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How To Make Barbecue Sauce With 3 Different Flavors

Let’s say you have a great barbeque marinade. It’ll taste even better if you use the best barbecue sauce! So, learn how to make barbecue sauce.

You’ll find dozens of various types of barbecue sauce if you walk around the grocery store. Many of those sauces are tasty and make excellent additions to any meal.

But it’s much better if you make it yourself. If you want to try something new and level up your store-bought barbecue sauce. Then there’s no reason not to make one!

You can customize it to your preferred flavor. So, if you’re looking for a new way to spice up your grill night, let’s get started!

What Is Barbecue Sauce Made Of?

how to make barbecue sauce

There are two main starting points when making homemade barbecue sauce. You can either start with fresh tomatoes or with ketchup.

When making homemade barbecue sauce with fresh tomatoes, you usually have to roast or bake them first. It can remove the strong acidity of the tomato, and the natural sweetness of the tomato is enhanced. Tomato might lead to a tangy flavor.

While store-bought ketchup is a popular choice because it already contains some spices and high sugar content. It aids in the creation of a delicious sticky coating on your grilled meat.

You can also use some herbs to spice up your barbecue sauce. Basil, bay leaf, cilantro, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme work well with barbecue sauce. You can choose spices by the sweetness of the sauce and the protein you choose.

Barbecue Sauce Variations

To achieve a balanced overall flavor, you must use different flavor types that balance and enhance one another. You can pick your favorite flavor from among these classics.

ingredient for how to make barbecue sauce

Sweet Sauces

When you want some sweetness in your barbecue sauce, you must consider adding brown sugar. But you can substitute blackstrap molasses, honey, agave nectar, maple syrup, sorghum, and even sodas.

Savory Sauces

Sauces with a savory flavor are more likely to match well with beef and other richer kinds of meat than sweeter sauces.

Tangy Sauces

Tangy or sour flavors can balance the saltiness and sweetness of the sauce. If your base is tomato, the acid component gives the sauce a tangy flavor. Different varieties of vinegar, lemon, grapefruit juice, mustard, pickle juice, tamarind paste, or even beer can increase tangy and sour flavors.

Best Ways To Use Barbecue Sauce

when you make barbecue sauce, you can season everything!

There are various tasty ways to use a jar of homemade BBQ sauce! It’s great for grilling chicken. You can’t say no, especially if it’s boneless thighs! Check out this simple way to debone chicken thighs.

But barbecue sauce can do a lot more! You can use it as a spread for burgers and pizzas. I also enjoy using my cast iron griddle to make pizzas and frying patties on a cast iron pan!

Plus, your barbecue sauce can serve as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets and meatballs. Barbecue sauce is also a great way to add a twist to your classic Mexican dishes like tacos and burritos.

The Recipe for 3 Flavor Barbecue Sauce

With this simple and easy recipe, you can make 3 different flavors of barbecue sauce!

Ingredients For Making Regular Barbecue Sauce

  • 2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric or dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • Saucepan
  • Spatula

Process For Making Regular Barbecue Sauce

Step 1: Add all the ingredients to the saucepan. 

Step 2: Mix well and turn on the stove to medium-low heat.

Step 3: Cook it for 10 to 15 minutes. 

Ingredients For Making Sweet Barbecue Sauce

  • Homemade regular barbecue sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of molasses
  • 1 tablespoon of honey

Process For Making Sweet Barbecue Sauce

Step 1: Get your homemade barbecue sauce.

Step 2: Add the molasses and honey to sweeten.

Step 3: Mix well all the ingredients.

Ingredients For Making Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Sauce

  • Homemade sweet barbecue sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper

Process For Making Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Sauce

Step 1: On your homemade sweet barbecue sauce, add ¼ teaspoon of Cayenne pepper.

Step 2: Mix well and serve!

Here is a video demonstrating how to make 3 flavors of barbecue sauces in the easiest and simplest way!

FAQs

Can you freeze barbecue sauce?

Yes! If you aren’t going to use it within two weeks, you should freeze it. Transfer your homemade barbecue sauce to a freezer bag.  Squeeze out all air, seal the bag, and place it flat in the freezer. You can freeze it for up to three months in the freezer.

How to store a barbecue sauce

Refrigerate barbecue sauce in an airtight container, such as a Mason jar. You should get a wooden spoon that will fit perfectly for your mason jar. You can store it for up to two weeks after it has completely cooled.

How long does barbecue sauce last?

Store-bought barbecue sauce can last until 4 months. While homemade barbecue sauce can last about a week to 10 days.

More ways to make barbecue sauce a feature at dinner.

Tips

  • Cut the amount of brown sugar or honey in your barbecue sauce if you want it to be less sweet. You can also reduce the liquid seasonings if you want them to be less salty.
  • Even if it’s called “barbecue sauce,” you can use it for your steaks.
  • Barbecue sauce is a great marinade for meat. It helps in the caramelization of the dish.

Conclusion

Summer is fast approaching, and you can beat the heat by making snow cones, ice cream, yogurt, and shakes. Barbecuing and grilling in your outdoor kitchen is another fun summer activity.

Making barbecue sauce like a pro is more than mixing a few ingredients. It is important to understand the various flavor profiles, how they complement and enhance one another, and how they pair with various meats.

So, what are you waiting for? The grill is ready, and you know how to marinate and make barbecue sauce. Let your family taste a delectable barbecue!

Which flavor of barbecue sauce do you like? Let me know in the comments section.