Description

This easy Kansas City BBQ Sauce recipe brings the legendary sweet and tangy taste of KC right to your kitchen. It is a homemade secret weapon, perfect for busy families, letting you control ingredients and delight everyone.

Ingredients

Scale

1 large yellow onion (300g), thinly sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
4 cloves garlic (15g), minced
2 tablespoons smoked paprika (30g)
1 teaspoon chili powder (5g)
0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper (2.5g)
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (5g)
1 teaspoon sea salt (5g)
2 cups tomato ketchup (480ml)
0.5 cup apple cider vinegar (120ml)
0.25 cup dark molasses (60ml)
0.25 cup packed dark brown sugar, or brown sugar substitute
2 tablespoons alcohol-free, anchovy-free Worcestershire sauce (30ml)
0.5 cup vegetable broth or water (120ml)
extra pinch smoked paprika, for garnish

Instructions

Caramelize Onions: In a medium saucepan or Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low heat. Add thinly sliced yellow onion and cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for 25-35 minutes until deeply golden brown and caramelized.
Add Spices and Simmer Liquids: Add minced garlic, smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt to the caramelized onions. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the spices are wonderfully fragrant. Stir in tomato ketchup, apple cider vinegar, dark molasses, dark brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and vegetable broth or water. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring to thoroughly combine all ingredients.
Thicken, Taste, and Blend: Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. (If the sauce becomes too thick too quickly, whisk in a tablespoon or two of vegetable broth or water to adjust.) For a smoother sauce, carefully transfer half of the sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender to partially blend, or blend the entire batch for a completely smooth sauce.
Cool, Store, and Garnish: Allow the sauce to cool slightly before serving; it will continue to thicken as it cools. Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Serve the warm, glossy sauce, garnished with a light dusting of extra smoked paprika.

Notes

Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If the sauce becomes too thick too quickly, whisk in a tablespoon or two of vegetable broth or water to adjust consistency.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Category: Sauce
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 30 g (2 tablespoons)
Calories: 65 calories
Sugar: 14 g
Sodium: 270 mg
Fat: 0.5 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 16 g
Fiber: 0 g
Protein: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: kansas city bbq sauce, homemade bbq, sweet tangy sauce, easy bbq, family favorite, meal prep, vegan bbq, gluten-free bbq, stovetop sauce, condiment