This recipe is for a Carolina-style BBQ sauce, which can be used with my Southern-Style BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches.
I also like to tweak this sauce to use as BBQ sauce for many other recipes, by adding more or less of ingredients to taste. Sometimes I like spicier, sweeter, etc.
I like to make grilled BBQ Chicken, BBQ Chicken Pizza, BBQ Chicken Drumsticks, you name it! Once you try homemade BBQ sauce, it’s hard to go back to the jarred ones! 😀

Prep Time | 5 minutes |
Cook Time | 25 minutes |
Servings |
|
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 1/2 tablespoons dark molasses
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
Ingredients
|
![]() |
Instructions
- Bring ketchup, 1 cup water, vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, chili powder, tomato paste, molasses, and freshly ground pepper to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to low; cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 25 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Cool 10 minutes.
- Cover and chill until ready to serve.
- Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
Share this Recipe