This classic barbecue sauce is a well-balanced sauce rich and smooth, with a sweet heat and just a touch of smoky flavor. It will go well with anything you want to pour it on!
Raise your hand if you like classic barbecue sauce?
If you love barbecue sauce, you will love this recipe for this classic barbecue sauce.
Probably most of you have your hands raised, and you may have even drooled a little.
This is a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce made of tomato, herbs, and spices that you can put on anything. It’s not just for slathering on ribs, chicken, or beef. Serve it as a dip, put it on anything from sandwiches, burgers, and even mix some into ranch dressing!
If you know me, you know I’m not a sauce kind of girl. However, for some reason, cooked on, the caramelized sauce is something I have a phobia of. Therefore, if any recipe calls for barbecue sauce, the sauce better is served on the side as a dipping sauce or a light coating poured over the meat and warmed through just before serving.
David, on the other hand, loves it, and on more than one occasion, I’ve seen his face covered in sauce up to his eyebrows while eating his smoked ribs or pork shoulder from the grill. Our go-to sauce is a little bit of secret, but recently we’ve been exploring other sauces to change things up a bit.
We made brisket sandwiches with Gruyère cheese melted on top and then poured some of this sauce on the sandwiches. Oh my goodness, those sandwiches are to die for! So says the girl who doesn’t like sauce…
Let’s make some sauce!
Ingredients Needed:
A detailed list of ingredients is provided in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Ketchup: The tomato base of this sauce.
- Sweetness: Brown sugar contains molasses which makes the sauce richer. Use regular sugar or honey if you don’t have it.
- Tang: red wine vinegar, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce
- Spices: onion powder, Kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, paprika
How To Make Classic Barbecue Sauce
Simply whisk all of the ingredients together and bring to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the sauce comes to a boil, reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let the sauce cool completely.
That’s it! In a little over 15 minutes, you have a delicious barbecue sauce to sauce just about anything!
I made some more this week for David and our grandson, Seth, to put on their barbecue bacon cheeseburgers with chili. (Yep, a grandson. He has been spending the week with us. He’s pretty awesome!)
Ya know, David used to be a store-bought barbecue sauce kind of guy until he met me. Ha, not anymore…
Enjoy the sauce!
Classic Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon mustard powder
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Whisk all of the ingredients together and bring to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the sauce comes to a boil, reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let the sauce cool completely.
Anonymous says
I would bathe in this BBQ sauce.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Don’t forget to wash behind your ears! 😉
Colleen says
Shawn’s BBQ has a Texas-style sauce that is to die for! It’s loaded with tons of black pepper and I can pretty much eat by the spoonful! Thankfully Bob has a job site out near there and can pick some up for me when he’s out towards Warrenton! I love making homemade sauce, but that one’s pretty much stole my heart away!
The Mountain Kitchen says
All your photos of that place looked good if you’re a sauce kind of girl… 😉 I’m going to Warrenton in the morning. Stopping by the farmers’ market and taking HRH for an allergy shot. The farmers’ market is on Saturdays from early spring – late fall. It is amazing and you should definitely check it out! I haven’t been able to go nearly as much this summer. 🙁
Judi Graber says
I like all kinds of barbecue sauce; homemade is more fun and you can make it your own. Paula Deen is a good southern cook who likes her food so I’m sure this is delicious. I like the way you presented all the ingredients on that beautiful board 🙂
The Mountain Kitchen says
Thank you, Judi. It’s funny because our “secret sauce” calls for butter and this is a Paula Deen recipe and it did not call for any. That kind of scares me…lol! Happy FF! Enjoy your weekend! 🙂
Sarah says
I’m with you, I like my sauce on the side. This one looks right up my alley! I’ve got it saved for late 🙂
The Mountain Kitchen says
Sarah this is yummy! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one that likes it on the side. Have a good weekend!
Josette says
For me it’s all about the sauce! This looks great. ?
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Josette! If you’re a sauce girl, you really should try out this sauce. Make it basic and adjust to your taste. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Julie says
My mom always made her own bbq sauce and we loved it. I’ll definitely be giving this one a try.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Great! Hope you like it as much as we do. ☺
donna says
This sauce is absolutely the best! I use it on ribs, chops and chicken. It’s also good on a hamburger. I have tried many of your recipes on my smoker . Thank you for your newsletters!
The Mountain Kitchen says
Hi Donna! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. So happy you like our recipes! <3
Kris Marie says
Just made this BBQ sauce to put on top of our pulled pork sandwiches! It is totally delicious! Will take our sandwiches over the top! Thank you.
The Mountain Kitchen says
Thanks so much Kris!
Elaine says
I love your classic barbecue sauce and your pork tenderloin with cranberry sauce
The Mountain Kitchen says
Thanks, Elaine! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂