Sweet and Spicy Homemade Barbecue Sauce

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4.8 from 5 votes

Sweet and Spicy Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Recipe lightly adapted from Half-Baked Harvest

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Side Dish

Servings: (1) tablespoon servings

Calories: 36kcal

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups ketchup I'm partial to Heinz (or homemade if you have lots of tomatoes on hand!)
1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
2 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons hot Hungarian paprika or smoked paprika I've used both types.
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a medium size saucepan. Whisk until smooth and then bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let cool for a few minutes before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating until needed. Enjoy!

Notes

We love love LOVE the spicy side of this sweet barbecue sauce. That said, I make it with the optional cayenne pepper. (For what it's worth, my non-spice lover adores this sauce as well.) However, if you are leery of the heat, taste the sauce before adding any cayenne and then add it very slowly, tasting as you go.

Nutrition