Homemade BBQ Sauce (Classic Kansas City Style)
Sweet, tangy, and clings to everything it touches. This one beats the bottle every time.
Servings: 18 (about 2 tablespoons each)
Calories: 54kcal
Cost: Under $3
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon celery seed
- Pinch of cayenne optional
- Optional: 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, 1 tablespoon bourbon, 1 tablespoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Cool completely, then transfer to a clean glass jar.
- Refrigerate. Keeps up to 3 weeks for best quality.
Notes
Fridge: 4 to 6 weeks, sealed. Freezer: up to 6 months, portioned into small containers and thawed overnight.
Want it tangier, spicier, or mustard-based instead? Four more variations (Memphis, Texas, Carolina Gold, and Sweet Alabama White) are up in the full post.
Nutrition
Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 283mg | Potassium: 125mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.4mg
