Growing up, my Mom always made her own homemade BBQ sauce, and that's where this recipe was adapted from. This easy Barbeque Sauce (with ketchup and brown sugar) is great for anything you need BBQ sauce for, and it's a quick BBQ sauce (it only takes about 5 minutes, if that, to throw together).
Although I often buy BBQ sauce these days because I need to save time wherever I can, I always make this one if I run out and am in a pinch! So, why not make your own BBQ sauce? And if you don't have all the exact ingredients, don't worry - I have lots of substitutions you're bound to have on hand! It's also WW friendly. This BBQ sauce uses pantry ingredients, so it's quick and easy to make and tastes great! In fact, it's the best homemade BBQ sauce I've ever tasted.
Recipe Overview: BBQ Sauce with Ketchup
- Why You'll Love It: This is the ultimate "Lazy Way" pantry staple! Instead of buying expensive bottled sauces filled with preservatives, you can learn how to make barbecue sauce with ketchup in under 5 minutes. It has that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky.
- Ready in: 5 minutes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Serves: 8 servings (approx. 2 tablespoons each)
- Calories: 45 kcal
- Main Ingredients: Ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika.
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian (check Worcestershire), Gluten-Free, Low-Fat.
- Weight Watchers Points: 2 WW Points per serving.
- Difficulty: Easy / Beginner (No-cook option).
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- Recipe Overview: BBQ Sauce with Ketchup
- Summarize and Save this Content on:
- 🥘 Ingredient Notes
- 📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Why Ketchup is the Best Base for Barbecue Sauce
- How to Make BBQ Sauce with Ketchup: The Basic Formula
- 🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make BBQ Sauce with Ketchup
- Expert Recipe Tips
- ⚖️Scaling the recipe
- 🌡️Storing
- 🍖Grilling Equipment
- My Favorite Ways to use this BBQ sauce with Ketchup
- ❔Recipe FAQ's
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- 🫙More Homemade Sauces
- 📋Easy Barbeque Sauce (with ketchup and brown sugar) recipe
🥘 Ingredient Notes
Yeah, you guessed it- KETCHUP is the main ingredient in this easy homemade sauce recipe! I tested a lot of different ingredients and quantities before perfecting this recipe.
You will only need a handful of simple ingredients, including:
- Ketchup. Ketchup gives this barbeque sauce a delicious tomato base with seasoning already added, and adds sweetness and flavor.
- Lemon juice. Lemon juice balances the sweetness of this BBQ sauce. I use lemon juice from concentrate because it's more potent, convenient, and economical than fresh lemon juice.
- Brown sugar. I use brown sugar as a sweetener with this tangy sauce because it adds a rich depth of sweetness to this sauce, with a hint of molasses.
- HP sauce. HP sauce is a type of steak sauce that adds some spice and complexity to this BBQ sauce.
- Chili sauce. I use Heinz Chili sauce because, although it is similar to ketchup, it has different spices and contains onions.
*Please see recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Lemon Juice: Use white vinegar instead of lemon juice (if you don't have lemon juice) *My Mom actually used vinegar in the original recipe. You could also use apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar in a pinch.
- Chili Sauce: skip the chili sauce and use additional ketchup and a ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper and ¼ teaspoon chili powder if you don't have chili sauce on hand
- HP Sauce: substitute 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce for HP sauce if you don't have it or another type of steak sauce such as A1.
- Sugar: You can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar, or white granulated sugar if you don't have brown sugar
- Lighten it up/reduce calories: use sugar-free ketchup to lower the WW points, if you desire
- Garlic: Use minced garlic in a jar, if you don't have fresh, or use garlic powder if you have neither
- Smoky flavor - use a ¼ teaspoon of liquid smoke to give it a smoky flavor
- Spicy bbq sauce - add some crushed red pepper flakes
- Add-ins - onion powder
Why Ketchup is the Best Base for Barbecue Sauce
Many people ask why they should use a barbecue sauce with ketchup base instead of tomato paste. The answer is simple: Ketchup is already a highly concentrated, seasoned reduction. It contains built-in aromatics and stabilizers that ensure your sauce won't separate and will cling perfectly to your ribs, chicken, or burgers. It is the secret weapon for a quick and delicious DIY sauce.
How to Make BBQ Sauce with Ketchup: The Basic Formula
If you have a bottle of ketchup in your fridge, you are already halfway to the best homemade sauce you've ever tasted. Learning how to make bbq sauce with ketchup is all about balancing four key flavor profiles:
- The Base: Ketchup (provides the tomato, sugar, and vinegar foundation).
- The Sweet: Brown sugar or honey (for that sticky, caramelized finish).
- The Tang: Apple cider vinegar (to brighten the flavors).
- The Smoke: Smoked paprika or liquid smoke (optional: for that outdoor grill taste).
By using ketchup as your starting point, you skip the hours of simmering required to reduce tomatoes. It's a "Lazy Way" hack that delivers a professional, deep flavor in a fraction of the time.
🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make BBQ Sauce with Ketchup
It's as easy as mixing everything together!
- Step 1: Pour all the ingredients into a bowl.
- Step 2: Whisk ingredients until combined.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Mix in a bowl or shake in a jar. If you want to save on dishes, add all ingredients to a mason jar, tightly seal the lid, and give it a good shake instead of whisking. It's fast and mess-free.
- Taste and adjust. Ingredients like ketchup and chili sauce can vary in sweetness and saltiness depending on the brand. Always taste the sauce and adjust with a pinch of salt, a splash of vinegar, or a bit more sugar if needed.
- Use room temperature ingredients. Using ketchup and other ingredients at room temperature (instead of straight from the fridge) makes mixing easier and helps the flavors blend more smoothly.
- Balance the heat. If adding spice (like cayenne or chili flakes), start small. You can always add more heat, but you can't take it out. Let it sit a few minutes before tasting, as the heat intensifies slightly over time.
- Don't skip the acid. The lemon juice (or vinegar) adds brightness and balances the sweetness. Even a small amount makes a big difference in flavor.
- Garlic options matter. Fresh garlic gives a punchier flavor, while garlic powder is milder. If using fresh, mince it finely so it blends evenly into the sauce. You can also use minced garlic from a jar.
- Apply near the end of grilling. If using this sauce for grilling, brush it on during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking to prevent the sugars from burning.
⚖️Scaling the recipe
You can cut this easy barbecue sauce recipe in half or double it, depending on your needs. I make the entire amount, and it's more than enough for our family of 4. However, if you want more or less, simply click on the servings number, change it to the servings you want, and the recipe will automatically adjust accordingly.
🌡️Storing
You can make this easy barbecue sauce with ketchup a day or two in advance, and it can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store it in an airtight container or a mason jar.
It also freezes well for up to 3 months. Freeze in a Ziploc freezer bag and squeeze out the air.
🍖Grilling Equipment
If you don't have a BBQ or it's either too cold to grill or you don't want to shovel a path to the BBQ, then consider investing in a stovetop grill! (affiliate link). They do a great job of grilling meat, in the comfort of your home, give you gorgeous grill marks, and are very economical and easy to store!
My Favorite Ways to use this BBQ sauce with Ketchup
I love this Homemade Barbeque sauce with ketchup on BBQ chicken or baked chicken, like my Hoisin Baked Chicken Quarters. It also tastes amazing on pork, but especially pork ribs! Try it with my Slow Cooker Beer Ribs (shown below)!
This easy bbq sauce recipe is also the ideal pairing with beef. Slather it on BBQ steak or burgers and even try it with my Slow Cooker Cranberry Turkey Meatballs. You can use this delicious barbecue sauce on anything that calls for BBQ sauce!
❔Recipe FAQ's
Add a few dashes (to your liking) of Tabasco sauce or another type of hot sauce to make it spicier. You could also add crushed red pepper flakes.
Nope! One of the best parts of this recipe is that it's no-cook. Just whisk the ingredients together and it's ready to use.
If you don't have either, you can use a small splash of soy sauce or even a bit of balsamic vinegar for that tangy umami hit. It won't be quite the same, but it will still taste great!
No, this recipe isn't tested for safe home canning. For food safety, it's best to store it in the fridge or freezer as directed.
Absolutely. Using ketchup and basic pantry spices is significantly more budget-friendly than buying "premium" bottled sauces, and it tastes much fresher!
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Making BBQ sauce from ketchup is easy! So if you're looking for an easy homemade bbq sauce you can make with ingredients you already have on hand (like ketchup), then you'll love this easy recipe.
Happy Grilling!
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📋Easy Barbeque Sauce (with ketchup and brown sugar) recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ⅓ cup chilli sauce
- 2 tablespoon of HP sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix until combined.¾ cup ketchup, ⅓ cup lemon juice, ½ tsp minced garlic, ⅓ cup chilli sauce, 2 Tbsp of HP sauce, 2 Tbsp brown sugar
Notes
-
- Mix in a bowl or shake in a jar. If you want to save on dishes, add all ingredients to a mason jar, tightly seal the lid, and give it a good shake instead of whisking. It's fast and mess-free.
-
- Taste and adjust. Ingredients like ketchup and chili sauce can vary in sweetness and saltiness depending on the brand. Always taste the sauce and adjust with a pinch of salt, a splash of vinegar, or a bit more sugar if needed.
-
- Use room temperature ingredients. Using ketchup and other ingredients at room temperature (instead of straight from the fridge) makes mixing easier and helps the flavors blend more smoothly.
-
- Balance the heat. If adding spice (like cayenne or chili flakes), start small. You can always add more heat, but you can't take it out. Let it sit a few minutes before tasting, as the heat intensifies slightly over time.
-
- Don't skip the acid. The lemon juice (or vinegar) adds brightness and balances the sweetness. Even a small amount makes a big difference in flavor.
-
- Garlic options matter. Fresh garlic gives a punchier flavor, while garlic powder is milder. If using fresh, mince it finely so it blends evenly into the sauce. You can also use minced garlic from a jar.
-
- Apply near the end of grilling. If using this sauce for grilling, brush it on during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking to prevent the sugars from burning.
- Lemon Juice: Use white vinegar instead of lemon juice (if you don't have lemon juice) *My Mom actually used vinegar in the original recipe. You could also use apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar in a pinch.
- Chili Sauce: skip the chili sauce and use additional ketchup and a ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper and ¼ teaspoon chili powder if you don't have chili sauce on hand
- HP Sauce: substitute 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce for HP sauce if you don't have it
- Sugar: You can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar, or white granulated sugar if you don't have brown sugar
- Lighten it up/reduce calories: use sugar-free ketchup to lower the WW points, if you desire
- Garlic: Use minced garlic in a jar, if you don't have fresh, or use garlic powder if you have neither
- Smoky flavor - use a ¼ teaspoon of liquid smoke to give it a smoky flavor
- Spicy bbq sauce - add some crushed red pepper flakes
- Add-ins - onion powder
Jan says
love this recipe!
Terri Gilson says
Hi Jan,
Glad to hear it!
Terri
Linda says
What is HP sauce???
Terri Gilson says
Hi Linda,
HP sauce is steak sauce. But you can use another type of steak sauce or worcestershire sauce.
Enjoy!
nancy says
thanks for this recipe. it's perfect for bbq and ribs this weekend!
AmyG says
Thanks for sharing this recipe now i have a backup for when i run out of barbecue sauce. Pinning so I don't loose this recipe!
Vanessa says
What a great way to quickly whip up some BBQ sauce! We always seem to have ketchup on hand do this is great!
AmyG says
Thanks for sharing this recipe now i have a backup for when i run out of barbecue sauce. Pinning so I don't loose this recipe!