Homemade Gluten-Free BBQ Sauce

Make homemade gluten-free BBQ sauce in minutes with a few simple ingredients. This homemade barbecue sauce recipe adds delicious flavor to burgers, ribs, pulled pork, and more!

There’s nothing like the distinct flavor of barbecue sauce! That sweet, tangy, smoky flavor is delicious on everything from Ribs and burgers to pulled pork, grilled chicken, and more. To me, it instantly conjures the feeling of a backyard bbq, or a lazy summer evening. YUM!

If you’ve ever gone to the fridge or pantry to grab a bottle of bbq sauce only to realize you are OUT, don’t worry! You can make your own bbq sauce in just a few minutes at home!

This easy homemade gluten-free BBQ sauce recipe is made from pantry staples that are easy to keep on hand. It only takes a few minutes to mix together and it adds savory, smoky, crave-worthy flavor to all your grilling favorites. Let’s dive in!

Simple Ingredients To Start

As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions for this easy recipe in the recipe card below.

• Ketchup. Regular tomato ketchup does the job here! Feel free to use your favorite brand, but I usually gravitate toward Heinz for a classic flavor. (Their “simply” variety doesn’t use any high-fructose corn syrup!) Get other brands of gluten-free ketchup here.
• Water. This will thin the sauce out enough that it won’t scorch while it simmers.
• Brown Sugar. For sweetness. Use light brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand, or use dark brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor.
• Apple Cider Vinegar. This adds brightness and acidity–it’ll help you get that signature tang!
• Worcestershire Sauce. For depth. For gluten-free folks, make sure you’re using gluten-free brands of Worcestershire sauce (like Lea & Perrins) to keep this Celiac safe.
• Yellow Mustard. Another little secret ingredient that really boosts the flavor!
• Onion Powder. Adds such great flavor!
• Paprika. I use regular paprika, but you can also use a mix of half paprika and half smoked paprika for a smokier flavor.
• Black Pepper. For a little kick. Start with 1/2 teaspoon, but you can use up to 1 teaspoon or more if you want a big kick!
• Garlic. Last, but not least, a clove of garlic (or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder) will round out our seasonings.

How To Make Homemade BBQ Sauce, Step By Step

1. Combine. In a medium saucepan, combine ketchup, water, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, onion powder, paprika, pepper, and garlic. Whisk until smooth.
2. Simmer the bbq sauce 30 minutes on medium-low heat, to thicken and let the flavors meld, stirring occasionally to avoid any burned spots.
3. Taste & Adjust. Then, taste the barbecue sauce and add more vinegar, brown sugar, or seasonings, if needed, to taste.
4. Serve & Store. Enjoy right away on your favorites or store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge up to 1 week. Barbecue sauce can also be frozen in a freezer bag or freezer-safe glass jar up to 3 months. Thaw frozen bbq sauce in the fridge before using.

Pro Tip: Try adding it to a squeeze bottle to make it easy to drizzle this homemade sauce on sandwiches, ribs, burgers, and more!

5 Variations To Try

The beauty of homemade bbq sauce is that YOU are in control. Prefer sweeter sauce? Go for it! Want more kick? Kick it up! The best part is that you can make it the way YOU like it! When you’re in the mood to try something new, here are 5 of our favorite flavor variations to try.

1. Honey. Use half honey and half brown sugar for a honey bbq sauce.
2. Chipotle. For a bigger kick, add a little chipotle pepper in adobo sauce. This can be delicious on chicken or ribs!
3. Spicy. You can turn up the heat a bit with more black pepper, a dash of cayenne pepper, or a bit of chipotle chili powder.
4. Smoky. For a stronger smoky flavor, you can add a dash (1/8-1/4 teaspoon) liquid smoke. Or use half smoked paprika and half regular paprika!
5. Molasses. Add a tablespoon of molasses (regular not blackstrap molasses) for a deeper flavor. 

Delicious Ways To Use Homemade BBQ Sauce

Now that you know how to make your own BBQ sauce, let’s talk about all the different ways to use it! Here are a few of our favorites:

• BBQ Chicken. We love using BBQ chicken for salads, or stuffed sweet potatoes.
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches. Always a classic! You can make slow cooker BBQ pork with this sauce for a homemade touch.
• Slow Cooker Ribs. Our low-and-slow crock pot ribs recipe works beautifully with this homemade bbq sauce.
• Grilled Chicken. Brush a little sauce on your grilled chicken for a satisfying sticky-sweet finish.
• Crispy Chicken Tenders. Have some crispy chicken? (Nuggets, chicken tenders, etc.) This gluten-free bbq sauce makes a GREAT dipping sauce! It’s fantastic with our Gluten-Free Crispy Chicken Tenders or Almond Flour Chicken Tenders.
• BBQ Ranch. Swirl a few tablespoons into your favorite ranch dressing for a delicious twist on classic ranch. It’s fantastic on this BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad or with a batch of Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
• Chicken Wings. Brush your favorite chicken wings with gluten-free barbecue sauce for a delicious, saucy finish. 
• Pizza. Make BBQ Chicken Pizza with this sauce. It’s fabulous!

FAQ + Tips For The Best Homemade BBQ Sauce:

How Long Does Homemade BBQ Sauce Last? I recommend using it within 1 week for best results. For longer storage, see the freezing instructions!

Can You Freeze BBQ Sauce? Yes! Homemade BBQ sauce freezes beautifully. Just store in freezer bags or freezer-safe jars (leave 1″ room at the top to allow for expansion). It will keep really well for 3 months. (You can store it up to 6 months or more, but the flavor is more likely to be impacted over time.)

Is BBQ Sauce Gluten-Free? While many of the common ingredients in barbecue sauce are naturally gluten-free, NOT all brands of store-bought barbecue sauce are gluten-free–some are made with malt syrup, malt vinegar, or added flavorings that are NOT gluten-free. Whenever you’re in grocery stores, carefully read the ingredients list and look for certified gluten-free brands to stay safe for Celiac disease.

⭐ Leave a star rating below when you make our Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

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