Everybody should have an easy barbecue sauce recipe that they can use whenever the BBQ mood strikes! This super simple Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce contains no refined sugars, is paleo friendly and takes under 20 minutes to put together!
Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce
Homemade BBQ Sauce is surprisingly easy to make once you have the right formula! We love our Sweet & Smoky BBQ because it’s so simple to make and is a great sauce for so many dishes! For this recipe all you need to do is add all of your ingredients to a pot and simmer away!
Usually barbecue sauces you buy at the store are laden with hard-to-pronounce ingredients and so much sugar. While our recipe has sugar because we like it sweet, we opt for a cleaner alternative and use refined-sugar-free coconut sugar. We also skip the addition of ketchup and use a mix of tomato paste and tomato sauce to get the Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce just right.
This Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce would be perfect on:
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Pork Carnitas
- Ultimate Fried Chicken
- Oven Baked Coffee Barbecue Pork Ribs
If you like this DIY recipe, check out these others:
- Homemade Mayo
- Crock Pot Cranberry Sauce
- Homemade Meat Sauce Recipe
- Pumpkin BBQ Sauce
- How to Make Cashew Cream
Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1-15 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1-6 oz. can tomato paste
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce* (can omit if you can't find a nice clean one in your grocery store)
- 1 tablespoon molasses or raw honey (use molasses for extra dark coloring)
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika**
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (use 1 tsp if you like more of a kick)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
Directions
- In a large pot mix together all of the ingredients.
- Over medium heat bring sauce to a boil and then reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, if desired.
Recipe Notes
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13 comments on “Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce”
Looks amazing Lexi! I’ve been lovin my BBQ lately. Perfect for SO many things 🙂
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
What an awesome idea, love how you flavored this sauce and can’t wait to try!!
My family loves BBQ sauce, but I hate all the sugar that is added.
I’m in Australia and can’t get the tomato sauce and paste you used. Is the tomato sauce like passata? Or can I use tinned tomatoes blended smooth?
Wendy, tinned tomatoes should work, do they make tomato sauce in tins or just whole tomatoes? I just did a google search for Passata and assume it would be the same!
Now that is one superb BBQ sauce! Looks thick and wonderful, so much more superior.than the usual store bought BBQ sauce.
How long would it be good for in the fridge?? I was going to make it for pulled pork sandwiches, but was wanting to make a little extra to keep on hand!
Definitely up to two-three weeks.
Wonderful web site. Lots of useful information here.
I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thanks on your effort!
I just made this, and it’s delicious!!
Made this sauce to make BBQ chicken and it was absolutely delicious!!!! Perfect amount of sweetness and smokiness – highly recommend!! xoxo
This BBQ sauce is UH-Mazing. You did a fantastic job. I’ve tried a handful of paleo BBQ sauces and none of them come close to being the right taste. This stuff on the other hand is addictive. Made with BBQ chicken and my husband devoured it (he hates chicken). Thanks for this great recipe!
Do you think this would work with white distilled vinegar? I am on a food sensitivity diet plan and this is the first barbecue sauce I’ve come across that I could actually potentially make! Unfortunately that is the only kind of vinegar I can use right now, though.