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
My BBQ recipe was given to me by a friend…it has soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, lemon juice. I let my meat marinade overnight. Delish!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.my favourite bbq sauce is one i make up very easily with some regular bbq sauce a dash of olive oil and voila. You can rub it on chicken ribs steaks anything. xoxo
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Honestly, I have never met a BBQ sauce I like. I will continue my quest though. Thanks for the generous giveaway!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We just started using Stubbs because all my previous favorites have high fructose corn syrup. I like your recipe because I can make my own without any soy. I can’t wait to try it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.All of my favorite bbq sauces are tomato-based, hot and slightly sweet. Reading through your recipe here, I know we’re going to HAVE TO try it soon! My go-to quick sauce is simply ketchup and worcestershire sauce (about 3:1). Delish!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.my hands down favorite nay not be an actual bbq sauce, but I use it as one. It is stonewall Kith=chen Maple Chipolte Grill Sauce. Yummm!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am crazy about ketchup-based, sweet sauces. Reading through your recipe sounds like something we HAVE TO try! My go-to quick sauce is mixing ketchup with worcestershire sauce ( about 3:1). Simple and delicious!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Local butcher has the best homemade sauce!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am not loyal to a particular BBQ sauce. I buy when it’s on sale. Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We get a vinegary Texas style here in southern Maryland that just curls your toes!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My father had a “secret” bbq sauce that everyone loved. It was a butter and vinegar based thin sauce. Unfortunately he has passed on and his recipe with him as I cannot get the taste just like his.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sweet Baby Ray’s is the best. Not too sweet and not too tangy. Its just right
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sweet Baby Ray’s makes a great chicken marinade when you add lemon juice, olive oil and McCormick Montreal Steak seasoning, Marinade for 1 hr or more. Delicious!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My 17 year old son makes BBQ sauce using whatever ingredients he can throw together. So far, each new sauce is my new fave. I wish he would write them down…he could’ve written a cookbook by now!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sweet Baby Ray is my go to sauce, but yours sounds great! I’ll have to give it a try.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m not set on any brands, just as long as it’s sweet.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We love sweet baby rays bbq sauce but there’s so much sugar in in that I really need to start making my own. Thanks for the recipe and chance to win a cool blendtec!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh in this house Sweet Baby Ray’s reigns king of the BBQ. When the grand kids and their friends come for supper, I always hear, “Yeah, you’ve got Sweet Baby Ray’s !! “
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love Sweet Baby Ray’s — sometimes I add a touch of honey and some fresh minced garlic to it…just gives it an even better taste!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love sweet baby rays! The best on bbq ribs and chicken!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The kind of BBQ sauce that I like depends on what I am putting it on. I don’t care for a lot of heat. On stronger flavors I add more smoke and/or lots of garlic to whatever was on sale. On more subtle flavors I usually add honey or maple sugar and use less sauce. Sometimes I just yogurt as base and season with water ever I think will complement the meal.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would love to own a Blendtec so I could whip myself skinny!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Help me get thin.
I make my own bbq sauce and like it immensely.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love Jack Daniels mixed with some mayo…it becomes the most amazing dipping sauce for cheese fries! You will never eat your fries any other way after you have tried this! ; )
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I can’t recall the name of my favorite BBQ sauce–it was one that we had picked up as a sample at some event in a park somewhere, we used it once thinking that we’d be able to find it again, and have never found it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We also like Dickey’s famous sauce… YUM!
I’d love to have this blender, both to try making our own BBQ sauce (I love being able to control ingredients!), but I’d also like to try my hand at hot sauce for hubby. He just loves it on…well, just about anything I cook!