This easy sweet and spicy BBQ sauce strikes the perfect balance of sweetness and heat. It pairs beautifully with pork belly burnt ends, chicken sandwiches, smoked ribs, and more. If you like variations, try our Memphis BBQ Sauce or Peach BBQ Sauce recipes for different flavor profiles.
This homemade barbecue sauce has a tomato base and gets its sweetness from a combination of brown sugar, molasses, and honey. It’s a favorite for Southern-style barbecue and complements many grilled and smoked dishes.
One thing about Marrekus — he makes his condiments from scratch. A homemade BBQ sauce tastes fresher than store-bought versions, and you can easily tailor it to your preferences.
Want more sweetness? Add extra honey or brown sugar. Prefer more tang? Increase the apple cider vinegar. For extra heat, stir in a teaspoon (or more) of cayenne pepper or additional chili powder.
If spicy isn’t your thing, try one of our other sauces such as Peach BBQ Sauce, Alabama White BBQ Sauce, or a vinegar-based sauce that’s great with smoked St. Louis style ribs.
What we love about this recipe
- Homemade: Making your own barbecue sauce gives you fresh flavor and control over the ingredients.
- Simple: This recipe uses common pantry staples you likely already have on hand.
- Delicious: The sauce balances sweetness from brown sugar and molasses with a smoky kick from chipotle chili powder.
Ingredients
A complete ingredient list with exact amounts is in the recipe card below.
- Ketchup: Provides a sweet tomato base for the sauce.
- Tomato Sauce: Adds body and deeper tomato flavor. If you don’t have tomato sauce, reconstituted tomato paste can work for a similar consistency.
- Brown Sugar: Sweetens the sauce; light or dark brown sugar both work.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Balances sweetness with acidity and brightens the sauce.
- Molasses: Gives a rich, deep sweetness and darker color.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness and helps thicken the sauce slightly.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savory depth and umami.
- Seasonings: Diamond Crystal kosher salt (to taste), black pepper, chipotle chili powder for smoky heat, and granulated garlic.
How to Make Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce
Step-by-step instructions are listed in the recipe card below.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Sauté the finely chopped onion until it becomes soft and translucent, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add the ketchup, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, molasses, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard, stirring to combine.
- Stir in the brown sugar, chipotle chili powder, granulated garlic, and black pepper. Reserve the salt to adjust at the end.
- Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer until it thickens to your preference, stirring occasionally.
- When finished, pour the sauce into clean jars and let it cool to room temperature before sealing.
Recipe Tips
- Adjust the heat: Reduce chipotle chili powder for milder heat, or add cayenne pepper for extra spice.
- Balance flavors: Taste as you cook and tweak sweetness, acidity, and spice—add more honey or brown sugar to sweeten, or more vinegar for tang.
- Pick good ingredients: Quality ketchup, tomato sauce, and fresh spices noticeably improve the final flavor.
- Strain if desired: If you prefer a very smooth sauce, press it through a fine-mesh sieve before bottling.
How to Store Leftovers
- Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container or jar. Store refrigerated for up to two weeks.
Canning BBQ Sauce
- For longer storage, use the water bath canning method. Fill clean, hot jars with sauce, leaving ½ inch headspace; wipe the rims clean, apply lids, and process in a boiling water bath per safe canning guidelines. Properly canned sauce stored in a cool, dark place can last up to one year. Follow official canning instructions for exact processing times and safety steps.
Always follow safe canning practices to ensure jars seal properly and the sauce is shelf-stable.
Commonly Asked Questions
This sauce combines sweet notes from brown sugar, molasses, and honey with smoky, mild heat from chipotle chili powder. Apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce bring tang and depth, creating a rich, well-rounded flavor.
The heat level is mild to medium. Chipotle chili powder gives a smoky warmth without overwhelming the sweetness; adjust spices to taste if you prefer milder or hotter sauce.
📖 Recipe
Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce Recipe
Krysten Wilkes & Marrekus Wilkes
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Equipment
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Large saucepan
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Clean jars with lids (for storing the sauce once it’s ready)
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Fine mesh strainer (optional)
Ingredients
- ½ onion finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar packed (light or dark)
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic (reduce by half if using garlic powder)
- 2 teaspoons coarse black pepper
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt to taste
Instructions
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In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
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Sauté the onion until translucent, about 5–7 minutes.
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Stir in ketchup, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, molasses, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.
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Add brown sugar, chipotle chili powder, black pepper, and granulated garlic; mix to combine.
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Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
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Simmer until the sauce thickens to your liking, stirring occasionally.
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Pour into clean jars and let cool to room temperature before sealing.