A Spoon Full of Lovin' · January 2025
Yum Yum BBQ Sauce
Perfect for your Labor Day grill
This would be great for your grilling this Labor Day — and it is so easy and so good. I've tried a lot of BBQ sauces over the years, both store-bought and homemade, and this one has become my go-to. It's got the perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and tangy, and it comes together in about 20 minutes on the stovetop. Make a big batch and keep it in the fridge all summer long.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp molasses
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp butter (for richness)
Instructions
Combine Ingredients
Add all ingredients except the butter to a medium saucepan. Whisk together until fully combined.
Simmer
Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and cook for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors meld.
Finish with Butter
Remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted. This adds a beautiful gloss and richness to the sauce.
Taste & Adjust
Taste and adjust seasoning — more brown sugar for sweetness, more vinegar for tang, more cayenne for heat.
Cool & Store
Let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a jar or airtight container. Refrigerates well for up to 3 weeks.
Robin's Tips & Variations
- For a smokier flavor, add ½ tsp of liquid smoke.
- This sauce is great as a marinade, a basting sauce during grilling, or a dipping sauce at the table.
- Double or triple the batch — it disappears fast at cookouts.
- For a spicier version, add a diced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce.
Fire up the grill!
If you make this, I'd love to hear how it turned out. Drop me a note on the blog page. Happy cooking — with a spoon full of lovin'!