You can stop your search—this is the Southern BBQ Sauce Recipe that gets it right. After testing and tweaking it to perfection, this one checks all the boxes: a little tang, a little sweet, a little kick. Whether you’re making pulled pork in the crock pot or firing up your smoker for some smoked pork roast, this is the easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe you’ll keep coming back to. This is the real deal and comes together fast with pantry staples. You’ll never need a store-bought bottle of barbecue sauce again.
Ingredients Needed For Southern BBQ Sauce
I used 9 ingredients to make my BBQ Sauce and they are all here for a reason. Some add sweet, some add heat, some are used for a great base flavor, while other add a bit of acid to balance everything out. This sauce is a bit on the spicy side so feel free to omit the cayenne and/or hot sauce if that’s not your thing. If you’re leery of too much spice but still want that contrast of a little heat, perhaps start with just HALF the amounts I have listed.
- Ketchup – the base of this BBQ sauce. It brings sweetness, tang, and that familiar tomato flavor without needing to fuss with a long list of ingredients.
- Garlic – fresh cloves, finely minced. Adds depth and a rich savory flavor right from the start.
- Oil or butter – just a touch, to sauté the garlic until golden and fragrant.
- Molasses – gives the sauce a dark, rich sweetness and that unmistakable Southern BBQ vibe.
- Worcestershire sauce – adds salt, umami, and a little bite that rounds out the flavor.
- Hot sauce – a small splash for subtle heat. You can adjust based on how spicy you want it.
- Black pepper – coarsely ground for texture and bold flavor.
- Dark brown sugar – sweetens the sauce and helps it caramelize beautifully when cooked with meat.
- Lemon juice – freshly squeezed for a little brightness to balance the sweet and savory.
- Cayenne pepper (optional) – for extra heat if you like things spicier.
Variations
Here are a few ways to customize this easy BBQ sauce based on what you’ve got:
- Make your own homemade ketchup using tomato sauce or tomato paste, if you have a recipe you love.
- Use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar for a sharper tang.
- No Worcestershire? Soy sauce with an extra splash of lemon juice will work.
- Want a thin sauce like South Carolina or North Carolina barbecue styles? Add more vinegar, mustard, and a splash of water.
- Add honey for more sweetness.
- Blend in cooked onion or jalapeño for a chunkier texture and added heat.
How to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce
All you need to make homemade BBQ Sauce is 15-20 minutes of time and just a handful of ingredients that you most likely already have on hand. Every time I make this, I get so many compliments…and I think a new stalker or two! Your guests will RAVE! For full recipe details including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are my step by step directions to guide you.
1. Mince and Sauté Garlic
Mince garlic finely, heat oil or butter in a large saucepan and sauté on medium heat until it just begins to brown. Be careful not to burn it or even brown it too much as it will become bitter and you’ll need to start all over. This should only take a minute or two.
Pro Tip: Some recipes will have you just throw raw garlic in with the other ingredients but I find that to be a bit harsh. Sautéing the garlic mellows it out and creates a whole new flavor profile that compliments this sauce nicely. If you plan on simmering your sauce for a long time, feel free to skip this step.
2. Incorporate the Remaining Ingredients + Simmer
Once the garlic is ready to go, the rest of the sauce comes together in a jiffy! Simply add ketchup, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, black pepper, dark brown sugar, lemon juice and cayenne pepper to the saucepan. Whisk until smooth, then simmer on medium low heat, stirring occasionally for 10-15 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Boom. Done.
How to Use this BBQ Sauce
This BBQ Sauce is very versatile and can be served with your favorite pork, chicken, beef, or on a pizza. Just toss shredded meat in the warm sauce just before serving. Works great with crock pot, instant pot, or oven-roasted pork butt. It could even be used as a wing sauce if you thin it a bit with a little water.
Try it on these dishes:
- Smoked Chicken Wings
- Smoked Pork Butt (Pulled Pork)
- Smoked Ribs or Oven Baked Ribs
- Crockpot Pulled Pork with Pulled Pork Rub
- Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- BBQ Chicken Nachos
- Honey Barbecue Chicken
Storage Directions for Southern BBQ Sauce
How long will homemade BBQ sauce last?
This sauce is best when consumed within 1 week, but can last up to 2 weeks in a mason jar or airtight container in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze this recipe?
If you find yourself not being able to use it that quickly, you can freeze homemade Barbecue sauce for up to 3 months in an airtight freezer safe container. Defrost by placing in the refrigerator overnight before using.
And there you have it, the BEST and EASIEST Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipe you’ll ever need. It nails that balance of sweet, tangy, smoky, and spicy…perfect for pairing with all your favorite pork recipes (and more!). I hope you make a big ol’ batch this summer and share it with your friends and family. Printable recipe card below.
If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
Homemade BBQ Sauce
This southern style BBQ Sauce (perfect for pulled pork) comes together in about 15-20 minutes using ingredients you probably already have on hand. Once they taste this amazing BBQ Sauce, your friends and family will be BEGGING for the recipe. Makes about 1 ½ pints of sauce.
Ingredients
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 teaspoon oil or butter, for sautéing garlic
- ▢ 2 cups ketchup
- ▢ 1/4 cup molasses
- ▢ 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
- ▢ 1 tablespoon black pepper fresh, coarsely ground
- ▢ 1/2 cup dark brown sugar loosely packed
- ▢ 2 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed, about ½ lemon
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil or butter in a small saucepan on medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until it just begins to brown, being careful not to burn it.
- Add the remaining ingredients to pan and simmer on medium low heat, stirring occasionally for 10-15 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
- Serve warm with your favorite chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, or pizza!
Nutrition
Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 587mg | Potassium: 380mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 366IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg