My dad and uncle are fantastic barbecue connoisseurs, so I grew up eating some pretty amazing Q. I’m talking ribs and roasts, smoked low and slow to BBQ perfection, right in my backyard! My dad always concocts rubs with his own blend of spices and serves up his Q with a variety of different homemade sauces. I still remember the hours my dad spent on the smoker to make pulled pork sliders for my high school graduation. To everyone who didn’t come to my party, you missed out (and you suck).
Anyway, I’ve adopted many of my dad’s cooking habits, but I haven’t really dabbled in the barbecue world–until now, that is! I wouldn’t say I’m ready to enter myself into a BBQ cook off, but I can make a pretty good sauce. My favorite style of BBQ sauce is sweet with a little heat. The best part about making homemade sauce is that you can tweak it to your preferences. If you like a tangier sauce, add more acid. If you like it spicy, bump up the cayenne. Sweet? Brown sugar is your friend. It’s so versatile and super easy to make because you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry. So, next time you pass by the condiment aisle, keep walking. Give homemade a chance.
Enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- garlic powder
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes (or cayenne)
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens. Let cool before storing in the fridge.
