It’s grilling season which means a delicious BBQ sauce is critical! The problem we’ve encountered over the years is that most store-bought sauces have huge amounts of sugar. Many even use high fructose corn syrup, which is worse for our health than table sugar.
That’s why I decided to try making my own. After experimenting with different recipes, I’ve finally found a winner that my family and I love, and have shared that below with you! Yes, there’s still sugar, but it’s less than what you’ll find in most premade versions. If you follow us, you know that we don’t entirely cut out foods that we love, we just find ways to make them ourselves, which ends up making them healthier for us!
Try this sauce out for yourself and see what you think!
Irene
P.S. the name was my son-in-law’s idea, stemming from a family inside joke. No, I do not go around calling myself a smokeshow, but it does go well with the barbecue theme and since my daughter manages our website, it stuck.
Smokeshow Irene’s Homemade BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup Ketchup (I use Heinz Simply label)
- 1/2 cup Apple cider vinegar (can substitute red wine vinegar)
- 1/4 cup Brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Onion powder (or sauté 1/8 cup fresh onions in a little butter)
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder (or sauté one crushed garlic clove in a little butter)
- 1/2 tsp Dry mustard powder (can substitute 1/2 tsp of yellow mustard or dijon mustard)
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup Water (Skip this step if you want a thick sauce)
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Chili powder
- 1/2 tsp Seasoned salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and heat over low heat for about 5-10 minutes until the brown sugar has dissolved. Let cool.
