Kansas City BBQ sauce is the perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and smoky, making it an essential addition to your grilling repertoire.
This versatile sauce pairs beautifully with everything from ribs to chicken, adding a burst of flavor that will have you coming back for more. Plus, making it at home means you can tweak the ingredients to suit your taste perfectly.
Tasty additions, like dry rubs, sauces, & marinades, can help take your grilling game to the next level and make your taste buds dance with joy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Butter
- Onion
- Garlic – Use fresh and grate or mince it before adding.
- Ketchup – I like to use no-sugar-added ketchup to keep the sweetness level down.
- Molasses
- Dark brown sugar – This is an essential element that will help to thicken the sauce and make it sweet.
- Apple cider vinegar – The apple cider vinegar gives the sauce a nice tangy flavor that helps to balance the sweetness.
- Yellow mustard – I like the tangy yellow mustard flavor but you can substitute the yellow mustard for Dijon, creole mustard or stone ground mustard, if you want.
- Chili powder
- Ground black pepper
- Cayenne pepper – You can go easy on the cayenne pepper if you don’t like your sauce hot.
Helpful Tips
- The key to a great Kansas City BBQ sauce is balancing the sweetness of the brown sugar and molasses with the tanginess of the apple cider vinegar. Taste as you go and adjust the levels to match your preference. If it’s too sweet, add a bit more vinegar; if it’s too tangy, a bit more brown sugar will do the trick.
- Not everyone likes their BBQ sauce spicy, so adjust the cayenne pepper to your liking. Start with a small amount and add more if you want extra kick. You can also experiment with different types of chili powders to find your perfect level of heat.
- Patience is key when making BBQ sauce. Allowing the sauce to simmer on low heat for at least 20-30 minutes helps meld the flavors together, resulting in a richer, more complex taste. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and make sure to let the sauce cool before storing it.
Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- Saucepan medium
- Blender
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) butter
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3 cloves garlic minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 2 cups (473 ml) ketchup
- 1/3 cup (79 ml) molasses
- 1/3 cup (73 g) dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup (79 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon (8 g) chile powder
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, chili powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Transfer sauce to the jar of a blender and blend until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, transfer to a jar and store in refrigerator for up to a month.
Notes
- The key to a great Kansas City BBQ sauce is balancing the sweetness of the brown sugar and molasses with the tanginess of the apple cider vinegar. Taste as you go and adjust the levels to match your preference. If it’s too sweet, add a bit more vinegar; if it’s too tangy, a bit more brown sugar will do the trick.
- Not everyone likes their BBQ sauce spicy, so adjust the cayenne pepper to your liking. Start with a small amount and add more if you want extra kick. You can also experiment with different types of chili powders to find your perfect level of heat.
- Patience is key when making BBQ sauce. Allowing the sauce to simmer on low heat for at least 20-30 minutes helps meld the flavors together, resulting in a richer, more complex taste. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and make sure to let the sauce cool before storing it.
Nutrition
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Like this recipe? We’d love for you to share it on your Pinterest board! Click to follow our Pinterest boards so you can find all our recipes!
Instagram it! If you try this recipe please tag #legendsofthegrill on Instagram or Twitter. We love to see your photos of our recipes! Also follow us on Facebook to keep up on what we’re cooking up.
Laura is a passionate home cook and grill enthusiast who has spent years perfecting her culinary skills, with a particular focus on grilling techniques and flavor combinations. Her fascination with the grill, smoke, and the mouthwatering results they produce has led her on an exciting journey to discover the best methods for grilling delicious and unforgettable meals.