Basic ingredients including tomato sauce, ketchup, sugar, molasses, red wine vinegar, and spices. The only thing you may not have on hand is liquid smoke which is not my fave. I would use it if necessary, but would rather smoke the recipe if a smoker is available.I also use cider vinegar as a great flavor enhancer. Or… try this:
– Spicy BBQ Sauce: Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper Taste, and add more if desired.
– Honey BBQ Sauce: Add ¼ cup honey.
– Make it less sweet: Cut the sugar in half.
• Tomato Sauce + Paste. For the tomato flavor, I used tomato paste and tomato sauce instead of ketchup.
• Apple Cider Vinegar. The vinegar adds much-needed acidity to our sweet and tangy barbecue sauce recipe.
• Maple Syrup + Molasses. To sweeten things up, I used a little maple syrup and molasses. I love the way the maple plays against the strong flavors in the spices (like in my Easy Baked Beans), and both of these ingredients make the sauce rich and thick too.
• 1 1/2 cups ketchup (I use and recommend one without high fructose corn syrup)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons molasses
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey or 4 T of maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
• 2 teaspoons liquid smoke (optional but recommended)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
• water as needed for thinning