Here is a couple of easy to make homemade BBQ sauce recipes. They’re both very much tomato-based and very easy to make.
There are plenty more of various types if you have a look on this page.
Storage
As a final note on making the homemade BBQ sauce, it’s worth remembering that they keep well. Pour the sauce into a sterilized jar, seal and they will keep for a month or so in a cool dark place, or you could even freeze it.
To sterilize a jar, either fill it with boiling water or just run it through the dishwasher, then put it in a cool oven for a few minutes.
BBQ Sauce Recipe #1
This is a really basic one, so tweak it if you want with cider vinegar or lemon juice, swap the brown sugar for honey or maple syrup, add mustard or a pinch of chili – or whatever you else want.
This should make just enough for four people. So double, triple, quadruple, etc, as you require.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp oil
- 1 small finely chopped onion
- 1 tbsp malt vinegar
- 1 tbsp of soft brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup tomato ketchup
Method
Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion for a few minutes until soft. Add everything else and cook on a lowish heat for a 15 minutes or so, stirring it a bit. Serve hot or room temperature, or brush onto ribs etc before and/or during grilling or smoking.
BBQ Sauce Recipe #2
This sauce recipe is similar to sauces from the West of North Carolina – a.k.a the famous “Lexington dip”.
It’s fairly thin and liquid – and completely unlike Kansas City BBQ sauce which is so viscous it doesn’t really pour without the assistance of a spoon – but this one still has a strong tomato base and a wide range of other flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup of water
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tbsp brown or molasses sugar
- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp tabasco
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
Method
Heat the oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger. Saute until the onion is translucent.
Stir in everything else.
Reduce heat to a low simmer and continue cooking for 25 minutes.