is done. If you don’t mind having a chunky BBQ sauce, then you can take it right off the stove, let it cool, and serve. But, if you prefer a more smooth sauce, then I recommend blending it. Allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes before putting it in the blender and process until smooth. Either way you can’t go wrong, and the sauce will have the same flavor!

small white pitcher with barbecue sauce and a golden spoon inside.

Expert Tips

Be careful not to burn the onionsas you cook them with the garlic to avoid a bitter flavor! Keep an eye out and stir often.
The longer the sauce sits, the more the flavors will incorporate together. Make this a day or two in advance of when you want to use it to add the best taste.
For ease of applying the barbecue sauce,you can buy a plastic squeeze bottle that has a lid to make this sauce just like the real deal!
If you like your barbecue sauce on the spicy side thenyou can add a teaspoon of chili paste.
Make sure your sauce isstored in an airtight container to keep it fresh as long as possible.
You can use dark or light brown sugar in this recipe.
For a smoother sauce,try blending the mixture after it is finished cooking to break down the onions.

small glass jar with barbecue sauce and a golden spoon being pulled out of it dripping sauce off of it.

How Store Barbecue Sauce

This homemade barbecue sauce can be used right away, or refrigerated until you need it! I usually keep mine in a mason jar or airtight container. The sauce will last for about 2 weeks in the fridge, so you can use it multiple times before you have to make another batch!