BBQ Sauce, Southern, Sweet

This classic sauce uses ketchup as the base and then a good dose of vinegar to give it a proper tang. Add to that a little sweet in the form of sugar, and a little heat from Tabasco, cayenne, and paprika, and you’ve got a wonderful thick and silky sauce that goes great on anything.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
• 1 1/2 cups ketchup
• 6 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice (juice of 1 large lemon)
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan. Add the minced garlic and cook for 15 to 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant.
2. Add the ketchup, cider vinegar, water, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, paprika, bay leaf, Tabasco sauce, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice. Do not add the butter at this point. Simmer the sauce over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Watch for burning and lower the temperature if needed.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Once melted through, let sauce cool for 10 to 15 minutes before using.
4. If making ahead of time, cool sauce for 30 minutes and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days after preparation.
5. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

To use the sauce, baste it onto ribs or chicken pieces during the last 15 to 18 minutes of cook time. The barbecue sauce can also be heated and served on top of pulled chicken or pork, or simply served on the side as a table sauce.

Recipe Variations

By using ketchup as your base, you already have a lot of sweetness. As you become familiar with this recipe, you can modify it to increase or decrease the added sugar.

If you like a spicier barbecue sauce, add more cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce to it. If you prefer mild, you can omit one or both.

You can vary the thickness of the sauce. To thin it, add a little more water. To thicken it, add less water and simmer it longer until it thickens to your preference.