Make one of our tasty, homemade barbecue sauces and fire up the grill.
Barbecue sauce can be a source of pride depending on where your hometown is. Luckily, you don’t have to travel to North Carolina or Kansas City to get a sauce that’s finger-lickin’ good. You be the judge! Which barbecue sauce comes out on top for you? Tell us in the comments section below!
1. Kansas City Style Sauce
This classic sauce is sweet and tangy and the one most people think of when someone mentions barbecue sauce. Whether it’s on ribs or a juicy grilled chicken breast, this sauce brings out the savoury aspect of grilled meat and is a complement to the deep, smoky flavours from the barbecue.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients
1 bottle (1 litre) of ketchup
125 mL (1/2 cup) Worcestershire sauce
125 mL (1/2 cup) dark brown sugar
15 mL (1 tbsp) onion powder
15 mL (1 tbsp) garlic powder
1/2 medium onion, diced
50 mL (1/4 cup) molasses
All you have to do is combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan and simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
2. Carolina Style Sauce
If you’ve never had Carolina-style sauce, you’re only experiencing half of the barbecue spectrum. It’s a thinner sauce — one that isn’t so much slathered on as it is a true complementary blend of flavours that moisturizes and kicks up the natural flavours of the meat with a healthy dose of heat.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: None
Ingredients
500 mL (2 cups) vinegar (can be split between distilled and cider — feel free to experiment)
22 mL (1 1/2 tbsp) brown sugar
15 mL (1 tbsp) salt
15 mL (1 tbsp) crushed red pepper
2 mL (1 tsp) ground black pepper
As for making it? Just combine all the ingredients in a bottle with a tight lid or jar and give it a shake. Put it in the refrigerator overnight to let all the flavours blend into a wonderful, thin spicy sauce.
3. Root Beer Barbecue Sauce
Sounds strange, right? If you’ve never tried it before, root beer barbecue sauce is a delicious, sweet and savoury addition to any meat on the grill.
Ingredients
375mL (1 1/2 cups) root beer
375mL (1 1/2 cups) ketchup
50 mL (1/4 cup) pulp-free orange juice
50 mL (1/4 cup) freshly-squeezed lemon juice
50 mL (1/4 cup) Worcestershire sauce
22 mL (1 1/2 tbsp) molasses
2 mL (1/2 tsp) ground ginger
5 mL (1 tsp) garlic power
5 mL (1 tsp) onion powder
5 mL (1 tsp) paprika (optional)
2 mL (1/2 tsp) crushed red pepper (optional)
Directions
Combine all ingredients in saucepan
Bring mixture to boil while stirring occasionally
Bring heat down to simmer until reduced to desired consistency
Let cool and transfer to a bowl or jar
No matter which sauce you make, everyone around the table will be hooked! And if you have any extra left over, pour it in a mason jar, add a label and gift it to your favourite hostess. Or add it to a set of spatulas, tongs and an apron, for a wonderful grill set gift for someone special in your life!
