How to Make Barbecue Sauce

Spice up your next cookout with a homemade barbecue sauce.

Barbecue sauce turns grilled meat -- already tasty on its own -- into something special. Making your own sauce from scratch couldn't be easier; it only takes a few minutes to mix up a batch. More importantly, it lets you control the ingredients. Store-bought barbecue sauces may contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and preservatives. Use nonreactive utensils and pans when preparing tomato-based barbecue sauces; copper and aluminum cookware will have a negative impact on the way your final product tastes.

Things You'll Need

• Blender
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup mustard
• 1/4 cup molasses or honey
• 6 oz. tomato paste
• Spatula
• Bowl or jar

Instructions

1. Pour the water and balsamic vinegar into the blender. Add the mustard, as well as the molasses or honey.

2. Add the tomato paste to the mixture. Use a spatula to scrape the paste from the can.

3. Put the lid on the blender. Pulse the ingredients until they're thoroughly combined.

4. Sample the barbecue sauce. Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. For example, add more honey if you prefer a sweeter barbecue sauce. Add black pepper, cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce if you like your barbecue with a little kick.

5. Use the barbecue sauce immediately or store it in your refrigerator until you're ready to grill.

Tips & Warnings

• Replace balsamic vinegar with apple cider vinegar.

• Use a whisk to mix your ingredients if you don't own a blender.

• Store unused portion in the refrigerator to avoid spoilage

References

• Backyard BBQ Boys: Tips When Making BBQ Sauce
• What's Cooking America: Grilled Balsamic-Dijon Chicken

Resources

• Bill's Barbecue: Regional BBQ Sauce Variations
• What's Cooking America: What is a Non-Reactive Skillet?
• Epicurious: The Best Barbecue in the U.S.A.