This slow-simmered honey barbecue sauce is a candy and tangy do-it-yourself recipe that’s really easy and so good, you’ll wish to lick your fingers clear.
When you’ve whipped up a batch of tangy do-it-yourself barbecue sauce, slather it over every thing from BBQ rooster skewers and child again ribs to Cracker Barrel meatloaf!

5 Star Evaluation
“Completely THE greatest bbq sauce I’ve ever had. My hubs, who will not be a fan of bbq, loves it! Have solely had it on ribs, however going to make pulled beef subsequent week.” – Sharon
PSA: Cease shopping for barbecue sauce! And the excellent news is, after right now, you received’t should. Not when it’s this straightforward and scrumptious to make honey barbecue sauce at dwelling. Merely mix ketchup, just a little honey, apple cider vinegar, and a great sprint of Worcestershire sauce. Prepare dinner it all the way down to an ideal thickness and it’s able to slather over your favourite rooster, chops, burgers, wings, and extra.
Why You’ll Love This Do-it-yourself Honey Barbecue Sauce
- You recognize what goes in it. I’ve all the time discovered most store-bought honey barbecue sauce method too candy, with too many thriller components listed on the bottle for my liking. After I make it at dwelling, I do know precisely what goes into it.
- Make it with pantry components. One of the best honey BBQ sauce comes all the way down to tremendous easy components, together with honey (duh), ketchup, cider vinegar, and some straightforward seasonings. This recipe will get the sweet-tangy ratio good.
- It retains for weeks. This do-it-yourself honey barbecue sauce lasts for as much as two weeks within the fridge. I’ve to say, in grilling season, it’s tremendous helpful!
- Versatile. I embrace loads of methods to make use of this sauce additional within the submit. Apart out of your traditional chops and grilling recipes, it’s scrumptious as a basting sauce, a marinade, and a dipping sauce for nuggets.


Elements You’ll Want
Along with honey, you’ll want a handful of straightforward components to make this do-it-yourself BBQ sauce. I’m going over these beneath. Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card for the total particulars, adopted by step-by-step directions.
- Ketchup – I like natural ketchup because it’s a bit decrease in sodium and sugar, however any sort will work right here.
- Honey – Placing the “honey” in honey barbecue sauce. You’ll be able to substitute honey with one thing else, like molasses or maple syrup, although the sauce can have a special taste profile.
- Brown Sugar – This may be gentle or darkish brown sugar, or granulated sugar in a pinch.
- Vinegar – I just like the delicate sweetness of apple cider vinegar, however you possibly can substitute white or purple wine vinegar, or common distilled white vinegar if wanted.
- Onion Powder – I exploit onion powder and freshly cracked black pepper to season the sauce. You could possibly additionally use garlic powder.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed or bottled lemon juice is okay to make use of.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Or soy sauce, for a touch of umami.
What Does Honey Barbecue Style Like?
Honey barbecue sauce is nice and tangy, with a touch of tomato taste from ketchup. It’s much like sweet-savory teriyaki sauce. One in every of my favourite issues about making it at house is you can simply customise this BBQ sauce to be sweeter, tangier, or extra savory to your liking, simply by tweaking the components!


Methods to Use Honey BBQ Sauce
This do-it-yourself honey BBQ sauce makes a terrific marinade, basting sauce, dip, or cooking sauce. The honey flavors are particularly scrumptious with ribs, and also you’ll see it in motion in my barbecue apricot rooster or pineapple barbecue rooster recipes. Or, strive any of the simple concepts beneath:


Learn how to Retailer
- Refrigerate. Hold this honey barbecue sauce refrigerated hermetic in a jar or container for as much as 2 weeks.
- Freeze. You’ll be able to freeze barbecue sauce for as much as 2 months, and thaw it within the fridge earlier than you utilize it.
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Mix the components. Mix all of the components in a saucepan and set it over medium-high warmth.
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Prepare dinner. Carry the sauce to a boil, whisking ceaselessly. Scale back the warmth to a simmer and cook dinner uncovered, stirring ceaselessly, for about 45 minutes, or till till combination is thickened to a desired consistency. Take away from warmth and let cool.
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Retailer. Retailer in an hermetic container or a jar and maintain for as much as two weeks within the fridge.
Energy: 52kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 0.1g | Fats: 0.01g | Saturated Fats: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.002g | Monounsaturated Fats: 0.001g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 26mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might fluctuate in response to the components and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
Learn how to Make Honey BBQ Sauce
When you’ve gathered your components, right here’s how one can make your personal barbecue sauce:
- Warmth the sauce. First, carry the components to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high warmth, then cut back the warmth to a simmer.
- Prepare dinner. Prepare dinner the sauce, uncovered, for about 45 minutes. Keep in mind to stir typically so it doesn’t burn. As soon as the honey barbecue sauce has thickened to your liking, take the pan off the warmth and let it cool. Your barbecue sauce is able to use immediately, or you possibly can seal it in a jar to maintain within the fridge.

