Spicy Sweet Bbq Sauce
Elevate your barbecue game with this bold and flavorful Spicy Sweet BBQ Sauce, a perfect balance of tangy sweetness and smoky heat. Made with pantry staples like ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar, this homemade sauce gets its irresistible depth from rich molasses, a hint of honey, and the unmistakable kick of hot sauce and cayenne pepper. Smoked paprika and optional liquid smoke add a tantalizing smoky flavor, making it ideal for glazing grilled meats, slathering on ribs, or serving as a dipping sauce. Ready in just 25 minutes, this easy BBQ sauce recipe is a surefire crowd-pleaser and can be customized to your taste—add more heat, sweetness, or tang to make it uniquely yours! Perfect for summer cookouts, weeknight barbecues, or meal prep, this sauce will quickly become your go-to for adding smoky-sweet goodness to every bite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups Ketchup
- 0.5 cups Brown sugar
- 0.25 cups Apple cider vinegar
- 0.25 cups Honey
- 2 tablespoons Molasses
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Hot sauce (e.g., Tabasco or your favorite brand)
- 2 teaspoons Smoked paprika
- 1.5 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 1.5 teaspoons Onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoons Cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoons Liquid smoke (optional)
- 0.25 cups Water
Instructions
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, honey, and molasses. Stir well over medium heat until fully incorporated.
Add Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, and liquid smoke (if using). Stir continuously to combine all the flavors.
Pour in the water and mix well to adjust the consistency of the sauce. Let the mixture come to a gentle simmer.
Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
Once thickened, taste and adjust seasonings if necessary (add more sugar for sweetness, hot sauce for extra heat, or vinegar for tang).
Remove from heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature.
Transfer the BBQ sauce to an airtight container or jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Use it as a flavorful glaze for grilled meats, a dipping sauce, or a marinade for your favorite dishes!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
107 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.1 g | 0% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 357 mg | 16% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 28.0 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.3 g | 1% | |
| Total Sugars | 24.7 g | ||
| Protein | 0.1 g | 0% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 24 mg | 2% | |
| Iron | 0.7 mg | 4% | |
| Potassium | 115 mg | 2% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
