This honey BBQ sauce has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors and can be paired with a wide variety of different dishes. Whether it's drizzled over grilled meats, used as a dipping sauce for crispy chicken wings, or brushed onto tender ribs, this sauce takes any meal to the next level. It's so easy to make that you're going to keep it on hand all the time.
Pair your homemade sauce with baked boneless chicken thighs, pork spare ribs, or boneless wings. The possibilities are endless.
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Forget those store-bought bottles – nothing beats the satisfaction of whipping up your very own tangy, sweet, and smoky barbecue sauce right in your own kitchen. It only takes a handful of ingredients and a couple of minutes to make, so why not try it out?
Trust me when I say that this bbq sauce is so good, you'll be using it for all of your favorite foods. From grilled meats to roasted veggies, and absolutely everything in between- you really can't go wrong.
🥘 Ingredients
Open up your pantry and spice cabinet and grab these simple household ingredients. Anything you may be out of is just a quick grocery store trip away.
- Ketchup - 1 cup of ketchup.
- Honey - ½ cup of honey. Use high-quality, natural honey for the best flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar.
- Molasses - ¼ cup of molasses.
- Liquid Smoke - 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke.
- Seasonings - 1 teaspoon of both salt and ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon of paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon of chili powder and cayenne pepper.
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
🔪 How To Make Honey BBQ Sauce
Grab your ingredients, mix them up, and simmer on low heat to meld everything together. Yes, it's that easy! All you need is a saucepan, your measuring spoons, and a wooden spoon.
This recipe will make 16 servings of honey bbq sauce, depending on how much you like to use in each sitting.
- Heat. Place a saucepan over medium heat and stir together 1 cup of ketchup, ½ cup of honey, ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, and ¼ cup of molasses until smooth.
- Mix. Add 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke, 1 teaspoon of both salt and ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon each of paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon of both chili powder and cayenne pepper and stir until well combined.
- Simmer. Turn the heat down to low and simmer the sauce until it thickens up (about 15 minutes).
- Cool. Once thickened, remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool completely before using or storing it for later.
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- A good honey BBQ sauce should balance the sweetness of the honey with the tanginess of ingredients like vinegar or tomatoes. Too much sweetness can be overpowering, and not enough can leave your sauce tasting flat.
- Depending on your preference, adding a bit of heat can elevate your sauce. Use ingredients like cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce to give your BBQ sauce a kick. Remember to start with a small amount and gradually add more until you reach your desired level of spiciness.
- Different kinds of honey, vinegar, and other ingredients can have different levels of sweetness, acidity, and flavor, so it's important to taste your sauce as you make it and adjust the ingredients as needed.
- This sweet bbq sauce can be used for all kinds of things! Try it out on wings, pizza, grilled meat, and more!
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🥡 Storing
Let your sauce cool completely before using or storing it. Once cool, place your honey bbq sauce into a sealed jar or container and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can freeze your honey BBQ sauce! Simply let it cool completely and then place it into a freezer-safe storage bag or container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready, let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
Sure! You can easily increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add a dash of your favorite hot sauce to make your sauce spicier. Make sure you use small increments and taste as you go!
If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a longer period of time to allow it to reduce and thicken. If you're in a hurry, a cornstarch slurry (equal parts of cold water and cornstarch) can be added to thicken it up quickly.
🫙 More Easy Homemade Condiments
- Southwest Dressing - A creamy dressing that requires no cooking and has just the right amount of spice.
- Balsamic Glaze - A sweet and thick glaze that goes great on pizza, flatbread, meat, and more.
- Mild Buffalo Sauce - A 4-ingredient sauce that is perfect for wings, dips, and snacks.
- Sweet And Sour Sauce - Better than takeout, this popular Chinese sauce is both sweet and tangy.
- Creamy Baja Sauce - A zesty sauce that pairs wonderfully with tacos, fajitas, and quesadillas.
- Toffee Sauce - Rich caramel sauce that can take any dessert to the next level.
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📖 Recipe Card
Honey BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Place a saucepan over medium heat and stir together 1 cup ketchup, ½ cup honey, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, and ¼ cup molasses until smooth.
- Add 2 teaspoon liquid smoke, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper and stir until well combined.
- Turn the heat down to low and simmer the sauce until it thickens up (about 15 minutes).
- Once thickened, remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool completely before using or storing for later.
Notes
- A good honey BBQ sauce should balance the sweetness of the honey with the tanginess of ingredients like vinegar or tomatoes. Too much sweetness can be overpowering, and not enough can leave your sauce tasting flat.
- Depending on your preference, adding a bit of heat can elevate your sauce. Use ingredients like cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce to give your BBQ sauce a kick. Remember to start with a small amount and gradually add more until you reach your desired level of spiciness.
- Different kinds of honey, vinegar, and other ingredients can have different levels of sweetness, acidity, and flavor, so it's important to taste your sauce as you make it and adjust the ingredients as needed.
- This sweet bbq sauce can be used for all kinds of things! Try it out on wings, pizza, grilled meat, and more!
- To store: Let your sauce cool completely before using or storing it. Once cool, place your honey bbq sauce into a sealed jar or container and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
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