Dive into the perfect balance of bold, smoky, and irresistibly sweet flavors with this Sweet N Smokey BBQ Sauce recipe. Crafted with pantry staples like ketchup, brown sugar, and molasses, and elevated with a touch of liquid smoke and smoked paprika, this homemade sauce is ideal for enhancing your favorite grilled or smoked dishes. Its quick prep time (just 5 minutes!) and simmering process infuse the rich, tangy notes of apple cider vinegar and a gentle heat from optional cayenne pepper. Whether you're glazing ribs, marinating chicken, or serving it as a dipping sauce, this versatile BBQ sauce delivers a depth of flavor that rivals anything store-bought. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's easily customizable for perfect sweetness, smokiness, or spice, making it a must-have recipe for any barbecue lover.
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In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and molasses. Stir together over medium heat until fully incorporated.
Add Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using). Stir well to combine.
Pour in the water to adjust the consistency and mix thoroughly.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.
Allow the sauce to simmer for 15-20 minutes until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld together.
Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness, smokiness, or spiciness according to your preference. Add more brown sugar for sweetness, more liquid smoke for smokiness, or more cayenne for heat.
Once thickened, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature.
Transfer to a clean jar or airtight container and refrigerate. The sauce will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.
Use the BBQ sauce as a glaze, marinade, or dipping sauce for your favorite grilled or smoked dishes!
Serving size | (653.8g) |
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Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
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Calories | 965.7 |
Total Fat 0.9g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0.1g | 0% |
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g | |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 1484.8mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 243.3g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 2.7g | 0% |
Total Sugars 217.0g | |
Protein 1.6g | 0% |
Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
Calcium 279.3mg | 0% |
Iron 6.4mg | 0% |
Potassium 1297.1mg | 0% |
Source of Calories