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:
- In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and let the sauce cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- 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:
- In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and let the sauce cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- 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:
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, honey, parsley, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- 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:
- In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and let the sauce cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
- 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
- In a medium-sized saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir until well mixed.
- 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.
- Add Dr. Pepper or Diet Dr. Pepper in very small doses if the consistency in the smoker thickens too much.
- 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!
