This Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce will add a flavorful kick to any dish. This homemade condiment combines the perfect balance of sweetness and heat, and can be used as a marinade, dipping sauce, or glaze for grilled meats and vegetables.
Whether you prefer it on ribs, chicken, or even tofu, this sweet and spicy BBQ sauce is sure to tease your taste buds and elevate your next barbecue experience.
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Why I love this homemade Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce
I love a good bbq sauce, and this sweet and spicy bbq sauce recipe is one of my absolute favorites.
There are so many great bbq sauces that are available for purchase, but there's something about making your own that makes the sauce taste that much better.
This bbq sauce has the perfect amount of sweet and spice, and is a fantastic addition to any chicken, pork, and beef. Just make sure you eat some of the meat without the dip first to make sure the cook isn't offended...
Recipe Rundown
| Prep Time: | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time: | 30 minutes |
| Servings: | 6-8 |
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce Ingredients
To make this you'll need just a few ingredients. For the full ingredient list with measurements scroll down to the bottom of this post.
- Ketchup- this makes the base of the sauce.
- Honey- I have made this with both regular or you can sub Mike's Hot Honey Extra Hot to kick up the flavor.
- Molasses- This adds some depth and thickness to the sauce.
- Brown Sugar- A little sweet balances the heat.
- Apple Cider Vinegar- This adds a bit of a tang and the acidity to the sauce.
- Paprika- this mild spice adds a little peppery flavor along with a hint of heat.
- Garlic Powder- I love to add garlic to pretty much anything. It just adds a ton of flavor.
- Onion Powder- this spice is great in BBQ sauce and compliments many grilled and smoked foods.
- Salt- a little salt is used to help with the overall taste of the sauce.
- Cayenne- this spice gives the kick in the sauce!
How to make Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce
To make the sweet and spicy bbq sauce we just combine all of the ingredients in a pan, stir together, and then simmer over medium heat for 20-30 minutes. Stir every few minutes to keep the dip from sticking to the pan while cooking down.
I've made this recipe quite a few times now, and I've found that the flavor is even better if you use Mike's Hot Honey Extra Hot and eliminate the Cayenne Pepper.
Watch Me Make This Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce
How to store this homemade BBQ Sauce
You can store the sauce in one of these squeeze bottles, and it will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks, but if it lasts that long I'd be surprised. I know I'm devouring the whole bottle in less than a week most of the time. This stuff is good on everything!
If you're looking for another good dip, check out my blueberry bbq sauce recipe.
And here are some awesome recipes you can dip in this 🙂
Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup Ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup honey sub Mike's Hot Honey Extra Hot
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper if using Mike's Hot Honey don't add cayenne
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer over medium heat for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Let the sauce cool to room temp and then pour into a mason jar or bottles and store in the refrigerator.
- This sauce is best served after chilling in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours.
Notes
I've made this twice once with cayenne and once with mikes extra hot honey. both have their charm. both delicious. you can put it on anything and it hits. tbh, I put it on my salad