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A small glass jar filled with dark red barbecue sauce. A golden spoon is dipped into the sauce. In the background, there is a red and white cloth and wooden kitchen tools featuring a quick barbecue sauce recipe.

Quick Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Melissa Griffiths
Discover this Quick Barbecue Sauce Recipe that transforms simple pantry staples into a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy homemade condiment in just 20 minutes — perfect for busy weeknight dinners or making ahead for meal prep!
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 32 (1 tablespoon servings)
Calories 33 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ small onion (finely chopped (about ⅓ cup))
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 4 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
  • 1 teaspoon chili paste (optional for spiciness)

Instructions
 

  • In a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat cook the onion and garlic in the olive oil until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Take care not to burn the onions and garlic and stir often. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
  • The onion and garlic will still be about the size you cut them into. If you like chunky BBQ sauce then the sauce is ready to use. If you like it smoother then let the BBQ sauce cool for 10-15 minutes and blend until smooth.
  • The barbecue sauce can be used right away or refrigerated up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Notes

  • This recipe makes 2 cups of sauce, or 32 servings of 1 tablespoon each.
  • Make this sauce a day or two ahead to give it time to reach the best flavor. It will get better as it sits in the fridge for a day or two!
  • If you like your barbecue sauce on the spicy side then you can add a teaspoon of chili paste.
  • For a smoother sauce, blend the mixture after it has cooled to break down the onions. I like to use a taller saucepan for cooking the sauce so I can use the immersion blender right in the pan for blending.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 tablespoons of 2 cupsCalories: 33kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.5gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gSodium: 78mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 39IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.1mg
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