We're thrilled to share with you our easy-to-follow recipe for homemade BBQ sauce. Using simple, readily available ingredients, we've created a sauce that's packed with flavour and perfect for all your needs.
Don't worry if you don't have all the ingredients on hand, we'll provide some handy substitutes along the way.
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To make things even easier, we'll include clear, step-by-step visuals so you can see exactly how your sauce should look at each stage of the process.
Jump to recipe card to get started now or read on for more information.So easy to create!! Just chuck it all in and stir for occasionally for 15 mins. Good enough to bottle up and sell! We always have a jar of this handy in our fridge.
Ingredients
A perfect mix of sauces and spices (which you probably have in your fridge/cupboards) is needed to create our very own Homemade BBQ Sauce, which everyone loves!
Shallots
Shallots are a type of onion with a sweeter, milder flavour. If you don't have shallots on hand, a small onion is a suitable substitute.
Ketchup
Ketchup serves as the base for our BBQ sauce, lending its tangy sweetness and rich tomato flavour.
Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce adds a savoury depth and complexity to the BBQ sauce with its blend of vinegar, molasses, sugar, and anchovies. If you're out, soy sauce or fish sauce can serve as a decent substitute.
Sugar
Dark brown sugar brings a sweet, molasses-like depth to the sauce. If you don't have dark brown sugar, you can use light brown sugar.
Mango Chutney
Mango chutney gives our BBQ sauce a unique, fruity twist. We used our own mango chutney recipe, but you can buy it in the shops.
Nigella Seeds
If you're using shop-bought mango chutney, we recommend you add these to the sauce.
Garlic
Garlic adds a punch of flavor that complements the sweetness of the sauce. For speed use garlic puree, or finely chop garlic cloves.
Chilli
This ingredient is optional but recommended if you like a bit of heat in your BBQ sauce. Finely chop 1 red chilli or add 1 teaspoon of chilli puree.
Spices
Ground cumin lends a warm, earthy flavor to our BBQ sauce. If you don't have any on hand, ground coriander would be a good substitute.
Black pepper adds a bit of heat and complexity to the sauce. A pinch of salt enhances the BBQ sauce add to taste.
Equipment
Cooking should be fun and stress-free! Don't worry if you don't have all these tools at hand - improvisation is part of the joy of cooking.
Sauce Pan
A medium-sized saucepan is essential for making our BBQ sauce. This is where all the magic happens - from combining the ingredients to simmering the sauce to perfection.
Stirring Spoon
You'll need a stirring spoon to mix all the ingredients together and occasionally stirring the sauce as it simmers, preventing it from sticking to the pot.
Blender (Optional)
If you prefer a smooth BBQ sauce, you can use a blender to puree it once it's cooled. This step is optional and depends on your personal texture preference.
Instructions
We're going to walk you through the process step-by-step.
Jump to Recipe Card for full meaurements and photos.Measure Ingredients
First things first, make sure you have all your ingredients measured, chopped and at hand. This includes shallots, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, dark brown sugar, mango chutney, water, white wine vinegar, chilli and garlic, salt, pepper and ground cumin.
Combine
Now, place all your ingredients into a saucepan. There's no need to add them in any particular order – just toss them all in!
Boil
Turn your stove to medium - high heat and let the mixture come to a boil. Keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t boil over!
Simmer
Once your sauce is boiling, lower the heat and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Make sure to stir occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the pot and to ensure all the flavors meld together beautifully.
Smooth or Chunky BBQ Sauce
There are small chunks of shallots in this sauce which is the way we like it! You can blend this down after cooling if you prefer it smooth.
Blend (Optional)
If you prefer a smooth BBQ sauce, wait until it has cooled and then blend it. This step is completely optional, so if you like a bit of texture in your sauce, feel free to skip it!
Thicken
Feel free to add some cornflour (mixed with warm water) to it 1 teaspoon at a time, bring it to the boil whilst stirring and it will thicken up.
And there you have it, your homemade BBQ sauce is ready to serve, either warm or cold!
Whether you're grilling, roasting, or simply looking for a dip, this BBQ sauce is sure to add a burst of flavor to your meals.
BBQ Sauce Serving Suggestions
For a heartwarming lunch or dinner, why not try adding a generous dollop of BBQ sauce to a spicy chicken burger or hot dog?
It's also a fantastic dipping option for your favourite chips/fries or wedges, giving them an extra burst of flavour. Barbeque sauce can also double up as a delicious crisp or crudité dip.
Moving on to more substantial meals, Hunters Chicken is a dish that truly shines when paired with BBQ sauce. If you're a pizza lover, try using BBQ sauce as a base or crust dip - it's a game-changer!
Try drizzling it over a whole chicken cooked in an air fryer for the last 5 minutes of cooking. The sauce caramelizes beautifully under the high heat giving a crispy sweet exterior that contrasts wonderfully with the tender chicken inside.
Serve on the side with Rump Steak, Cote de Boeuf or sea bream. And of course, BBQ sauce is a classic choice for all BBQ meat or fish.
📖 Step by Step Recipe
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Shallots - or 1 small Onion
- 300 ml ketchup
- 50 ml Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon mango chutney
- 50 ml water
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chilli puree - or 1 chilli pepper very finely chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon garlic puree - or 2 garlic cloves very finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon nigella seeds - if using shop mango chutney add these to the sauce
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a pot on medium heat and bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer for 15mins stirring occasionally.
- Ready to serve warm or cold! If you want smooth BBQ sauce you can blend it after it has cooled.Enjoy!!!
Nutrition
Storage
We know you've enjoyed making this delicious homemade BBQ sauce, and we bet you're wondering about the best way to store it.
Fridge
Once your BBQ sauce has cooled down, transfer it to an airtight container or a well-sealed mason jar. Store it in the refrigerator, where it will stay good for up to 2 weeks. Always use a clean spoon when serving to prevent introducing bacteria into the sauce.
Freezing
If you've made a large batch and want to keep some for later, freezing is a great option! Pour your BBQ sauce into freezer-safe containers, t can last up to 6 months in the freezer.
When you're ready to use your frozen BBQ sauce, thaw it overnight in the fridge.
Hope you enjoy our Homemade BBQ Sauce as much as we do! Take a look through our other recipes for what to do next?
We used this sauce the other day in our Halloween Spider Bread as a dip.
Jayne says
I would love to make this. I make a lot of barbecue dishes in my slow cooker so have a question. Can I use this in my slow cooker dishes instead of using a store bought bottle? Thank you.
Grannie Jean says
I have been making this barby sauce for years, it never fails. It’s so simple and tastes superb on any meat from the barbecue. Jar it up and it keeps in the fridge for weeks so you always have some at hand for that impulsive barbecue.
Family and friends have named it ‘Grannie Jeans barby sauce’
Kay says
Hi Jean
That's made us laugh, Grannie Jeans Barby sauce lol
Really glad you and your family love the BBQ sauce recipe 🙂