Homemade Sweet Barbecue Sauce is sweet, savory and delicious! It’s like Sweet Baby Ray’s just minus the high fructose corn syrup. This recipe yields about 3 cups.

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Meet my favorite homemade barbecue sauce.

From the very moment my lips tasted Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, I was hooked. I love the consistency and sweet and savory flavor combination. However it was also in the same moment that I read the label and didn’t care for the fact it was made with high fructose corn syrup. Which is when I began my mission to make my own sweet barbecue sauce that stands up to this huge name brand. It’s sweet, tangy and perfectly seasoned.

Since creating my own version, I’ve had it on pizza, nachos, wings, burgers, meatloaf you name it.

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We love this recipe so much, that I even put the recipe in my cookbook! And if I had to label it, I’d call it Sweet Laurie Loo’s. What? Too similar?? 😉

To Make This Homemade Sweet Barbecue Sauce You Will Need:

  • ketchup (homemade or store-bought)
  • red wine vinegar
  • worcestershire sauce
  • dark brown sugar, packed
  • ground mustard
  • paprika
  • kosher salt
  • black pepper

Pantry ingredients. What could be better? I love making food from what I find in my pantry or fridge. It makes me feel chef-y. It’s like I’m on Chopped or something. Pulling off a dinner with only having onion, lemon, vegetable stock and chicken thighs is what I live for!

In a mixing bowl, measure and add 1-1/4 cups ketchup (homemade or store-bought), 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup red wine vinegar (use 1/2 for zippier, more vinegar style sauce) and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.

Next, measure and add 1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar, 2-1/2 teaspoons dried mustard, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1-1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 3/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper.

Before you say anything, YES, that’s whole lotta dark brown sugar, I’m aware. However, the brown sugar is crucial so the vinegar is balanced while still making this sauce sweet.

Then stir until the sugar is dissolve and the seasonings mixed throughout.

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Once the barbecue sauce is mixed thoroughly, you can store it a large glass jar or container and refrigerate for at least a couple hours.

Do Not Skip This Step!

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You’ll notice if you taste this sauce right away, it’s not quite ready for slathering on ribs or chicken. It’s so important that you refrigerating this sweet barbecue sauce overnight because it will allow the flavors to develop. In a pinch, 2 to 4 hours will do.

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Enjoy! And if you give this Homemade Sweet Barbecue Sauce recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

Homemade Sweet Barbecue Sauce l SimplyScratch.com #sweet #barbecue #bbq #sauce #fromscratch #grilling #copycat #sweetbabrays

Homemade Sweet Barbecue Sauce l SimplyScratch.com #sweet #barbecue #bbq #sauce #fromscratch #grilling #copycat #sweetbabrays
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Yield: 24 servings

Homemade Sweet Barbecue Sauce

Homemade Sweet Barbecue Sauce is sweet, savory and delicious! It's like Sweet Baby Ray's just minus the high fructose corn syrup! Yields 3 cups or about 24 (2 tablespoon) servings.

Ingredients

  • cups ketchup
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, see notes
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • cups dark brown sugar, packed (see notes)
  • teaspoons ground mustard
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • teaspoons kosher salt, more or less to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

  • Measure and add the ketchup, vinegar, worcestershire, sugar, mustard, paprika, salt and pepper into to a mixing bowl, preferably with a spout.
  • Whisk well until the sugar has dissolved and the spices are throughout.
  • Pour barbecue sauce into an air-tight jar(s) or container(s) and store it in your fridge. This allows the flavors to develop and meld. Overnight is best but at the least a few hours will do.
  • This sauce can also be frozen.

Notes

1/3 cup vingegar for a sweeter sauce and 1/2 cup for zippier, more vinegar style sauce. Packing the brown sugar is crucial so the vinegar is balanced, so if you feel the sauce is still too vinegary, add more dark brown sugar.
If stored in an air-tight jar, this sauce will last for 2 weeks if not longer.
Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 69kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 270mg, Potassium: 68mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 78IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 1mg