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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
We had a Grilled Chicken Dinner Community Event to raise money for special needs children. We let people add their own BBQ sauce. I had bought a variety of different kinds. But was also looking for something different and came across your recipe. I didn’t have cayenne pepper so looked up substitutes online and it said Red Pepper Flakes or Chili Powder so I did both. I also used just plain black pepper. Huge Success! It was the favorite of the night. Thank you so much for your recipe! I know this be used for years to come!
I’m so happy that you love the BBQ sauce, Lacie!
I don’t have white vinegar can I use apple cider vinegar?
That will work fine, Cynthia.
Miss Mary: I am looking for a sauce you can dip chicken fingers in. Can this sauce be used to do that or is it better baked on something?
This makes a great dipping sauce, Shirley.
Thank you for sharing this great recipe! I ran out of bbq sauce and luckily had all of the ingredients for this. Turned out great! You saved my Pork chops 🙂
Homemade sauce to the rescue once again. (This happens all the time over here!) Glad I could help, Cynthia!
Very good. Give it a try.
I’m so happy you like it, Dennis!
So good!! Had some smoked chipotle peppers that I used in place of the cayenne. Delicious!! Thank you.
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the BBQ sauce, Angie!
Every ingredient in this lasts for months alone. I would think the addition of vinegar would only up that. Why 3 day?
Three days is a fairly standard answer for food safety, Casey. Do I keep it longer in my own fridge? Absolutely. But I rarely recommend much longer than that to anyone else. Just use your own judgment, Casey.
My wife has never liked BBQ sauce. I made this for my homemade smoked pulled pork. She absolutely loved it! She has asked me to make it again and for family at Christmas! Thanks for the recipe.
That is awesome, Jeff! I’m so happy to hear that she loved the bbq sauce.
Thoroughly enjoyed this sauce and will make it again!
I’m glad you like it, Patricia! It’s a favorite here too.
I was getting ready to turn some leftover pot roast into barbecue, when I discovered I didn’t have enough bottled BQ sauce. Internet to the rescue. This sauce has all the right elements: It’s tangy, not too sweet and has just the right amount of heat. I had all the ingredients on hand except onion powder. I substituted onion flakes and added a spot of liquid smoke. It’s even better than the Texas-made specialty BQ sauce in my nearly empty bottle. Thanks for sharing a quick, vey good, and very easy recipe.
I’m so glad that you like the bbq sauce, Brette!
sorry, my family lives in Tennessee, and did not like this bbq sauce at all. We used it on pulled pork. Nothing like Tn bbq.
What a bummer. I’m sorry to hear it wasn’t your thing. This is one of our favorite BBQ sauces.
This is more a Carolina sauce than Memphis. Memphis likes less vinegar and a thicker sauce.
Good to know, Joe. Whatever you do call it, we love it.
I added sauteed fresh onions and garlic and subtracted the onion powder. Slow cooked frozen chicken thighs (COVID-19 stash) for a few hours with the sauce and it turned out great. Ideal quarantine comfort food.
I couldn’t agree more, John. This is perfect comfort food!
I’m from Durham. NC and I loved this sauce. It might be a better Carolina style but it worked well on my chicken. There are a lot of different levels of quality of condiment components, that might be a factor in the final product. Start with good quality ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cheers
I’m so happy to hear that you like it, Rob!
Amazing Sauce, I just keep making it. FYI to readers, I just put the sauce in a old ketchup squeeze bottle and it keeps way longer than the 3 days mentioned in the recipe. I’ve used the sauce for a month and it’s still good.
I’m so glad that you love it, Jamie!
Good to know, thanks.
Good call!
excellent alternative to store bought sauces and very easy to make.
I’m glad you like the recipe, Greg.
Thanks I will try your bbq sauce
I hope you love it too, Kath.
This sauce is legit! Cutback on cayenne by a 1/2 if you’re delicate, definitely has a nice kick! thank you, I dont get real Memphis BBQ sauce near enough, I anticipate it will be a staple at home now.
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the BBQ sauce!
So yummy!! Thank you so very much for this recipe!! I’ve tried three or four other bbq sauce recipes without much success. This was exactly what I was looking for. I’m so glad I tried one more recipe before giving in and buying my bbq sauce from the store. Thanks again!
I’m thrilled that you love the recipe, Amy!
Supper quick Supper good!
I’m so glad you like it, Neiko!