I find a few bottled sauces are as good as homebrewed ones and a lot less work.

I make my own according to my mood.  The bottled sauces leave an aftertaste in my mouth and I don't like them.  These sauces are easy and very basic.  You can add your  own favorite ingredients to make them your own.


MAPLE BBQ SAUCE

3/4 C. maple syrup                                            
1/2 tsp. onion salt
3/4 C. ketchup                                                  
1/4 tsp. celery seed
1/2 C. cold water                                               
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients.  Serve over ribs, chicken, pork or use as a marinade.  Store in refrigerator.  Makes 1 3/4 cups.


MY CROCKPOT BBQ SAUCE

1/2 C. plus 2 T. Ketchup    
onion powder to taste
2 T. maple syrup    
1/2 tsp. Liquid Smoke
2 1/2 T. vinegar     
salt to taste
3 T. honey     
2 T. chili powder

Mix all.  Poor over meat in crockpot.  Cover and cook until done.
 

BBQ SAUCE

1 C. ketchup     
1 T. chili powder
1 small can tomato sauce   
dash Worchestershire sauce
1/2 C. (or more) brown sugar   
onion powder to taste
2 T. Molasses     
garlic powder to taste
dash Liquid Smoke    

Mix all. 
 


MAKE YOUR OWN BBQ SAUCE

This sauce is good just brushed on meat.  Mix ingredients together and baste.  If you want to use it for dipping, mix together, heat to boiling, then simmer until thickened.

Sweet and Sour:
1 T. cayenne pepper
2 T, honey
1 C. tomato paste
1/2 C. orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit juice
dash Liquid Smoke

Hot and Spicy
1 T. red pepper flakes
2 T. brown sugar
1 C. ketchup
1.2 C. white vinegar

Smokey Maple
1 T. tobasco sauce
1 T. molasses or maple syrup
1 C. pureed tomatoes
1/2 C. beer, unsweetened apple juice or apple cider

 

I use bottled sauce but always tweak them before use.

It's rarely the same thing twice.  Nothing written down.  Just use my nose and stop screwing around with it when it smells right.

BTW, yellow mustard adds a nice tang to bottled sauce.  Use sparingly.  Stir it in a little at a time and taste until it seems right.

If I MUST use the bottled BBQ sauce in a pinch, I find Sweet Baby Ray's has less the aftertaste that I don't like in bottled sauces.  His comes in a number of flavors.