This easy sweet and spicy BBQ sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and heat. It goes great with pork belly burnt ends, chicken sandwiches, smoked ribs, and more! Be sure to also check out our Memphis BBQ Sauce and Peach BBQ Sauce recipes.
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This homemade barbecue sauce has a tomato base and the right amount of sweetness from the brown sugar, molasses, and honey. It's one of our favorite sauces and it goes perfect with many of our Southern barbecue recipes.
One thing about Marrekus, he's gonna make his own condiments from scratch! Our homemade barbecue sauce is guaranteed to taste better than what you'd get at the grocery store, plus you can customize the flavor just the way you like it.
For example, with this recipe you can add more honey or brown sugar for sweetness, or more vinegar for tanginess. For extra heat, add a teaspoon cayenne pepper or more chili powder.
Spicy not your thing? You may want to try one of our other delicious sauce recipes like Peach BBQ Sauce, Alabama White BBQ Sauce, or this vinegar-based BBQ sauce we paired with smoked St. Louis style ribs.
What we love about this recipe
- It's homemade: There's nothing like making homemade barbecue sauce right in your own kitchen.
- It's easy: This recipe calls for simple pantry staples you probably already have on hand.
- It's delicious: Our sweet and spicy bbq sauce gets its heat from the chipotle pepper and sweetness from brown sugar.
Ingredients
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Ketchup: Offers a sweet tomato flavor that forms the base of the sauce.
- Tomato Sauce: Adds body and a deeper tomato flavor. If you ran out of tomato sauce, get the same tomato flavor by mixing tomato paste with water for a similar consistency.
- Brown Sugar: Sweetens the sauce. Light or dark brown sugar is fine to use.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Provides acidity to balance the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- Molasses: Contributes a rich, dark sweetness and deepens the sauce's color and flavor.
- Honey: Adds a natural sweetness and helps to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Worcestershire Sauce: We love Bear & Burton's America's Worcestershire W Sauce.
- Seasonings: Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, ground black pepper, chipotle chili powder, and granulated garlic.
How to Make Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce
Detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Start by melting some butter and sautéing the onion in a saucepan—it just needs a few minutes to get soft and translucent.
- Then, you’ll add the ketchup, tomato sauce, vinegar, molasses, honey, mustard, brown sugar, and seasonings (everything except the salt, because you'll add it at the end and adjust to taste).
- Let it all come to a low boil, then simmer until it thickens to your liking.
- Give it a stir occasionally, and when it’s ready, pour it into jars.
Recipe Tips
- Adjust the Heat: If you prefer a milder sauce, reduce the amount of chipotle chili powder. For extra heat, add a teaspoon cayenne pepper or more chili powder.
- Balance the Flavors: Taste as you go and adjust the sweetness, acidity, and spice levels to your preference. Add more honey or brown sugar for sweetness, or more vinegar for tanginess.
- Use Quality Ingredients: High-quality ketchup, tomato sauce, and spices can make a significant difference in the final taste of your BBQ sauce.
- Strain for Smoothness: For a smoother sauce, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve.
How to Store Leftovers
- Cool leftover BBQ sauce to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container or jar. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Canning BBQ Sauce
- To store barbecue sauce for an extender period of time, use the water boiling method, also known as water bath canning.
- Fill BBQ sauce sauce into clean, hot jars (hot packing), leaving ½ inch headspace. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened clean paper towel, then apply the two-piece metal canning lids.
- Process in a boiling water canner according to the recommendations in the table below.
- Let cool, undisturbed, 12 to 24 hours, then check to make sure it's sealed (press down on the center of the lid—if it doesn’t pop up or move, the jar is likely sealed.)
Be sure to follow safe canning guidelines to process the jars. Properly canned BBQ sauce can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
Commonly Asked Questions
This sauce is a perfect mix of sweet and spicy. The brown sugar, molasses, and honey make it sweet, while the chipotle chili powder adds a smoky, mild heat. It also has a tangy flavor from apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, making it rich and bold.
Sweet and spicy BBQ sauce has a mild to medium heat. The chipotle chili powder adds a smoky, gentle kick that’s not too hot, but still gives a nice, warm spice. It's flavorful without being overwhelming.
📖 Recipe
Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Clean jars with lids (for storing the sauce once it’s ready)
- Fine mesh strainer (optional)
Ingredients
- ½ onion finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar packed (light or dark brown sugar)
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic (reduce the amount by half if using garlic powder)
- 2 teaspoons coarse black pepper
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
- Sauté onion until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the liquid ingredients: ketchup, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, molasses, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard.
- Add light brown sugar, chipotle chili powder, black pepper, and granulated garlic. Mix well to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and simmer.
- Simmer until the sauce reaches your desired thickness, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sauce is ready, pour it into clean jars and allow it to cool to room temperature before sealing.
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