Angel’s Homemade BBQ Sauce with TWO Secret Ingredients
The Shady Truth About Store-Bought BBQ Sauces
About five years ago, I had a culinary epiphany—right in the condiment aisle of Food Lion. There I was, innocently picking up a bottle of BBQ sauce when I decided to actually read the ingredient list. Big mistake. Ever seen “high fructose corn syrup” listed twice? Or stumbled over unpronounceable tongue-twisters like “disodium inosinate”? It felt like reading the script to a sci-fi movie where condiments take over the world.
Food dyes in BBQ sauces are like the party crashers of the condiment world—showing up uninvited and leaving everyone a bit uneasy. Sure, that vibrant red could make your ribs look Instagram-ready, but it comes with a side of sketchy health concerns! Many of these dyes, like Red 40, can give your BBQ an unnaturally cheery hue. They can also potentially stir up allergic reactions. Kids may become hyperactive, bouncing off the walls as if they’ve consumed a barrel of sugar. It’s almost as if these little color additives are trying to turn your backyard grill into a mad scientist’s lab! So next time you’re slathering on that neon BBQ sauce, just remember: your taste buds might be having a blast, but your body might be plotting an uprising.
And those preservatives? Let’s just say, some of these sauces could probably outlive me, my cats, and my houseplants combined. I stood there, squinting at the label, wondering when “food” became a chemistry experiment.
Why Homemade BBQ Sauce is the Real MVP
This unsettling grocery store moment sparked my journey into the glorious world of homemade BBQ sauce. No lab-made ingredients, no mystery syrups, and definitely no chemicals that sound like spells from Hogwarts.
When you make your own BBQ sauce, you’re the boss. Want it smokier? Toss in smoked paprika. Need more heat? Cayenne’s your friend. Sweeter? Hello, honey! It’s like being a BBQ sauce DJ—mixing tracks until you hit the perfect beat.
The Game-Changers: Cinnamon and Clove
Now, let me spill the (BBQ) beans on the two secret ingredients that took my sauce from “meh” to “MIND-BLOWING”—cinnamon and clove.
Cinnamon adds a subtle, sweet warmth that hugs your taste buds. Clove brings a rich, earthy spice that lingers just long enough to make people ask, “What’s that amazing flavor?” Together, they create a depth and complexity that makes store-bought sauces taste like sad, sugary ketchup.
Benefits of Making Your Own BBQ Sauce
- No Mystery Ingredients: You know exactly what’s going into your sauce. Shocking, I know.
- Custom Flavors: Sweet, tangy, smoky, spicy—you call the shots.
- Freshness You Can Taste: Homemade BBQ sauce bursts with vibrant, real flavors.
- Healthier Option: Say goodbye to scary preservatives and sugar overload.
- Bragging Rights: “Oh, this sauce? Made it myself.” Watch your friends swoon.
A Funny Story from the Trenches
One time, mid-Food Lion ingredient hunt, I overheard a couple arguing over which BBQ sauce was “healthier.” One picked up a bottle and proudly announced, “This one has natural flavors.” I had to fight the urge to chime in, “You know ‘natural flavors’ could mean literally anything, right? Even beaver anal gland secretions!” (Google it. I’ll wait.)
Time to Get Saucy!
So, next time you find yourself staring at a sea of sketchy BBQ sauces at the store, remember—you can make your own homemade BBQ sauce that’s tastier, healthier, and free of mystery gunk.
Grab your saucepan, channel your inner BBQ wizard, and give my recipe—with its magical cinnamon and clove—a try. Your taste buds (and your family) will thank you.
I highly recommend the VERONES Wide Mouth Mason Jars (16oz, 9 Pack) and the 22 oz size. I prefer wide mouth jars because they make it much easier to get my hands in for thorough cleaning.
If you enjoyed this BBQ sauce recipe, be sure to check out my other articles and mouthwatering recipes for more culinary inspiration!
Mexican White Sauce Made Healthier with Chickpeas(Opens in a new browser tab)
Smokey Chipolte Hemp Taco Sauce(Opens in a new browser tab)
Easy Quick Chocolate Coconut Milk(Opens in a new browser tab)
Resting in the Shadow of the Most High
Sweet N Salty Cinnamon Smoothie Bowl – Nice Cream(Opens in a new browser tab)
Ready to get saucy? Let’s do this!
Angel’s BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
LIQUIDS
- 20 cups tomatoes pureed
- 2 large red, yellow, or orange sweet bell peppers pureed
- 2 large onions (any variety) pureed
- 1 bulb peeled garlic pureed
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup seasoned rice vinegar
- 2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup chili peppers fresh or dehydrated whole pureed
SPICE & SEASONING
- 4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup onion powder
- 1/4 cup garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp mustard powder
- 2 Tbsp celery seed powder
- 1 Tbsp allspice powder
- 1 1/2 cup molasses unsulfered
- 4 cup cane sugar
- 2 Tbsp cloves ground
- 1/4 cup cinnamon ground
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos
- 1/4 cup hot sauce of your choice
Instructions
- Combine liquid ingredients and bring to a rolling boil.
- Reduce heat to soft boil is achieved, and boil until reduced by half, approximately 1 hour.
- Add spices and seasonings.
- Bring back to a rolling boil and cook stirring frequently for about 10 minutes. You can cook it longer if you want to caramelize the sugar more or if you want it to be thicker.
- You can strain it through a colander before filling your jars if you want if to have a smoother consistency, but this is not necessary if you love a thick, slightly chunky BBQ Sauce.
- Can leaving a 1/2" head space and water bath process for 20 minutes.
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