Looking for an Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce that's healthier than store-bought and tastes even better? This quick and flavorful BBQ sauce recipe is perfect for grilling season, dipping veggies, topping burgers, or glazing chicken. The best part is it's done in under 15 minutes!
This sauce was a winner in my home. We love BBQ sauce! This is a kid-friendly BBQ Sauce. My kids loved this homemade BBQ sauce so much that they were eating it with spoons.
This simple homemade BBQ is sweet, tangy, and perfectly smoky! Making your BBQ sauce at home helps ensure your sauce is free from artificial preservatives and mysterious ingredients. This is a healthy condiment you can always have in your fridge.
Looking for recipes to use this BBQ sauce with, try my Crockpot BBQ Chicken or my BBQ Chicken Flatread!
Table of contents
Ingredients for BBQ sauce
Here is a list of the ingredients you'll need to make this delicious, healthy BBQ sauce!
- tomato paste - provides a concentrated, intense tomato flavor and adds a thick, rich base to the sauce.
- pure maple syrup - provides a complex, natural sweetness and depth of flavor that balances the ingredients together.
- onion powder - adds a foundational layer of umami and a sweet aroma to the sauce.
- oregano - adds a distinct earthy, slightly peppery flavor that contributes to the overall complexity.
- apple cider vinegar - adds a tangy and bright flavor.
- light brown sugar - provides a classic sweet richness.
- garlic cloves - crushed or minced, provides a strong, pungent, and rich flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce - provides a rich, savory, umami flavor.
- cumin - adds a warm, earthy depth and a slightly smokey flavor.
- olive oil - helps release flavorful compounds into the sauce.
How to make homemade BBQ sauce from scratch (the healthy way)
Step 1 - In a small sauce pan add the olive oil and garlic and cook until fragrant.
Step 2 - Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the brown sugar is dissolved.
Substitutions and Variations
Light Brown Sugar - you can swap in white sugar and molasses. Use ¾ cup sugar and 1 tbsp. molasses.
Tips and FAQ's
Yes! You can omit the sugar completely, but the final taste will just be more tangy and smoky.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Yes! Make the sauce and add it to the slow cooker, along with some shredded chicken.
More BBQ recipes you MUST try, and recipes to pair with the BBQ sauce
If you give this dish a try don't forget to rate the recipe below! Always love hearing what you all think. You can also Stay in touch with me through social media on @Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my healthy recipes!
Homemade Healthy BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- mixing bowls
- small saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup tomato paste
- 4 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 3 garlic cloves crushed or minced
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Step 1 - In a small sauce pan add the olive oil and garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Step 2 - Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the brown sugar is dissolved.
Notes
- Help pour the ingredients into the bowl.
- Help measure out all ingredients, making it a math lesson, and teach quantities.
- Stir and simmer the sauce with assistance.
Nutrition
Jillian is the creator of Jillian's Healthful Eats. She is the one who cooks all the meals, develops all the recipes, takes all the photographs, and washes all the dishes! She is a very busy wife and mother of 4 who enjoys cooking with her children and instilling in them her love for health and nutrition!
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