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    Home » Recipes » Pantry

    Light and Sweet BBQ Sauce

    Published: May 25, 2022 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A photo collage shows a close-up of a jar of BBQ sauce along with a photo of the sauce drizzled over a pulled pork sandwich.

    This homemade sweet BBQ sauce is low in sugar, naturally vegan, and gluten free. Use low sodium ketchup and it is perfect for a low sodium diet, too. It's the perfect topping for a barbecue sandwich.

    A mason jar filled with barbecue sauce has a spoon and is in front of a dish of shredded pork.

    Sweet BBQ sauce with a tangy tomato base is the perfect topping for a barbecue sandwich.

    The problem with most bottled varieties is that they are too sugary and really high in sodium.

    The good news is that making your own homemade barbecue sauce takes just minutes and this recipe lasts for months at a time in the fridge making it easy to grab all grilling season long.

    I love this recipe because it is just the right amount of sweet to pair with my BBQ chicken and pulled pork but it is the perfect fix if you have a family member that needs a BBQ sauce that is vegan, low-sodium, or gluten free.

    Jump to:
    • Why Homemade is the Best
    • Ingredients
    • Simple Substitute for Vegan BBQ Sauce
    • Low Sodium BBQ Sauce Considerations
    • How to Make Sweet BBQ Sauce
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why Homemade is the Best

    Prepared BBQ sauce from the grocery store is loaded with sodium and high in sugar.

    If you want a lighter, healthier way to serve barbecue this summer, or if you have a family member with special dietary needs, this homemade BBQ sauce is so easy to make!

    You'll love it because:

    1. Quick to Make: This recipe only takes a few minutes to prepare but keeps well in your fridge for months. It is so easy to grab for dinner again and again.
    2. Tastes Amazing: While there are some specific diet benefits listed below, there is nothing artificial in it and I choose this BBQ sauce over other options on purpose!
    3. Less Sugar: While still a tangy sweet sauce, this recipe is lighter in sugar than most barbecue sauce recipes.
    4. Low Sodium: With one simple swap, this is the perfect low-sodium sauce for your grilled meals.
    5. Gluten Free: All the ingredients are naturally gluten free if that is a concern.
    6. Naturally Vegan: If you need a vegan recipe for your vegan grilled dinners, this recipe is a winner. There's just one simple swap to make, see the note below.

    Ingredients

    The ingredients to make homemade BBQ sauce are on the counter.

    The ingredients for this recipe are so easy:

    • Ketchup
    • Brown Sugar
    • Canola Oil
    • Onion
    • Worcestershire Sauce
    • Apple Cider Vinegar
    • Dijon Mustard
    • Lemon

    Simple Substitute for Vegan BBQ Sauce

    If you need a vegan friendly BBQ sauce, you just need to make one simple swap:

    Worcestershire sauce has anchovies in the recipe and is not vegan.

    Simply substitute the same amount of soy sauce or your favorite vegan-friendly Worcestershire substitute.

    Low Sodium BBQ Sauce Considerations

    If you are concerned about sodium, making your own homemade barbecue sauce is a smart choice.

    The bottled stuff is loaded with it to help with preservation.

    Simply be sure to grab a bottle of low-sodium ketchup to help keep the sodium level in check for this recipe.

    How to Make Sweet BBQ Sauce

    Once you've tried making your own homemade barbecue, you'll be thrilled with how easy it is.

    In a medium saucepan, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until they are soft and translucent.

    Chopped onions are being cooked in the sauce pan.

    Add the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire (or soy) sauce, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, lemon juice, and black pepper to the pan and stir to combine.

    Cook the mixture until it bubbles and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook for 10 minutes to let the flavors meld together.

    The skillet is bubbling and the BBQ sauce is thickened.

    You can use it immediately or let it cool and store it in the fridge for future use.

    Variations

    This version of the recipe is a hit with my kids because they love sweet BBQ. But with a few simple tweaks, you could also make:

    • Spicy BBQ Sauce: Add a few dashes of Texas Pete hot sauce or cayenne pepper. You could also substitute Mike's Hot Honey for the brown sugar. Check out my favorite hot honey recipes here.
    • Peppery BBQ Sauce: Finely dice some bell peppers and cook them with the onions before finishing the sauce.
    • Smoky BBQ Sauce: Add ½ teaspoon liquid smoke to the ingredients before cooking.
    • Honey BBQ Sauce: Swap in your favorite honey instead of the brown sugar.

    Serving Suggestions

    A mason jar of BBQ sauce is being served alongside pulled pork.

    Our family enjoys a wide variety of barbecue dishes including BBQ chicken and pulled pork. You couldn't beat it slathered on these pellet grill ribs or used as a dipping sauce for baked boneless pork ribs.

    But this sweet BBQ sauce would also taste great on a summer salad with corn or in many vegetarian dishes made with meat substitutes.

    Brush it over a batch of smoked shotgun shells (a delicious appetizer with a funny name!) or these 321 ribs made on a Traeger pellet smoker.

    You could use this as the perfect base for a barbecue chicken pizza or easy homemade pizza buns with bbq sauce instead of pizza sauce.

    • A Crockpot is filled with shredded bbq chicken thighs and bbq sauce.
      BBQ Crockpot Chicken Thighs
    • A metal baking pan has 3 rows of baked bbq chicken sliders showing the melted cheese oozing out.
      BBQ Chicken Sliders
    • A barbecue pulled pork sandwich is on a plate next to potato chips.
      Pulled Pork in the Oven or Slow Cooker
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      Barbeque Chicken Pizza

    📖 Recipe

    A mason jar filled with barbecue sauce has a spoon and is in front of a dish of shredded pork.

    Sweet BBQ Sauce

    5 from 1 vote
    This sweet BBQ sauce is lighter in sugar than other recipes and naturally vegan and gluten free. It is the perfect topping for your favorite barbecue recipe.
    TOTAL TIME 20 minutes minutes
    PREP TIME 5 minutes minutes
    COOK TIME 15 minutes minutes
    YIELD 3 cups
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 teaspoon canola oil
    • ½ onion finely chopped
    • 1 ¼ cup ketchup
    • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce if you need vegan substitute
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
    • Juice from ½ lemon
    • 1 tablespoon fresh cracked pepper

    Instructions

    • In a medium sauce pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
    • Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a bubble. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes to let the flavors meld.
    • Use immediately or store in the fridge for up to 3 months.

    Recipe Notes

    For a low-sodium BBQ sauce, be sure to use low-sodium ketchup.
    COURSEPantry
    CUISINEAmerican
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    A photo collage shows a close-up of a jar of BBQ sauce along with a photo of the sauce drizzled over a pulled pork sandwich.

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for women.

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