Melissa K. Norris
  • Start Here
  • Podcast
  • Articles
  • Shop
    • Books
    • Classes
    • General Store
  • In Person Workshops
  • Academy
Log In

Pioneering Today-How to Make Your Own Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce

Miscellaneous, Recipes

Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Regardless, I only link to products we use on our homestead or believe in.
Jump to RecipePrint Recipe

We try to replace as many processed products with homemade ones as we can. When we'd raised, butchered, and roasted our own pig, I couldn't very well serve it with store bought barbecue sauce. (Okay, I could have, but I didn't want to)

Homemade Sweet and Smokey Barbecue Sauce

My neighbor makes one of the best barbecue sauces around and she gave me her basic recipe and I tweaked it a little. I like my barbecue sauce on the sweet side with just a bit of smoke.

Disclosure: Some of the below links are affiliate links.

Pioneering Today-Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce

2 cups ketchup (You can use tomato paste and dilute it with water, or boil down stewed tomatoes)

1 cup brown sugar

1 finely chopped onion

5 cloves minced garlic (we use our own homegrown garlic)

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (if you prefer a tangy sauce, then up this to taste)

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce (I use Bragg's Amino Acids in place of soy sauce)

1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Mix all of this in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir and reduce to a simmer. Allow to simmer for an hour, until sauce has thickened and turned a pretty dark red. Use immediately, store in fridge or freeze

What's your favorite homemade replacement for store bought processed foods?

Pioneering Today-Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce

Melissa Norris
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups ketchup (You can use tomato paste and dilute it with water, or boil down stewed tomatoes)
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 finely chopped onion
  • 5 cloves minced garlic (we use our own homegrown garlic)
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar (if you prefer a tangy sauce, then up this to taste)
  • 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce (I use Bragg's Amino Acids in place of soy sauce)
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke optional)

Instructions
 

  • Mix all of this in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir and reduce to a simmer. Allow to simmer for an hour, until sauce has thickened and turned a pretty dark red. Use immediately, store in fridge or freeze
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Related Articles You May Enjoy

  • How to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs
  • Turkey and Dumplings Recipe
  • Cooking With Wild Game (So It Tastes Good!)
  • Salt Cured Ham: Old-Fashioned Preserving

Melissa Norris

Melissa K. Norris inspires people's faith and pioneer roots with her books, podcast, and blog. Melissa lives with her husband and two children in their own little house in the big woods in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains. When she's not wrangling chickens and cattle, you can find her stuffing Mason jars with homegrown food and playing with flour and sugar in the kitchen.

Read more about Melissa

Related Posts

Chocolate gravy being spooned over a flaky buttermilk biscuit.

1930s Chocolate Gravy Recipe

A woman cutting evergreen branches with snips.

Christmas Stovetop Potpourri

Tomato sauce being poured into a large pot on the stove.

Weston Tomato Press (+ Tomato Sauce Recipe)

Comments:

  1. Becky Daye

    10 years ago

    This looks amazing- I can almost smell it! Our favorite is homemade salsa!!!

    Reply
    • Melissa Norris

      10 years ago

      Becky, I’m a homemade salsa girl, too. I like to scramble it in with my eggs in the morning.

      Reply
  2. Amy Lepore

    7 years ago

    Melissa,
    Thank you so much for your book, Pinterest page, FB, and extras! I am so excited to have found you, and while I enjoyed your book VERY much, I found myself weeping through it as it reminded me so much of my mom who passed last March. She was into EVERYTHING and would have just loved you and your ideas. I am looking forward to traveling this road with you, and trying all these newer, healthier versions of sauces, recipes, etc. I love homemade salsa, and jellies! Our favorite is Watermelon Jelly (tastes just like Jolly Ranchers) and Jalepeno jelly.

    In Christ,
    Amy

    Reply
    • Melissa Norris

      7 years ago

      Amy,
      I’m so happy to have found you, too! I’m so sorry for your Mom’s passing and your loss.

      Reply
  3. Carol Hamilton-Thomason

    3 years ago

    Thank you, i have also found several Ketchups without corn syrup and one barbecue sauce (which is no longer available)we have a corn allergy in the family. Thanks for the sub for Worcestershire sauce and soy also have a seafood allergy.

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth Mills

    2 years ago

    Is this recipe safe to can? It seems pretty similar to the recipe in the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. Was also thinking of replacing the liquid smoke with smoked paprika.

    Reply
  5. Sandra Caulder

    2 years ago

    Hi Melissa:
    I’m wondering if the BBQ sauce can be “pressured canned” or if the only preserving method is freezing? I’ve been looking for a good BBQ sauce that I could make and give as Father’s Day gifts for family & friends.
    Thanks, Sandra

    Reply

Leave us a reply: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




Melissa K. Norris

Follow me:

  • Start Here
  • Courses
  • Academy
  • Contact
Log In

Articles

  • Gardening
  • Homesteading
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • DIY

Podcast

  • Time-Saving Tips when Cooking From Scratch
  • How to Test Soil pH & Amend Acidic or Alkaline Soil
  • Yearly Planning Without the Overwhelm
  • Unplugging for One Year with Rory Feek
  • The Norris Farmstead: Our 40-Acre Homestead Farm-Stay

Books

  • Everything Worth Preserving
  • The Family Garden Planner
  • Hand Made
  • The Made From Scratch Life

Education

  • Organic Gardening Workshop
  • Home Fruit Preservative Canning e-course
  • Home Canning With Confidence
  • Homemade Bread & Baking Class
  • Natural Homemade Bath and Beauty
  • Pioneering Today Academy


Copyright 2023 - Melissa K. Norris Pioneering Today LLC

  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use

Melissa K. Norris and Pioneering Today LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

99 shares
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email