This delicious Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce comes together in less than 30 minutes and is a perfectly balanced combination of sweet, spicy, tangy and smoky flavors. Serve it with your favorite grilled, smoked or baked meats for a meal the whole family will love.
The world of BBQ sauce is vast and diverse, with each region boasting its own distinctive flavor and techniques, from the tangy Carolina style to the smoky Kansas City blend to the bold flavors of Memphis. In crafting this Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce recipe, I sought to capture the essence of all these regional favorites in one delicious concoction. With the perfect balance of sweetness and heat, this sauce embodies the best of each BBQ tradition, creating a versatile and irresistible addition to any grilled masterpiece.
Serve this homemade barbecue sauce with Shredded Chicken for a quick Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich or as a compliment to Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin, pulled pork, ribs or Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs.
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce:
- dijon mustard
- canned tomato sauce
- liquid smoke
- apple cider vinegar
- red pepper flakes
- smoked paprika
- garlic powder
- freshly ground black pepper
- cayenne pepper
- molasses
- Worcestershire sauce
- light brown sugar
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here's what you need to make Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce:
1. Add all ingredients to a small pot over medium heat.
2. Whisk to combine.
3. Simmer, stirring intermittently, for 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and the flavors have combined.
4. Cool for 20 minutes at room temperature, then pour the homemade barbeque sauce into a jar and refrigerate until serving.
Substitutions
Want to substitute an ingredient in Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce? Here's how:
- Brown sugar - use an equal amount of an alternative sweetener in place of the brown sugar such as regular granulated sugar, honey or coconut sugar.
- Dijon mustard - use an equal amount of yellow mustard in place of the dijon.
- Tomato sauce - use an equal amount of ketchup in place of the tomato sauce and eliminate the brown sugar.
Variations
Try one of these variations of Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce:
- Extra spicy - double the amount of red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper for more heat in your BBQ Sauce, or, add 1-2 finely diced jalapeno peppers to the sauce.
- Gluten-free - these ingredients are generally gluten-free but be sure to check the labels on the molasses, Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke to confirm your brands are indeed gluten-free.
- Vegan - use an equal amount of soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos instead of the Worcestershire sauce and be sure to check the labels on the molasses and liquid smoke to confirm your brands are indeed vegan.
- Mild - eliminate the red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper for a mild BBQ Sauce.
Equipment
These tools come in handy when making Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce:
Storage
This homemade BBQ Sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. Alternatively, can your BBQ Sauce to give it a longer shelf life.
FAQ
You can easily add some heat to sweet BBQ sauce by stirring in ½- 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. I've added both to this Sweet and Spicy BBQ sauce to give it a more complex spice.
Related
Looking for other easy sauce recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 4 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 teasoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small pot over medium heat. Whisk to combine.
- Simmer, stirring intermittently, for 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and the flavors have combined.
- Cool for 20 minutes at room temperature, then pour into a jar and refrigerate until serving.
Nutrition
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Shannon
Sooooo goood!