24 Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipes That Are So Good, You'll Never Buy Store-bought Again

We'll be making these all season long.

By

Melanie Fincher

Updated on May 24, 2024

a close up view of barbecue sauce with a brush sitting in the sauce. — Photo:
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

Whether its for a Memorial Day barbecue or a summer grilling gathering, you need a great barbecue sauce. But, as many of us know, barbecue sauce is a matter of personal preference, and folks can be particular about what ingredients should or shouldn't be included. Making your own barbecue sauce ensures you have complete control over what goes in it, unlike what you'll find at the store. No matter what regional barbecue camp you fall into, here you're sure to find a homemade barbecue sauce that suits your taste.

01 of 24

Big Al's K.C. Barbecue Sauce

barbecue sauce side view

As one of just two cities that can claim their own unique barbecue style (the other being Memphis), Kansas City knows a thing or two about barbecue sauce. This classic KC-style sauce gets its sweetness from molasses and ketchup, and liquid smoke gives it its signature smoky flavor.

02 of 24

A Very Popular Barbecue Sauce

a close up view of barbecue sauce with a brush sitting in the sauce. — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

This sauce is just the right balance of sweet and spicy, thanks to the brown sugar, ketchup, and hot pepper sauce. Reviewer DMB4LIFE says, "It would be foolish to ever buy the store bought kind again. You just can't compare them."

03 of 24

Vegan Barbeque Sauce

a ramekin of vegan bbq sauce sits on a red and white striped linen on a wooden table. A basting brush covered in sauce is directly on the wooden surface — Danielle K

You can serve this vegan barbecue with another vegan barbecue alternative like jackfruit or glazed on top of a rack of ribs. Oh, and you can can use it right away or make it ahead store in a glass jar in the fridge to use throughout the summer.

04 of 24

Kathy's Award Winning Barbecue Sauce

side view of ribs and barbecue sauce

"This is a thick and spicy barbecue chicken recipe that has won several cooking contests," says recipe creator Kathy. "The sauce consists of molasses, brown sugar, tomato juice and spices all pureed together in a blender."

05 of 24

Buzzsaw's Barbecue Sauce

Buzzsaw's BBQ Sauce

You can use this sauce on the side or as marinade for beef, pork, or chicken. "I used this sauce for chicken thighs and it was so good!" says reviewer Tami H. "It doesn't even come close to store bought barbecue sauce. Next time I will try it on ribs!"

06 of 24

Korean Barbecue Sauce

side view of wings covered in korean barbecue sauce

Reviewers say this sauce—which includes soy sauce, Sriracha, fresh ginger, and sesame oil—is great served over grilled salmon, spare ribs, or chicken thighs.

07 of 24

Mustard Based Barbecue Sauce

side view of ribs and sauce

Many barbecue sauces are ketchup-based, but mustard-based sauces reign supreme in South Carolina's "Mustard Belt." This traditional recipe features just five pantry staple ingredients.

08 of 24

Sweet and Tangy Barbecue Sauce

overview of white bowl of bbq sauce

Vinegar gives this sweet sauce a bit of kick. You'll want to keep some of this sauce in the fridge for all your summer grilling.

09 of 24

Smokin' Jack Barbecue Sauce

pitcher of barbecue sauce

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add fiery flavor to this top-rated BBQ sauce. Recipe creator Big Chag suggests trying it on a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw as the ideal sauce.

10 of 24

Alabama-Style White Barbecue Sauce

high angle looking at a jar of Alabama style white barbecue sauce with some on chicken in the background — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

Alabama's signature barbecue sauce was created in 1925 at Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur. It's a peppery mayonnaise-based sauce that can be used as a marinade, basting sauce, or serving sauce.

11 of 24

Easy Barbecue Sauce

side view of barbecue sauce in a cup with a brush

"I came up with this recipe via trial and error after running out of barbecue sauce one too many times. Now my family will not have any other kind," says recipe creator Joyce. "I make it in double batches and store it in a mason jar in the refrigerator." Ketchup, brown sugar, onion, teriyaki sauce, hot sauce, and liquid smoke are all you need to make this easy barbecue sauce.

12 of 24

Raspberry Hot Barbecue Sauce

raspberry barbecue sauce from a pitcher pouring into a white container

Before you toss your jar of pickles, be sure to save the juice for this unique sauce. The acidity of the pickle juice helps to balance the sweetness of the raspberry preserves and the spice of the hot pepper sauce.

13 of 24

Costa del Sol Barbeque Sauce

birds eye view of barbecue sauce in bowl bowl

This sauce, straight from the Spanish Costas, gets a kick from red chile peppers and cayenne pepper.

14 of 24

Guava Barbeque Sauce

barbecue sauce with brush

Guava's tropical, tangy flavor is an excellent pairing for savory meats, particularly pork.

15 of 24

Eastern North Carolina Barbecue Sauce with a West Coast Twist

side view of vinegar sauce with a spoon

Chef John's take on East North Carolina-style sauce uses honey in place of sugar. This all-purpose condiment is especially fantastic on pulled pork.

16 of 24

Easy Barbecue Sauce

glass cup of barbecue sauce with sauce brush

Fennel seeds and soy sauce add non-traditional flavor to this sauce. "I think this would be outstanding on ribs or even grilled pork chops," says Allrecipes Allstar lutzflcat.

17 of 24

Blackberry Habanero Barbecue Sauce

jelly in a white cup with a habenaro pepper on top

If you're looking for an out-of-the-box barbecue sauce, your search ends with this sweet-heat blackberry sauce.

18 of 24

Pomegranate Molasses Barbecue Sauce

green bowl full of barbecue sauce and a whisk

The fruity, tart flavor of this sauce plays well with meats like pork, chicken, and lamb.

19 of 24

Peach-Jalapeno Barbeque Sauce

Peach-Jalapeno Barbeque Sauce

Say hello to summer grilling with this seasonal sauce! Peaches complement a variety of meats, including chicken, pork, and beef.

20 of 24

Caribbean Barbecue Sauce

barbecue sauce in a white ramekin

Spiced rum adds Caribbean flair to this tangy, island-style sauce.

21 of 24

Bacon and Onion Barbecue Sauce

Bacon and Onion Barbecue Sauce

For added texture, try crumbling the bacon and adding it back to the sauce, as Allrecipes Allstar lutzflcat suggests.

22 of 24

Pacific Rim Barbecue Sauce

barbecue sauce on a picnic blanket

Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and Chinese 5-spice powder add Asian-inspired flavor to this East-West fusion sauce.

23 of 24

Tahini Barbecue Sauce

creamy barbecue sauce in a white bowl

Tahini is responsible for the unique, nutty flavor of this Barbecue sauce. "It goes wonderful with chicken!" says recipe creator Reima.

24 of 24

Maple Whiskey Barbecue Sauce

Maple Whiskey BBQ Sauce

Recipe creator France C suggests making this sauce a day ahead of time to give the flavors time to marry.

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