I’m sharing my easy sweet and tangy BBQ sauce recipe, made from scratch. This sauce is perfect for a variety of dishes like chicken chop salad, BBQ chicken pizza, or even tossed with chicken wings. Its rich and bold, and it adds the perfect touch to all your favorite meals.
I first developed this homemade sweet and tangy BBQ sauce recipe when I wanted a DIY sauce for my CPK copycat BBQ chicken pizza, and it’s been a go-to ever since. I discovered that it was not only the perfect flavor to add to a pizza, but is also the best BBQ sauce recipe for anything from bbq chicken chop salad to salty chicken wings!
This BBQ sauce recipe is the perfect balance of sweet honey, tangy vinegar, and smoky spices, and it goes with just about everything! Plus, it’s super easy to make with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This BBQ Sauce Recipe
- What You’ll Need for This Recipe
- How to Make BBQ Sauce
- FAQ’s: Storing & Substitutions
- Recipe for Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce
Why You’ll Love This Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce Recipe
- It’s quick & simple: This is such an easy recipe, all you need is 10 minutes and a handful of ingredients!
- It has the perfect balance: It’s not too sweet, not too tangy—just the right mix of flavors that can elevate any dish.
- It’s versatile: This BBQ sauce works on pizza, wings, grilled meats, sandwiches, or even as a dipping sauce.
Trust me, once you try it, you’ll want to keep a jar of this BBQ sauce recipe sweet and tangy in your fridge at all times! If you love this recipe, you’ll also enjoy my hot honey sauce with sriracha.
What You’ll Need for This BBQ Sauce Recipe
The ingredients are simple, but they come together to make a rich, bold, and flavorful sauce:
- Tomato ketchup: the base of our recipe, providing sweetness and thickness
- White wine vinegar: gives the sauce a tangy kick
- Honey: adds natural sweetness to balance the vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce: gives the sauce a savory flavor for more depth
- Smoked paprika: brings a smoky warm flavor to the sauce
- Garlic powder & onion powder: for added flavor and richness
- Olive oil: helps combine everything smoothly
How to Make This BBQ Sauce
- Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan.
- Heat on medium until the sauce begins to boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and transfer to your favorite serving bowl or jar. Enjoy!
And that’s it—just 3 simple steps to make the best sweet and tangy BBQ sauce recipe ever!
FAQ’s: Storing & Substitutions
Yes, but you’ll need to add a bit more sweetness and water to balance the flavors and consistency.
This sauce stores well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or jar.
Absolutely! Feel free to add some heat with cayenne pepper or hot sauce, or make it extra smoky by adding liquid smoke.
Yes, apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar will give the sauce a slightly different, but still delicious, flavor.
Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tsp olive oil
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a medium saucepan.
- Heat on medium heat until boiling, then reduce to a simmer and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Transfer to your serving bowl of choice. Enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the amount of honey, or substitute with maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
- Spice it up: Add cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce if you like a spicy kick in your BBQ sauce.
- Make it smokier: For a deeper smoky flavor, increase the smoked paprika or add a drop or two of liquid smoke.
- Consistency: If you want a thicker sauce, simmer it a bit longer until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Storage: This sauce will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Once you try this easy sweet and tangy BBQ sauce recipe, you’ll find it’s the perfect complement to so many meals, from BBQ chicken pizza to wings and more. It’s a simple recipe, but it adds a punch of homemade flavor to your favorite dishes. Whether you’re using it for pizza or wings, this BBQ sauce recipe is sure to become a staple in your kitchen!
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