A Delicious Homemade BBQ Sauce That’s Ready In Seconds
When I was a girl, I loved most of the food my mom made, but I was always particularly excited when she made ribs with homemade BBQ sauce. Mom’s BBQ sauce was thick, sweet, and slightly tangy — exactly how I like it!
I didn’t find out that her recipe had a bonafide secret ingredient — prunes baby food — until my siblings and I were teenagers. (Knowing how we would have reacted to that knowing that were eating a fruit puree for babies, I can’t say I blame her for keeping that a secret as long as she did!)
With it being grilling season, I thought I’d share my take on my mom’s easy BBQ sauce recipe here in this post! Grab your blender and a few simple ingredients, and you’ll be seconds away from a delicious sauce that’s sure to steal the show at your next backyard barbecue.
How To Make Blender BBQ Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1/2-1 cup brown sugar (for a sweeter sauce, use the higher amount)
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 (2 1/2 ounce) container prunes baby food (my mom’s secret ingredient!)
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp liquid smoke
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Directions:
Get ready for the world’s easiest instructions…
Put all the ingredients in your blender, then blend until smooth. At that point, you can either warm the sauce on your stove or use it as is. And that’s it!
Additions & Substitutions
The recipe above is great as is, but don’t be afraid to add or swap ingredients to make it your own! You can add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne to give it a bit more heat, use less brown sugar, add more garlic — whatever sounds good to you!
One of the great things about this BBQ sauce recipe is that you can make a big batch of it and freeze whatever you won’t use right away. (I suggest pouring the extra sauce into an ice cube tray and freezing it, then transferring the frozen cubes to a ziplock freezer bag!)
What Can I Put Blender BBQ Sauce On?
Brush this easy BBQ sauce on grilled chicken and serve with a fresh salad for a perfect summertime meal. I also love this sauce on a homemade BBQ chicken salad with black beans, corn, red onion, and ranch dressing. So good!
You can brush blender BBQ sauce on meatloaf and burgers, add it to shredded pork or chicken for sandwiches, and even stir into some mayo to make a tangy dip for french fries and onion rings. It’s also great on delicious BBQ chicken pizza too!
More Hot-Off-The-Grill Goodness
Check out these other posts:
Do you have a favorite recipe or dish with BBQ sauce?
Blender BBQ Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- Blender or a bowl and whisk
Ingredients
- ½-1 cup brown sugar to taste
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2½ ounces baby food prunes or prune puree
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp liquid smoke
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth.
- Warm before using, if desired.
Nutrition
More Ideas You'll Love
Dave’s Rich and Sassy was introduced to me by a friend in NC, and having never been a fan of BBQ, I love it now! Apparently, the sauce matters ;-P
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh, the darker the sauce the better the flavor. I mix mine up with apple cider vinegar, molasses, brown sugar, garlic, turmeric, sea salt, pepper, brown mustard, tomatoes, a pinch of cayenne, a bit of this and a smidgen of that. Add a huge dose of love and call it good. Love the blog!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I LOVE Carey Hilliard’s BBQ sauce but unless I make a trip to Savannah I can’t get it, so we use Sweet Baby Ray’s which we all enjoy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love sweet baby rays also but would love to try this one. I would love to win a blend tec blender!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love sweet baby rays also but would love to try this one. I would love to win a blend tec!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I like sweet baby rays on chicken, but a spicy Stubb’s on beef. We’re trying to eat more naturally (low salt and sugar) so I’d like to find a homemade version to fit the bill :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Montgomery Inn BBQ is unique to the Cincinnati area and one of our family favorites. Husband also really likes Billy Sims so we always make a stop there when in Oklahoma to see my daughter. I like Sweet Baby Ray’s too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I look for BBQ sauces that are on sale that don’t contain high fructose corn syrup. Then add soy sauce or peach preserves or honey. Whatever I have and am in the mood for!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My sister-in-law makes a great sauce! She won’t share her recipe so I’ll try yours!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A Memphis style vinegar sauce is definitely my favorite.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This recipe looks like it may be my new favorite!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t have a favorite (yet). I do like it with some heat!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.YUM! YUM!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My Grandpa’s Hm Texas BBQ sauce! But it does take a really long time to make! Its not sweet,but boy it would definitely snap at ya! Mmmm
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My fave sauce is from Dana Thornock’s Lean & Free 200 Plus cookbook. It has onion, vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, chili powder and salt & pepper. I don’t like sweet meat or liquid smoke & this is just tasty!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sweet Baby Rays
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Have to confess…I love the sweeter barbecue sauce, especially sweetened with honey. Yummy!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar – family recipe. My father still does it better.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Stubbs is my favorite sauce, and it is all good ingredients. Grilled chicken with it on top is so yummy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love sweet baby rays. Yum.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love Bone Suckin’ Sauce!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sweet Baby Ray’s is great but I’d like to make my own.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Bottled BBQ is great.
Homemade is always the best. I make one with sauted onions, brown sugar, ketchup or tomato sauce/paste.
Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My mother’s homemade sauce is the best. She tells me some day she’ll hand over the recipe but I think she just makes up as she goes :D
Please log in or create a free account to comment.As long as it is mild with all natural ingredients (no high fructose corn syrup), I am happy! My husband on the other hand might be more picky. ;)
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