Homemade BBQ Sauce

By John Willoughby

Updated February 8, 2024

  • Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
5(4,249)
Comments
Read comments

Smoked paprika is the secret weapon in this simple barbecue sauce, which goes beautifully with pork and chicken. If you’re painting the sauce onto cooking meat, thin it out with water to about a one-to-one ratio, which will keep the sugars from burning too quickly over the fire. Serve the full-strength stuff alongside the finished meat.

Featured in: Mixed Grill, the American Way

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

    or to print this recipe.

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:About 1½ cups

  • ⅔ cup ketchup

  • ½ cup cider vinegar

  • ¼ cup brown sugar

  • 2 teaspoons pimentón (smoked Spanish paprika)

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

29 grams carbs; 118 calories; 1 gram fiber; 492 milligrams sodium; 1 gram protein; 23 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

5 out of 5
4,249 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

David Blackwell

I would not change a thing. Except split the ½ cup cider to be ¼ cup cider + ¼ cup bourbon. Very good as a general cooking sauce. It is also a great way to take leftover grilled flank steak (or any cut of steak or pork), place it in the bottom of a slow cooker, pour this sauce over, and heat on high for two hours, or low for three or more. It becomes a very easy pulled steak or pork bbq sandwich.

So - I guess I did change a thing...

Erich Hayner

As almost everyone who has commented here has said, make your BBQ sauce YOUR BBQ sauce! I have never made the stuff the same way twice and never will. Experiment! One of the most admired sauces I have ever made consisted of blackberry puree and jam instead of ketchup. Rummage people!

Kevin Osinski

Sauce was good, particularly if, as suggested, you add some spicy paprika or cayenne. I wasn't so fond of it diluted and used as a mop, however. Thinning by 1:1 made it too dilute and flavorless. One part water to two parts sauce might be a better ratio.

Kevin C.

I would add a bit of blackstrap molasses and dried mustard to this good bones recipe.

KarenH

The comments made me laugh! About 1/3 of posters thought this was too sweet, another 1/3 thought it had too much vinegar, and the remaining third thought it was perfect. I vote with the “perfects.” I made it as written, with the exception of adding a small amount of molasses. Made chicken taste wonderful!

Dianeh

So delicious! Made as written then added a splash of bourbon which took it over the top!

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.