Memphis Style Barbecue Sauce

Get ready to elevate your grilling game with this homemade Memphis-Style Barbecue Sauce, a tangy, smoky, and slightly sweet condiment that’s perfect for slathering on ribs, pulled pork, or grilled chicken. This quick and easy recipe combines pantry staples like ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar with bold flavors from molasses, smoked paprika, and a hint of liquid smoke for that authentic barbecue taste. With just 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of simmering, this sauce comes together seamlessly, offering a customizable blend of sweetness, spice, and tang to suit your palate. Make a batch ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week – it’s guaranteed to become your go-to sauce for all your backyard BBQs!

Nutriscore Rating: 61/100

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup Ketchup
• 0.333 cup Apple cider vinegar
• 0.25 cup Brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Molasses
• 1 tablespoon Yellow mustard
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
• 0.5 cup Water

Directions

Step 1

In a medium saucepan, combine the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke.

Step 2

Stir the mixture until all ingredients are well combined over medium heat.

Step 3

Add the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper to the saucepan, stirring to incorporate.

Step 4

Gradually mix in the water to thin the sauce to your desired consistency.

Step 5

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low.

Step 6

Simmer the sauce uncovered for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld together.

Step 7

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning, adding more vinegar for tanginess, sugar for sweetness, or spices for heat as needed.

Step 8

Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature.

Step 9

Transfer the sauce to a jar or airtight container. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	555.6 grams (555.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	529

Total Fat 1.10g	1%
Saturated Fat 0.10g	1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1340mg	58%
Total Carbohydrate 132.50g	48%
Dietary Fiber 2.20g	8%
Total Sugars 109.30g
Protein 1.80g	4%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 170mg	13%
Iron 4mg	23%
Potassium 934mg	20%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 1.8%

Protein: 1.3%

Carbs: 96.9%