Barbecue Sauce Recipes (19 Recipes, 3 Articles)
Published On: 5/3/2019 Last Modified: 6/16/2025
There are several regions which have evolved their own unique barbecue and sauce styles, often influenced by the available meats and their ethnic origins.They are not all sweet and red! Their flavors and history are fascinating. They are also the subject of much controversy and villification between regions, each claiming authenticity. Some break down regional styles into microcosms reminiscent of wine appellations, claiming “authenticity” in one state and fraud in another.
In his 1993 book “Why We Eat What We Eat: How Columbus Changed the Way the World Eats
“, Raymond Sokolov, has a superb essay on authenticity focused on regional styles. Some highlights: “Unfortunately authenticity is as slippery a notion as happiness… Texan chiliheads abhor beans; New Mexicans routinely put them in their version of chili. Similarly, each village along the French Mediterranean coast has its own ‘authentic’ mixture of fish for its own ‘authentic’ bouillabaisse. Aren’t these really distinct regional variations, each authentic for its town or state? If so, to what size must we whittle down our definition of region…? There is, in fact, no limit to this. In my family people disagree about the authentic way to make dishes handed down from the same older relative.” Then he nails it “Publication leads to codification… Cookbooks not only preserve, they overdefine and delimit cooking when they set forth a single version of a dish and, explicitly or implicitly, suggest that other versions are spurious.”
Click here to read a summary of each of the different types of barbecue sauce, what makes them unique, and some of my favorite benchmark examples.
The articles below have more detail and recipes.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
The US has several distinct barbecue sauce styles. Here is a description of them, and links to buy them, and recipes.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
When storing sauces, we have two concerns: Safety and flavor. We don't want microbes in our sauce, and we want the flavors to stay fresh.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Say so long to bottled BBQ sauce and hello to amped up homemade Kansas City-style sauce with this step-by-step recipe.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Tennessee whiskey is the key to this delicious BBQ sauce recipe, a perfect complement to countless BBQ and grilling main dishes.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Create your own amazing East Carolina vinegar BBQ sauce and mop with this simple to follow recipe. Click here to learn all about it.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Lexington BBQ sauce recipe is mostly vinegar with a touch of ketchup and pepper. Here's how to make authentic NC Dip BBQ sauce and mop baste.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
In Mid-South Carolina, from Columbia to Charleston, BBQ sauce is yellow. Here is a quick and easy South Carolina mustard BBQ sauce recipe.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
In South Carolina BBQ sauces feature mustard. Here's a mustard BBQ sauce recipe that amps up the flavor with herbs.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
The traditional Texas mop sauce recipe is usually more like a tomato soup, thin and spicy, it penetrates the meat.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
This delicious sauce has the classic profile of any great BBQ sauce, sweet, tart, spicy, but with a wonderful twist: The taste of chocolate.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Packed full of flavor, this recipe for Alabama white BBQ sauce is the perfect addition to grilled and smoked chicken.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Here's a recipe for black BBQ sauce inspired by Moonlite Bar-B-Q Sauce & Dip. This thin tart sauce cuts the rich fat.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
This Louisiana BBQ sauce recipe is spicy and sweet with Chipotle Tabasco, roasted jalapenos, red peppers, and Steen's Cane Syrup.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Take your smoked ribs over the top with this recipe for apple butter enhanced Kansas City-style BBQ sauce.
By:
Clint Cantwell, AmazingRibs.com President And BBQ Personality
This simple Asian BBQ sauce recipe brings the heat and the sweet to enhance the flavors of your favorite foods.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Try my recipe for Japanese Happy Mouth Yakitori Sauce on grilled chunks of meat. It is also great on ribs!
By:
Dave Joachim, AmazingRibs.com Editorial Director
This savory, slightly sweet and spicy ssam jang recipe includes doenjang (Korean miso), gochujang, green onions, garlic, and sesame oil.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
This sweet, slightly spicy glaze will jazz up your barbecue and is a nod to the much loved Blues Hog sauce.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Danny Gaulden's recipe for a barbecue sauce glaze with brown sugar and mustard is simple and wonderful on barbecue or ham.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Made by one of the world's top pitmasters, Chris Lilly, this spiced apricot sauce recipe is sure to be an instant hit with your guests.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
Here is a recipe for a flavorful Caribbean style mojo sauce. Mojo sauce is extremely popular in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
By:
Meathead, AmazingRibs.com Founder And BBQ Hall of Famer
While many store bought tartar sauces can be bland, this home made version is sure to become your go-to side sauce for fish dishes.
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