Make-Ahead Memphis BBQ Sauce

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This easy Memphis BBQ Sauce recipe is your new secret weapon for weeknight dinners and backyard cookouts. In just 10–15 minutes, you can create a rich, tangy, and sweet sauce that's a true family favorite. It's so quick to make, but the flavors taste like they've been simmering all day.

What You Will Need:

1 cup of ketchup
¾ cup of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
3 tablespoons of sugar
3 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons of yellow mustard or 1 tablespoon of powdered mustard
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of onion powder
½ teaspoon of black pepper
¼ teaspoon of sea salt

Cooking the Barbeque Sauce

To cook the Memphis BBQ sauce, simply add all the ingredients to your saucepan and simmer at medium heat for at least 5-7 minutes. There are other options at this point. If time is not an issue you can cook the sauce longer at a lower heat to deepen the flavor. Be careful not to burn it.

Grilling with the Memphis BBQ sauce

What I love about this Memphis Barbecue Sauce recipe is that the sugars will caramelize when in the broiler or on the grill. The sugar in cooking on the grill adds so much flavor to the barbecue! I use this sauce with the Pulled Pork in the Oven recipe. The sauce will definitely caramelize in the broiler with that recipe.

Make more for later

I usually make a bit more of the Memphis Barbecue Sauce because my family likes to use it for dipping and for sandwiches. Chicken fingers, hot dogs, you name it and they put it on it! You can also adjust the heat and sweetness to your liking! I keep my BBQ sauce in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Heat. Spicy or not?

The spice in this recipe is entirely up to you and your guests tastes. My family has come to like a bit of heat in their barbecue. This recipe tastes great with or without heat. You can split the batch of sauce if you have family or guests with different levels of love for spice!

There are other great sauces and dressings on my site! Click here to try them!

FAQ's

How long does it take to make Memphis barbecue sauce?

This fast recipe takes about 10–15 minutes to prepare, but letting it simmer longer enhances the flavor.

Can I make this barbecue sauce ahead of time?

Yes! It stores well in the fridge and tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen. I keep mine for up to 2 weeks.

What meats pair well with this Memphis BBQ sauce?

Pulled pork, chicken, ribs, and even hot dogs or burgers go great with this sauce.

Can I adjust the heat level?

Absolutely! Add more chili powder or hot sauce for heat, or tone it down for a mild version.

Will the sauce caramelize on the grill?

Yes, the sugars in the sauce caramelize beautifully when broiled or grilled.