Homemade Smoked BBQ Sauce

There are so many regional varieties of BBQ sauce - Memphis, Carolina, Texas, Kansas City... but my favorite by far is my homemade smoked sauce! It's tangy, slightly sweet, and has a beautiful smoky flavor that lingers in your tastebuds. I know, it's easy to buy sauce, but when you can make your own for a fraction of the cost, and not to mention it's easy and you know what goes into it, why not? It's free of high-fructose corn syrup and preservatives, and it's delicious. If you don't have a smoker, that's ok - you can skip that step and still have amazing homemade sauce that is sure to impress your summer BBQ guests!

Here's how to make it:

Ingredients

• 1 cup ketchup (my homemade ketchup as a base makes it extra delicious!)

• 4 TBS brown sugar

• 4 TBS Worcestershire sauce

• 2 TBS apple cider vinegar

• 2 TSP garlic powder

• 1 TSP onion powder

• 1/2 TSP mustard powder

• 1/2 TSP chili powder (if you want a little spice!)

• 1/2 TSP fine sea salt

• mesquite wood chips (if smoking it)

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir until well-combined.

2. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat.

3. If you're smoking it, pour it into a metal pan (I used an 8" baking pan),

4. Add soaked wood chips to the smoker and bring temp to 225° F.

5. Smoke for 2-3 hours. I recommend tasting it at 2 hours and continue to cook if you want more of a smoky flavor.

6. Let the sauce cool completely before using it.

7. Brush it onto chicken, ribs, or your meat of choice and enjoy!