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Tangy, sweet, Memphis bbq sauce is so much tastier than anything store-bought! (And you can make it with just a few pantry ingredients!)
Have you tried making barbecue sauce? If you haven’t, it’s time to give it a try. And if you have but you haven’t found a recipe you love yet, this Memphis-style barbecue sauce recipe just might be the one.
Memphis BBQ Sauce
This is a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce with a hint of spicy heat. The memphis-style bbq sauce is thinner and tangier than most barbecue sauces, and I prefer it to the thick and smoky sauces typically available at the grocery store.
I really like the ratio of tang to spice in this version and I’m thrilled to share it with you today. If you want something a little different next time you’re grilling or when you’re pulling together a quick weeknight dinner of BBQ Chicken Stuffed Potatoes, take five minutes and stir together a batch of tangy bbq sauce to make it even better.
There are many different BBQ sauces out there beyond the classic flavors. This Sriracha Bourbon Barbecue Sauce is one that my husband and oldest son love.
If you’re after a homemade BBQ sauce that’s heavier on the spice, a bit sweeter, and a little bit thicker, check out this Sweet and Spicy Homemade BBQ Sauce – it’s reminiscent of Sweet Baby Ray’s sauces and my kids love it.
Got spice lovers in your house? They’ll go nuts for this spicy barbecue sauce with enough heat to bite the back of your throat. It delivers plenty of warmth with lots of Tabasco sauce and cayenne pepper.
Carolina Style BBQ Sauce is packed with mustard and then there are Korean Barbecue Sauces in a league of their own.
It’s no wonder barbecue sauce is one of the most popular sauces and condiments around. There’s a style of sauce for every pallet and to suit every kind of dish!
Tangy BBQ Sauce
This Tennessee barbecue sauce was a fun change from our usual and definitely a sauce that I will make again. I knew I need to share it with you because it’s so easy to make, too. Every ingredient for this BBQ sauce is likely to already be in your refrigerator or pantry.
If you haven’t made a homemade barbecue sauce before, this is a terrific place to start.
In less than 15 minutes, you’ll have a tangy barbeque sauce at your fingertips that is likely to have you swearing off store-bought sauces forever.
How To Make Barbecue Sauce
Like lots of American BBQ sauce recipes, this one has a ketchup base. A generous portion of vinegar is added for tartness, along with mustard for extra tang.
Brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and freshly ground black pepper help temper the sourness just a bit with Worcestershire adding a slightly aged, smoky dimension to the sauce.
All the ingredients come together on the stove in just one saucepan making both prep and clean up a breeze.
Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce
The resulting sauce is a tangy, spicy, lightly sweet sauce that works well on ribs, pulled pork, grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, you name it and I’ve probably dipped it into or drizzled it with this sauce.
I love that it’s not cloyingly sweet like lots of commercial store-bought sauces and its natural rich red color is so appealing!
This sweet and tangy sauce is fantastic on Oven Broiled Chicken, Pan Fried Chicken, and Shredded Chicken. It’s also good on Pulled Pork and Memphis Style Ribs.
How to Store BBQ Sauce
Because this BBQ sauce has so much acidity from the vinegar, it keeps for a good long while. If you won’t be using it all right away, store the sauce in a jar or other airtight container in your refrigerator.
While my assumption is that this could be canned without any issue, I’m not an expert on canning and I can’t guarantee the food safety of it. If you’re more expert than I am, go for it.
Because I like to have this sauce on hand, I often make a triple batch and portion it into containers for the freezer. It thaws quickly and works well in any recipe.
Whether you’re new to making homemade barbecue sauce or a total sauce aficionado, I think you’ll be surprised by how much this stands out from the standard sauce options.
Try this tangy bbq sauce recipe the next time you’re craving barbecue and be sure to let me know what you think!
Tangy Memphis BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan, over medium low heat. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
- Simmer 10 minutes and then remove from the heat. Use immediately or pour into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 8/7/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 3/14/23}
recipe slightly adapted from and with thanks to Cooking Light via Jenn’s Food Journey
Mil Gracias por compartir la receta me funciono en pollo carne al horno hamburguesa y mas gracias
¡Me alegro que estés disfrutando la receta!
Easy and loved it! My go to bbq sauce now! Thank you!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the sauce, Kathleen.
That’s like ketchup, not BBQ sauce.
BBQ sauce isn’t that different from ketchup, Jackie. There’s a lot more flavor though!
No it’s not Jackie. Just because there’s ketchup in it, doesn’t make it just like ketchup. I spend a lot of my time making sauces, and this is the recipe that I fall back on for barbecue sauce, every time.
Second time making it, absolutely lovely
I’m thrilled that you like it!
This is my go-to sauce. I like to add a splash of orange juice.
I’ve been trying to replicate the sauce from my favorite bbq place in Florida that I grew up with. I live in Wisconsin now and nothing comes close. I found this recipe and the picture looked similar to that elusive sauce I used to eat in FL, so I tried it out. I skipped the brown sugar and measured the spices with my heart instead of a spoon, and it came out excellent. Very similar to the one I was trying to replicate, and I think with a few tweaks it’ll be spot on. Thank you for helping me recreate my childhood!
That’s awesome! That’s so much for taking the time to tell me. I’m thrilled it works for you, Peter!
I’ve made this sauce at least 20 times over the last several years and I never get tired of it. It’s always a hit for big gatherings. Someone always asks for the recipe. I change nothing when I make it, it’s absolutely perfect. If the apocalypse happens, one of the first things I plan to do is stock up on all the ingredients. Whoever that Jackie lady is saying this is ketchup doesn’t have a clue. Thank you so much for this!
I’m thrilled that you are enjoying the bbq sauce!
This sauce does a great job with pork in particular. The only change I made was to cut the cayenne by 1/3. Still plenty spicy but not as “in your face” with the heat. I was doing a triple batch, so it was a little easier to measure. On a single batch I’d probably start with a 1/4 TSP and add until you hit your preferred spiciness.
I’m thrilled you are enjoying the bbq sauce!
Such a delicious bbq sauce with just the right amount of kick! Can this recipe be canned?
I’ve never canned BBQ sauce. I simply store it in the fridge for a week or two.
This is my go-to BBQ sauce recipe. I’ve made it over and over again for small and large gatherings and have shared this recipe with many! The tartness and spicy heat combined together are so tasty. I do reduce the amount of brown sugar to half, because I prefer the tangy taste the most. It’s the best recipe and so easy to make. I make sure I always have all the ingredients on hand for any pop up occasion!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the bbq sauce!
Awesome on ribs
I’m so glad you like it!
It’s really good! How do you get rid of the overwhelming ketchup flavor? Or is that just how it is suppose to be. I know so many recipes that involve ketchup but it just lingers. Maybe a different brand of ketchup?
It’s possible that homemade bbq sauce recipes aren’t going to be your thing, Jake. I don’t mind the flavor being reminiscent of ketchup, as I find most bbq sauces similar in their flavor profiles. However, you could try boosting your favorite flavors here to minimize it. If you love heat, maybe increase that or if the tang thrills you, add a bit more vinegar.