This Honey BBQ Sauce is a sweet and tangy homemade barbecue sauce perfect for burgers, chicken wings, pizza, and more. It comes together in about 20 minutes and stores easily in the fridge.
I used to make nearly everything from scratch—homemade flour tortillas, fajita seasoning, sweet chili sauce—and I still enjoy cooking that way whenever I can. After leaving my office job to freelance, I started using a few time-saving shortcuts, like store-bought flatbread for quick pizzas and premade patties for burgers. Still, when I made BBQ Bacon Burgers, I wanted at least one component made from scratch to keep things authentic.
This Honey BBQ Sauce fits that bill. It’s a small-batch, sweet-and-tangy sauce you can make in about 20 minutes, including prep. Keep a jar in the fridge to brush on Honey Barbecue Wings, drizzle over barbecue chicken tostadas, or use wherever you’d reach for a bottle of BBQ sauce.
Ingredients For Honey BBQ Sauce Recipe
For this easy honey BBQ sauce you’ll need simple pantry ingredients:
- Ketchup: A store-bought or homemade ketchup provides body and sweetness and acts as the sauce’s base.
- Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and a touch of molasses flavor that complements the honey.
- Honey: Provides floral sweetness and helps create a glossy finish—use any variety you have on hand.
- Apple cider vinegar: Brings bright acidity to balance the sugar without the harshness of white vinegar.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds savory depth and umami.
- Smoked paprika: Contributes a smoky note and mild heat.
- Garlic and onion powders: Offer savory flavor without adding texture.
- Salt: Enhances and balances the flavors—kosher salt works well.
- Black pepper: Adds a gentle peppery kick.
How To Make Honey BBQ Sauce
Making this sauce is straightforward and quick. You’ll only need a saucepan, a whisk, and a few minutes on the stove.
Combine the ketchup, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer.
Cover the pan to limit splatter and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar and honey are fully dissolved and the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate; the sauce will keep for up to one week.
Ways To Use This Honey BBQ Sauce
This versatile sauce works in many recipes. Try it on:
- BBQ chicken pizza as a flavorful base instead of tomato sauce.
- Grilled or baked chicken wings for sticky, honey-glazed wings.
- Pulled chicken or pork—stir the sauce into cooked shredded meat for an easy sandwich filling.
- Potato salads or roasted vegetables for a sweet-savory finish.
Honey BBQ Sauce
3/4 cup
10 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
This Honey BBQ Sauce is a sweet and tangy honey barbecue sauce you can use on burgers, chicken wings, pizza, and more! It only takes about 20 minutes to make and keep in your fridge.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup ketchup (homemade or store bought)
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (make sure it’s vinegar, not juice)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (not salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (preferably kosher)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover with a lid. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar and honey have dissolved and the sauce is smooth.
- Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Notes
Use this sauce for Honey Barbecue Wings, BBQ Chicken Pizza, pulled chicken sandwiches, potato salad, or as a glaze for roasted vegetables.
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