Best 4 Classic Barbecue Sauce Recipes

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Whether you're a seasoned barbecue enthusiast or just starting your grilling journey, having a classic and foolproof barbecue sauce recipe is essential for creating mouthwatering and unforgettable dishes. This versatile sauce adds a smoky, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor to grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables, elevating them to a whole new level of deliciousness. With numerous variations and personal preferences, the perfect classic barbecue sauce can be easily customized to suit your taste buds and grilling style. From sweet and tangy to smoky and spicy, the possibilities are endless. So, let's dive into the world of classic barbecue sauce and explore the secrets to creating the ultimate flavor enhancer for your next barbecue gathering.

Let's cook with our recipes!

GRILLED PORK CHOPS WITH CLASSIC BARBECUE SAUCE



Grilled Pork Chops with Classic Barbecue Sauce image

Provided by Anne Willan

Categories     Pork     Low Cal     Pork Chop

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 pork loin chops (about 1/2 pound/2.50g each), cut 1 inch/2.5 cm thick
salt and pepper
For the classic barbecue sauce:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 lemon
1/2 cup/100 g brown sugar
1/4 cup/60 ml vinegar
1/2 cup/125 ml tomato ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste

Steps:

  • Make the barbecue sause:
  • heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the onion and garlic until soft and lightly browned, 4-5 minutes. Grate the zest from the lemon and squeeze the juice. Add the lemon zest, half the lemon juice, the sugar, vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce and chili powder to the onion and simmer gently, 5 minutes. Taste, adjust the seasoning and let cool.
  • Light the grill. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper and brush with the cooled barbecue sauce. Grill them, basting often, 5-7 minutes. Turn over and continue grilling and basting until the chops are done, 5-7 minutes longer.

CLASSIC BARBECUE SAUCE



Classic Barbecue Sauce image

This St. Louis BBQ sauce is versatile and can be used on chicken, beef or pork. —David Boehm, Glendale, Arizona

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 20m

Yield 1-1/2 cups.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 to 2 tablespoons water, optional

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered until slightly thickened, 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 17 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 188mg sodium, Carbohydrate 4g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.

CLASSIC BARBECUE SAUCE



Classic Barbecue Sauce image

It's worth it to make a big batch of barbecue sauce. Freeze it in small or large containers to give quick flavor to chicken anytime.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Healthy Recipes     Vegan Recipes

Yield Makes 5 1/2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 small white onion, diced small
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 can (28 ounces) tomato sauce
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground pepper

Steps:

  • In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add onion and cook until completely soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
  • Add tomato paste and mustard; cook, stirring constantly, until paste turns a brick-red color, about 5 minutes. Add 2 cups water, tomato sauce, molasses, Worcestershire, vinegar, salt, and pepper and stir until smooth.
  • Bring to a simmer; reduce heat to low and partially cover. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours (thin with water if sauce becomes too thick). Season to taste with vinegar, salt, and pepper. Let cool completely before using.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 41 g, Fat 2 g, Protein 1 g

CLASSIC BARBECUE PORK RIBS WITH SMOKY BACON BARBECUE SAUCE



Classic Barbecue Pork Ribs with Smoky Bacon Barbecue Sauce image

Provided by Bruce Aidells

Categories     Fourth of July     Father's Day     Backyard BBQ     Bacon     Pork Rib     Spice     Summer     Grill     Grill/Barbecue

Yield Makes 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 37

For the ribs:
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, preferably Diamond Crystal
1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika, preferably Pimentón de la Vera*
2 teaspoons ancho or New Mexican chile powder
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dry mustard, preferably Colman's
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
2 slabs St. Louis-style pork spareribs (about 7 pounds total) or 2 slabs pork spareribs (about 8 pounds total)
For the barbecue sauce:
6 ounces bacon, diced
2 medium onions, finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 tablespoons smoked paprika, preferably Pimentón de la Vera*
1 tablespoon ancho or New Mexican chile powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup brewed coffee
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons cider vinegar, plus more to taste
1 cup ketchup
Few dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco, plus more to taste
3 fresh or 2 dried bay leaves
Kosher salt
*Smoked paprika is available at most supermarkets. Pimentón de la Vera is a sweet red chile grown in the La Vera valley of western Spain, and slowly smoke-dried before being ground into a powder. It's available at specialty food stores and online at LaTienda.com. Hungarian smoked paprika is a good substitute.
Equipment: Large, rimmed baking sheet; flat metal cooling rack

Steps:

  • Prepare the rub and bake the ribs:
  • In a small bowl, combine the garlic, salt, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chile powder, black pepper, sage, thyme, dry mustard, cumin, coriander, ginger, and cayenne pepper if using. Generously coat the ribs with the rub then wrap each slab in a double layer of plastic wrap and let them sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours. DO AHEAD: To develop maximum flavor, place the ribs, coated in the rub, in the refrigerator and chill at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  • Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. If you have a flat metal cooling rack, arrange it in the baking sheet and place the ribs, bone side down, on the rack. If you don't have a rack, place the ribs, bone side down, directly on the foil-lined baking sheet. Bake the ribs until the meat is tender and starting to pull away from the bones, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. At this point, the ribs are ready to be served, but we recommend taking the time to finish them on the grill (or in the broiler), while glazing with homemade barbecue sauce. DO AHEAD: Ribs can be baked ahead of time and kept, wrapped in foil, at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours, before finishing them on the grill.
  • While the ribs are baking, make the barbecue sauce:
  • In a heavy, medium saucepan over moderately low heat, cook the bacon until the fat renders and the bacon starts to brown, about 10 minutes-do not let the bacon get crispy. Add the onions and continue cooking, covered and stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, sage, and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute. Add the smoked paprika, chile powder, cumin, black pepper, and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the coffee, brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and vinegar and stir well to combine. Raise the heat to moderate and bring the sauce to a boil, scraping the saucepan with a wooden spoon to remove any browned bits from the bottom. Add the ketchup, hot sauce, and bay leaves, then lower the heat to moderately low and simmer the sauce until it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon but isn't as thick as ketchup, about 30 minutes. Taste the sauce and add more vinegar or hot sauce to taste and season with salt and pepper. Remove and discard the bay leaves. DO AHEAD: BBQ sauce can be made ahead and stored, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, up to 2 weeks. Warm the sauce gently on the stove before using.
  • Grill the ribs:
  • While the barbecue sauce is simmering, prepare your grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-high heat: If using a charcoal grill, open the vents on the bottom of the grill and light a large chimney starter full of charcoal (preferably hardwood). When the coals are covered with white-gray ash (about 20 to 30 minutes later), spread them out on the grill's bottom rack, leaving a space to one side that is equal to the size of the food to be grilled so that it can be moved there in the case of flare-ups. Test the heat of the charcoal by holding your hand 5 inches above the coals for about 3 seconds for medium-high heat. If the charcoal is too hot, continue to let it burn until it reaches medium-high.
  • If using a gas grill, preheat all burners on high, covered, for 10 minutes, then adjust the heat to medium-high.
  • Depending on the size of your grill, place 1 or 2 slabs, bone side down, over the heat and brush the fat-covered side generously with barbecue sauce. Grill the ribs, covered, for 2 minutes. Flip the slab over, brush the bone side with sauce, and grill, covered, until the sauce on the fat-covered side is caramelized and lightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the slab over and continue grilling, covered, until the sauce on the bone side is caramelized and lightly charred, 1 minute. Transfer the ribs to a cutting board and let them rest for 10 minutes. If necessary, repeat the grilling and glazing process with the second slab of ribs. Cut between the ribs and serve immediately with plenty of barbecue sauce on the side.

Tips:

  • Use fresh, ripe tomatoes. This will give your sauce the best flavor.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients. There are many different ways to make barbecue sauce, so feel free to add your own personal touch.
  • Let the sauce simmer for a while. This will allow the flavors to develop and deepen.
  • Taste the sauce as you go. This will help you adjust the seasonings to your liking.
  • Store the sauce in a cool, dark place. It will keep for up to 2 weeks.

Conclusion:

Making your own barbecue sauce is a great way to add flavor to your favorite grilled foods. With a little bit of time and effort, you can create a delicious sauce that will be enjoyed by everyone. So next time you're firing up the grill, be sure to give one of these recipes a try.

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