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mama's barbecue sauce

(20 ratings)
kcarr7336 avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Karen Carr
@kcarr7336
Cape Carteret, NC

My mother always used this recipe for her ribs and chicken. It was always wonderful and always got rave reviews. I never remember a time she made bar-b-que ribs and chicken that she used bottled sauce. She always made her own sauce and we loved it!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This is a basic and delicious BBQ sauce. It leaves room to adjust the recipe to suit your taste buds. Sweet, savory, and a little tangy, we adored it the way it was written using the bigger measurements for vinegar. If you want it tangier, add more vinegar and pepper for a kick. Homemade barbecue sauce is very easy to make and this will be popular at your next BBQ.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(20 ratings)
yield serving(s)
prep time 15 Min
cook time 10 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For mama's barbecue sauce

  • 1 tsp
    dry mustard
  • 1 tsp
    water
  • 1/4 c
    olive oil, light or cooking oil of your choice
  • 1 Tbsp
    minced onions
  • 1/4 tsp
    black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp
    chili powder
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 6 Tbsp
    brown sugar
  • 3 Tbsp
    lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp
    Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 - 1/2 c
    vinegar
  • 1 sm
    can tomato paste, 6 oz
  • 1/4 c
    molasses
  • 1/2 c
    tomato ketchup
  • 1 sm
    can tomato sauce, 8 oz (optional)
  • 1/8-1/4 c
    liquid smoke (optional)

How To Make mama's barbecue sauce

  • Mustard and water mixed together in a small bowl.
    1
    Mix mustard with water and allow to stand 10 minutes.
  • Onions cooking in oil.
    2
    While the mustard is sitting, cook onions in oil until soft and transparent.
  • Spices and mustard mixture added to onions.
    3
    Next mix spices and mustard mixture.
  • Molasses and brown sugar added.
    4
    Then mix in molasses and brown sugar.
  • Pouring in lemon juice.
    5
    Add lemon juice.
  • Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and liquid smoke added.
    6
    Stir in Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and liquid smoke.
  • Stirring in tomato paste, sauce, and ketchup.
    7
    Lastly stir in tomato paste, sauce, and ketchup.
  • Barbecue sauce simmering on the stove.
    8
    Let simmer for 10 minutes. Use immediately or allow to cool and transfer to bottle or jar for storing in the refrigerator.
  • Mama's Barbecue Sauce on chicken.
    9
    Note: You may adjust the ingredients according to your taste. I have added and omitted ingredients at times according to how I wanted to use the sauce and it always turned out very well!
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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