Description
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe delivers a rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced sauce that’s easy to make at home. Combining tangy lime juice, sweet brown sugar, and smoky paprika, this versatile sauce enhances grilled meats, sandwiches, and more with a delightful mix of sweetness, acidity, and mild heat.
Ingredients
Scale
Homemade BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (or lemon juice)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional, adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Measure all ingredients accurately and bring them to room temperature to ensure easier blending and a smoother texture in the final sauce.
- Blend the Sauce: Add ketchup, brown sugar, lime juice, water, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, paprika, salt, black pepper, and hot pepper sauce into a blender or food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth, thick, and thoroughly combined.
- Taste and Adjust: Sample the sauce and tweak the flavor as needed by adding more brown sugar for extra sweetness, more lime juice for increased tanginess, or more hot sauce for additional heat. Blend again to fully incorporate any adjustments.
- Store the Sauce: Transfer the finished BBQ sauce into a clean glass jar or airtight container. Refrigerate it before using to allow the flavors to meld and develop fully, ensuring the best taste when served.
Notes
- For a smokier flavor, add a pinch of smoked paprika or a few drops of liquid smoke.
- Adjust the hot pepper sauce quantity to control the heat level of the sauce.
- The sauce can be stored refrigerated for up to two weeks.
- Use this sauce as a marinade, dipping sauce, or glaze for grilled meats and vegetables.
- If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a small amount of water until the desired consistency is reached.
