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American BBQ Sauce

United States

Barbecue sauce varies across America: tomato and molasses in Kansas City, vinegar and pepper in the Carolinas, mustard in South Carolina. This is a classic Kansas City-style sauce.

A smoky, sticky, sweet and tangy barbecue sauce with molasses and spices. Brush it on ribs, chicken or brisket.

Authentic United States American BBQ Sauce recipe
Prep
10 mins
Cook
30 mins
Difficulty
Easy
Calories
70 kcal
Serves
10
Calories are an estimate based on ingredients used

Ingredients

1 tbspvegetable oil
1small onion, finely chopped
2garlic cloves, crushed
250mltomato ketchup
60mlapple cider vinegar
60gdark brown sugar
2 tbspmolasses or black treacle
1 tbspWorcestershire sauce
1 tbspAmerican mustard
2 tspsmoked paprika
1/2 tspcayenne pepper
1 tspsalt

Method

1

Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

2

Add all the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

3

Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 20-25 minutes, stirring often, until thick and glossy.

4

Blend for a smooth sauce if you like. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Keeps for 2 weeks in the fridge.

Chef's Tip

Brush it on only in the last 10-15 minutes of cooking β€” the sugar in the sauce burns if it is on for the whole cook.

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Some recipe photos courtesy of Openverse and Wikimedia Commons contributors, used under Creative Commons licenses.
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