This is a story of how we added a bunch of ingredients to a saucepan and made a copycat of Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce in no time! Being from Texas means there’s no shortage of good BBQ everywhere you look. And though today’s bbq sauce recipe is not anything close to a Texas-style BBQ sauce, it is a sauce that tastes delicious on just about any kind of grilled meat, poultry, and even vegetables. Homemade bbq sauce comes together by simmering a few ingredients and tastes a harmonious balance of sweet, spicy, tangy, and smoky flavors. We use homemade bbq sauce regularly in our household. Whether it’s to baste chicken with on the grill, or as a sauce on my bbq chicken pizza (an all-time favorite!) It goes on cheesy bbq chicken – a weeknight classic. It’s a key ingredient in my smoky southern baked beans. It’s also an ingredient in the dressing for my Crispy chicken salad, and a part of the sauce for my pickle-brined crispy chicken sandwich!
Ingredients for Homemade Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce:
Ketchup: is the base of this recipe. Keep in mind, you want to use a ketchup that isn’t too sweet here otherwise the bbq sauce will end up being extremely sweet with the addition of brown sugar and molasses. There are several brands that have no sugar added, I suggest using something like thatBrown sugar: adds sweetness to the sauceMolasses: add both sweetness and a deep rich flavor to the saucePineapple juice: adds a unique fruity flavor profileWorcestershire sauce: adds an umami flavor to the sauce. Keep in mind that Worcestershire does make this sauce not suitable for my vegan friends. So if that’s you, you might want to swap the Worcestershire for one that is vegan friendly Apple cider vinegar: adds the tang that you find in bbq sauceSeasonings: There’s a few select seasonings I like to use that make the best sauce! Smoked paprika is the most important one of them all. It adds so much depth of flavor. You’ll also need dry mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Keep in mind that the cayenne is optional, if you want to make this not spicy, leave the cayenne out!Hot sauce: adds a bit of a kick!Cornstarch: helps thicken the sauce
Why do you add pineapple juice to your bbq sauce recipe?
If you’re wondering why pineapple juice, it’s because I turned over the bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s bbq sauce and saw that it says pineapple juice right smack dap in the center there. Who would’ve even thought?
I like bbq sauce with a more smoky flavor, how can I achieve that?
The smoked paprika is meant to give this recipe a smoky flavor, and for us, it’s just the right amount. If you usually prefer a more smoky sauce, you can add 1-3 teaspoons of liquid smoke to the recipe to help boost that smokiness. I would start with 1 teaspoon and build from there based on preference!
How to make just like Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce:
How to store leftover bbq sauce:
I store the leftover sauce in a jar with a tight fitting lid. You can keep the sauce in the fridge for up to 4 weeks from when you prepared it!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
Homemade ColeslawMost addicting Macaroni Salad
If you prefer to make this smokier, you can add 1-3 teaspoons of liquid smoke to your taste. Start with 1 teaspoon and build as desired.Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeksTo make the sauce vegan, be sure to use a Worcestershire sauce that is vegan friendly!
