Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce
Skip the sugary store-bought sauces and make this easy homemade BBQ sauce instead! It has the same sweet, smoky, and tangy flavor you love—just with less sugar and simple, real-food ingredients.
Servings: 2 cups
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon olive or coconut oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup yellow onion chopped small
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup*
- 1 ½ Tablespoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon tamari or coconut aminos
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- dash of cinnamon
Instructions
- Add oil to a medium sized saucepan and heat over medium heat. Add garlic and onion and sauté until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Make sure to stir the mixture frequently and watch the garlic because it can burn easily.
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, maple syrup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, tamari and mustard into the pan. Stir to combine.
- Add in seasonings and spices: salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, ground pepper and cinnamon. Stir to combine.
- Allow mixture to come to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook for about 12-15 minutes, stirring frequently. Just be careful because if the heat is too high, the mixture will start to boil and splatter.
- Let cool slightly, then transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Use right away or let cool and refrigerate for later use.
Notes
- To lower the sugar content, use powdered or liquid stevia or monkfruit instead of maple syrup. Start with a little (like 1/8 teaspoon) taste and add more until the sweetness level suits your needs.
- Storing: Let the BBQ sauce cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or glass jar. Store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezing: Just pour into a freezer-safe jar or silicone cube tray, freeze, and thaw individual portions as needed.
Nutrition
Serving: 2 Tablespoons | Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g