Making Homemade Barbecue Sauces: Spring and Summer Picnic Fun!

Spring and summer are upon us and it’s time to fire up the grills again. But rather than serve the same-old-same-old, why not try out a few recipes that could take your next barbecue to a new level?

Featured Image Courtesy Jerry Pank Cookipedia.co.uk

I love to cook for friends. Whether it’s burgers, dogs, ribs or brisket, I am a big fan of having big parties over at my place where great eats are part of the treat. I’ve loved reading John Golf’s articles here on the site, and I wanted to share a few little recipes of my own that perhaps he and others could try.

Rather than just using something premade in a factory somewhere, it’s time to try out these five barbecue sauce recipes I’ve come up with over the years. I think you’ll find them delightful!

Plain Jane’s BBQ Rub

It doesn’t get much more simple or tasty than this. I’ve been making this one for years and I think you’ll find it does the job just fine. Plus, for your picky eaters, this one can’t be beat! It’s a great way to get started on barbecuing with your own sauces without getting too complicated.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed.
2. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
3. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
5. Use the BBQ sauce to baste your ribs while grilling or serve as a dipping sauce on the side.

Happy Habanero Sauce

I love a good hot barbecue sauce that still has flavor. Now you may have had all sorts of habanero sauces in the past, but trust me, if you’ve ever tried a chocolate habanero (a type of habanero, not a pepper covered in chocolate), you know that this is going to be finger-licking good on your next protein of choice.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce (such as Tabasco or Frank’s RedHot)
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 hot chocolate habanero, minced, no seeds included
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed.
2. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
3. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
5. Use the BBQ sauce to baste your ribs while grilling or serve as a dipping sauce on the side.

Mo’ Rockin’ BBQ Drip

Get the flavors of Africa and the Mediterranean with a sauce that won’t look exactly like you’re used to, but will definitely make many of your guests ask you how in the world you found this recipe! Delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons Crystal Sauce (hot sauce)
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, honey, parsley, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper until well combined.
2. Use the BBQ sauce to baste your ribs while grilling or serve as a dipping sauce on the side.

Forth Worth Mana

Everything is bigger in Texas. And as much as I love The Big Tex and all the barbecue gurus out in the Lonestar State, I have to say that I think I have distilled their ideas for barbecue sauce perfectly into this concoction down below. Just make sure to not spare on the liquid smoke — it’s key for this being all that and a bag of chips.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons liquid smoke
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed.
2. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
3. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
5. Use the BBQ sauce to baste your ribs while grilling or serve as a dipping sauce on the side.

Smoked Barbe-Scotch Sauce

When That Park Place editors asked me to write this one up, they gave me a special assignment. One in particular wanted me to invent a sauce that featured “smoked butterscotch” based off of the Starbucks flavor from the past, as well as a flavor found at The Pepper Palace. Well, I think I’ve done it. After a little bit of experimentation, I think you’re going to absolutely love this recipe. And if you make it, every guest you know will be blown away!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butterscotch chips, melted
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed.
2. Place the saucepan in a smoker and smoke at very low heat for 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes. Use a light-tasting wood for the smoke.
3. Add Dr. Pepper or Diet Dr. Pepper in very small doses if the consistency in the smoker thickens too much.
4. Use the BBQ sauce to baste your ribs while grilling or serve as a dipping sauce on the side.

And there you go! I hope you’ll try out at least one of these sauces and let me know in the comments what you think. If you’re going on a road trip and want to barbecue at a campsite, boy I would love some pictures as well!

Be safe, stay hungry, keep trying new things. As always, That Park Place is your place for all the news that should be fun!