Barbecue chicken is a classic summertime favorite. But taking your barbecue chicken from basic to sensational requires making your own homemade barbecue sauce. Store-bought barbecue sauce just can’t compare to the homemade version. With homemade barbecue sauce, you control the flavors and ingredients. You can customize it to your tastes and make it as sweet, tangy, or spicy as you like.
Making homemade barbecue sauce is easy All you need are a few simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry Once you learn how to whip up a basic homemade barbecue sauce, you can experiment with different ingredient variations to find your perfect blend. Read on for tips, tricks, and recipes for making foolproof homemade barbecue sauce for chicken.
Why Make Homemade BBQ Sauce?
Here are some of the benefits of making your own homemade barbecue sauce rather than relying on store-bought
-
Customizable flavors – Tailor the taste to your preferences by adjusting sweetness, smokiness, tanginess, and spice level.
-
Control the ingredients – Use natural ingredients and avoid preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, etc. found in commercial sauces.
-
Fresher taste – Homemade sauce won’t have that bottled flavor. It tastes fresher and brighter.
-
Cost savings – Homemade sauce is way cheaper than store-bought.
-
Fun to experiment – Once you have a basic recipe, you can tweak and customize to find your perfect blend.
-
Impress guests – Serving homemade barbecue sauce makes an ordinary cookout feel special.
How to Make Basic Homemade Barbecue Sauce
The basic method for homemade barbecue sauce is straightforward:
1. Gather ingredients
Typical barbecue sauce contains a sweet ingredient, an acidic ingredient, spices, and tomato product.
2. Combine in a saucepan
Whisk together all ingredients in a medium saucepan.
3. Simmer
Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes to meld flavors and thicken slightly.
4. Cool and store
Allow sauce to cool before storing or using on chicken. Refrigerate in a sealed container up to 1 week.
Essential Ingredients
Here are key ingredients to include in a basic homemade barbecue sauce:
-
Sugar – Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup. Provides sweetness.
-
Acid – Cider vinegar, distilled white vinegar. Gives tanginess.
-
Spices – Chili powder, cayenne, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder.
-
Tomato product – Tomato paste, ketchup, tomato sauce. Gives classic red color.
-
Liquid – Chicken broth, apple juice, water. Thins out consistency.
-
Extras – Worcestershire sauce, mustard, soy sauce, liquid smoke. Provide flavor depth.
Recipe Ideas
Here are a few tasty homemade barbecue sauce recipes to try:
Basic Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Tangy Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons mustard
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
Sweet and Smoky Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1⁄2 cup honey
- 1⁄4 cup apple juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
How to Use on Chicken
Once you’ve made a tasty homemade barbecue sauce, here are some delicious ways to use it on chicken:
-
Grilled chicken – Baste sauce on chicken last 5-10 minutes of grilling.
-
Baked chicken – Brush sauce on chicken during last 10-15 minutes of baking.
-
Rotisserie chicken – Glaze sauce on chicken in last 15 minutes of rotisserie cooking.
-
Chicken wings – Toss wings in sauce after cooking. Bake or grill wings plain then coat with sauce.
-
Chicken kebabs – Thread chicken chunks on skewers, grill, then brush with sauce at end.
-
Chicken sandwiches/wraps – Spread or drizzle extra sauce on chicken fillets or tenders.
With the right homemade barbecue sauce recipe, you can take your chicken to new flavor heights. Experiment with different ingredient combinations until you craft your perfect homemade barbecue sauce. Your taste buds will thank you!
How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce
This BBQ Sauce comes together quickly with just a handful of ingredients that I generally have in my refrigerator or my pantry. This recipe is one that I think you all will fall in love with as well. I’ve had friends ask me to please make extra for them to take home and if I’d bottle it, they’d surely buy it. ♥️
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
To make this homemade BBQ Sauce, you’ll need:
- Ketchup – You’ll use 2 cups of your favorite ketchup as the base in this recipe. I prefer to use one with the fewest ingredients and one that does not include high-fructose corn syrup.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – the apple cider vinegar gives the sauce a delicious, tangy flavor that helps to balance it perfectly.
- Brown Sugar – just 1/4 cup of brown sugar not only helps sweeten the sauce but deepens the flavor adding just a hint of molasses flavor.
- Honey – use a couple of tablespoons of your favorite honey. If you can find a reliable local honey provider, I always recommend it!
- Worcestershire sauce – this balances the sweetness with savory flavor in the sauce. If you are gluten-free or sensitive to soy (like me!), you can use coconut aminos in place of the Worcestershire sauce.
- Stone House Seasoning – this is my favorite, go-to blend of seasonings that I have shared previously. It is a blend of kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic that tastes amazing on so many dishes and adds flavor in a snap! We named it Stone House Seasoning since we use it practically on everything except desserts!
- Lemon Juice – A tablespoon of fresh or bottled lemon juice adds just the perfect amount of acid to this sauce to make it perfect.
- Hot Sauce – We love to add just a splash of hot sauce to this BBQ Sauce recipe. It is entirely optional if you’d rather not include it.
- Cook the BBQ Sauce. Whisk together all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Allow the sauce to bubble and then reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes. This helps to deepen the flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Serve. You can use this sauce immediately or see the Storage Tips below.
No Cook Homemade BBQ Sauce – Whisk together all ingredients until well combined. Pour into an airtight container and serve immediately or store as directed.
To Store. Allow the sauce to cool and then pour it into a quart-size mason jar. Seal it with a tight-fitting lid and store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
To Freeze. Transfer the cooled sauce to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Favorite Ways to Use BBQ Sauce
Here’s my best Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
How To Make BBQ Sauce 3 Ways
FAQ
How to make a simple barbecue sauce for chicken?
Heat up a medium saucepan on medium-low. Add 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder. Allow the mixture to simmer for 5 to 8 minutes.
What ingredients are needed for barbecue sauce?
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar.
- 1 ½ cups ketchup.
- ½ cup red wine vinegar.
- ½ cup water.
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
- 2 ½ tablespoons dry mustard.
- 2 teaspoons paprika.
- 2 teaspoons salt.
What are the best ingredients for BBQ chicken?
- 2 cloves garlic, minced.
- 5 tablespoons ketchup.
- 3 tablespoons honey.
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar.
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar.
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
- salt and pepper to taste.
- 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves.
How to make a barbecue sauce for chicken wings?
- 5 tbsp tomato ketchup.
- 1 tsp mustard.
- 2 tbsp treacle or maple syrup.
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (or vegetarian Worcestershire sauce)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika.
- 1 tsp salt.
Can you make homemade BBQ sauce for chicken?
In summary, homemade BBQ sauce for chicken is a fun and rewarding kitchen project that can elevate your grilling game to new heights. Whether you prefer a classic tangy sauce or a spicy kick, experimenting with different ingredients and flavors can lead to some delicious results.
How do you make homemade BBQ sauce?
To make homemade BBQ sauce, gather these common ingredients: Ketchup provides a familiar base for the sauce. Brown sugar adds sweetness and balances the tangy flavors. Apple cider vinegar contributes acidity and brightness to the sauce. Worcestershire sauce brings depth and umami notes to the flavor profile.
What goes well with homemade BBQ sauce?
This homemade BBQ sauce is perfect for slathering on grilled chicken, but it’s also great to have some tasty sides to round out your meal. A classic coleslaw with a tangy dressing makes a perfect match – the cool, crunchy cabbage balances out the sweet and smoky sauce.
How do you glaze chicken with BBQ sauce?
To glaze chicken, brush the homemade BBQ sauce generously over the chicken pieces during the last few minutes of grilling. The heat caramelizes the sugars in the sauce and creates a beautiful, sticky coating on the chicken.
How to thicken BBQ sauce for chicken?
To thicken BBQ sauce, you can simmer it over low heat for a longer period or add a cornstarch slurry to achieve the desired consistency. In summary, homemade BBQ sauce for chicken is a fun and rewarding kitchen project that can elevate your grilling game to new heights.
How long does it take to make homemade BBQ sauce?
The biggest challenge when making homemade BBQ sauce is getting the right consistency – many home cooks rush the simmering process, but giving your sauce at least 15-20 minutes to reduce and thicken will create that perfect, sticky texture that clings to your chicken.