Name: Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 6 ounces Tomato Pasta; ⅛ cup Apple Cider Vinegar; ¼ cup White Vinegar; 2 tsp Liquid Smoke; 1 ½ tsp Worcestershire Sauce; 3 cloves Mined Garlic; 1 tsp Truvia (or other sugar substitute); 2 tsp Minced Onion ((dehydrated)); Garlic and Herb Seasoning (to taste); Salt and Pepper (to taste); 1 Lemon ((juiced))

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Once you try this easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe, you won’t go back. Quick to make, full of flavor, and perfect for your next BBQ night.

Grilled chicken breasts coated in thick, glossy BBQ sauce, served hot on a sheet of crinkled aluminum foil.

When my husband and I tried a no-sugar diet (spoiler: I’m terrible at diets), we quickly realized all the good stuff—like BBQ sauce—was off-limits.

I found a “healthy” version online, tried it, and let’s just say... it didn’t stick.

So I started playing with the ingredients, made a few swaps, and somehow landed on this bold, flavorful homemade BBQ sauce.

It’s rich, tangy, and perfect for cooking—definitely not your average diet food.

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Ingredients
Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe
How to Marinate Chicken
How to Store Leftovers
Can Homemade BBQ Sauce be Frozen?
More Grilling Recipes

Skill Level: Beginner

Total Time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients

Scroll down for the complete recipe with ingredient measurements.

This recipe makes about ¾ cup of barbeque sauce and is enough to marinate about 2 lbs of meat.

Great for chicken and ribs!

Grilled chicken tenders coated in a thick, glossy layer of homemade BBQ sauce, served on a sheet of aluminum foil.

Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe

Skip the store-bought stuff—this easy homemade BBQ sauce recipe is sweet, tangy, and takes minutes to whip up with pantry staples.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Course Sauce

Cuisine grilling

Servings

Calories 36 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

6 ounces Tomato Pasta
⅛ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
¼ cup White Vinegar
2 tsp Liquid Smoke
1 ½ tsp Worcestershire Sauce
3 cloves Mined Garlic
1 tsp Truvia or other sugar substitute
2 tsp Minced Onion (dehydrated)
Garlic and Herb Seasoning to taste
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Lemon (juiced)

Instructions

Add all the ingredients to a saucepan and heat over medium-low.
Stir occasionally until everything is nice and warm—no need to bring it to a boil. Once it’s warmed through, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 5–10 minutes.
Pour the sauce over your chicken and let it marinate.
Grill the chicken to your liking, then serve it hot with your favorite sides—and don’t forget to save some extra sauce for dipping!

Nutrition

Serving: 2TbspCalories: 36kcalCarbohydrates: 7.3gProtein: 1.3gFat: 0.1gSodium: 44mgPotassium: 326mgFiber: 1.2gSugar: 4.7gCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How to Marinate Chicken

Cool the Sauce: Let the homemade barbecue sauce cool completely before using it as a marinade. Warm sauce can start to cook the meat too soon.

Prep the Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels so the sauce sticks better.

Coat Generously: Place the chicken in a large zip-top bag or shallow dish, then pour enough BBQ sauce over it to fully coat each piece.

Marinate: Cover and and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes—2 hours is even better. If you’re short on time, even 10–15 minutes will still give it a nice flavor boost.

Raw chicken breasts arranged in a glass baking dish, coated in a thick layer of homemade BBQ marinade.

Grill or Bake: Remove the chicken from the marinade (shake off any excess) and cook as usual. Save some fresh sauce for basting or dipping—don’t reuse marinade that touched raw meat.