This homemade bbq sauce is the most delicious honey bbq sauce recipe that you'll ever make. It has a smoky, sweet and savory flavor with a little kick of spice! This delicious barbecue sauce makes the perfect dipping sauce and is a fantastic recipe for a marinade!
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I'm the type of person who puts sauce on everything. In my opinion, it's not a meal without some sort of sauce on top. Whether it be hot sauce, soy sauce, or this homemade barbecue sauce - I've always got some sort of sauce to compliment every meal.
This honey bbq sauce is my favorite barbeque sauce and I literally drown everything in it. The flavor profile is sweet and tangy and smoky - the perfect combination of flavors for just about anything!
It's a great sauce for chicken wings, smoked chicken thighs, even steak! Use this sauce with any of your favorite dishes!
Ingredients
Onion - this homemade honey barbecue sauce recipe starts by caramelizing onions. This step is crucial for a deep sweet and savory flavor that you don't get from straight onion powder.
Honey - I use local honey from our local grocery story for it's natural flavor - but you can use whatever honey you have on hand!
Brown Sugar - this is added to caramelize the onions and add sweetness to the sauce.
Ketchup - I like using ketchup for this recipe as opposed to tomato paste for a more subtle tomato sauce flavor. I wanted the honey flavors to shine in this sauce, so the ketchup was perfect!
Liquid smoke - for that natural hickory smoke flavor to balance out the sweetness.
Apple Cider Vinegar - you can also use white vinegar.
Seasonings - smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and kosher salt.
Yellow Mustard - for a little tangy flavor.
Butter - butter adds richness and flavor and helps to smooth out all of the flavors of the sauce while helping them to come together at the same time. This ingredient is a must.
Tips
- Add a little bit of red pepper flakes to make this into a more of a sweet and spicy bbq sauce.
- Store this sauce in a sealed container. It has a shelf life of 6 months in the refrigerator and about 2 months at room temperature.
- When caramelizing the onions, make sure that you're patient and allow them to cook down until they're soft and jammy. (instructions in the recipe card)
How to make Honey BBQ Sauce
- Start by caramelizing the onions. Add about 2 tbsps of oil to a skillet over medium heat. Place thinly sliced onions into the skillet and add a pinch of salt. Allow the onions to cook for 8-10 minutes, then add 2 tbsps brown sugar. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, then add ½ cup of water. Allow the water to cook down and evaporate, then add another ½ cup of water and allow it to cook off.
- Once the onions have softened and become caramelized and jammy, add honey, liquid smoke, worcestershire sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, remaining brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and yellow mustard. Stir to combine.
- Add butter and stir until the butter has melted.
- Add sauce to a food processor and blend until smooth. You can also use an immersion blender if you prefer.
- Let the sauce come to room temperature and store in an airtight container.
What to make with Honey BBQ Sauce
As I mentioned above, the options are limitless! However, if you need some inspo, drown this sauce on any of these recipes:
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this recipe has butter. However, you can use vegan butter or omit the butter entirely for a dairy free option.
This honey bbq sauce has a smoky, sweet, and savory flavor with a little kick of spice!
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Honey BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- Skillet
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1 Yellow Onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 ½ tbsp Honey
- 1 ½ tsp Liquid Smoke
- 2 tbsps Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ cup Ketchup
- 2 tbsps Apple Cider Vinegar
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Chili Powder
- ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 4 tbsps Butter
- 1 tbsp Yellow Mustard
Directions
- Start by caramelizing the onions. Add about 2 tbsps of oil to a skillet over medium heat. Place thinly sliced onions into the skillet and add a pinch of salt. Allow the onions to cook for 8-10 minutes, then add 2 tbsps brown sugar. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, then add ½ cup of water. Allow the water to cook down and evaporate, then add another ½ cup of water and allow it to cook off. Repeat until onions are soft.
- Once the onions have softened and become caramelized and jammy, add honey, liquid smoke, worcestershire sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, remaining brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and yellow mustard. Stir to combine.Add butter and stir until the butter has melted.
- Add sauce to a food processor and blend until smooth. You can also use an immersion blender if you prefer.
- Let the sauce come to room temperature and store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Add a little bit of red pepper flakes to make this into a more of a sweet and spicy bbq sauce.
- Store this sauce in a sealed container. It has a shelf life of 6 months in the refrigerator and about 2 months at room temperature.
- When caramelizing the onions, make sure that you're patient and allow them to cook down until they're soft and jammy.
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