Description
A rich, tangy, and smoky barbecue sauce made from simple pantry staples. Perfect for brushing over ribs, chicken, or burgers, this sauce combines the sweetness of brown sugar, the tang of apple cider vinegar, and the smoky warmth of paprika for a crowd-pleasing flavor that’s easy to make and endlessly versatile.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1–2 tablespoons water (as needed)
Instructions
- Combine ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a saucepan.
- Stir in smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper.
- Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to low.
- Simmer for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Adjust thickness with water if necessary.
- Taste and tweak seasoning as desired.
- Let cool slightly, then transfer to a container for storage.
Notes
- Toast spices briefly in a dry pan before adding for deeper flavor.
- Adjust sweetness or heat to taste during cooking.
- Sauce thickens more as it cools.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Condiment/Sauce
- Method: Stovetop simmer
- Cuisine: American