Texas BBQ Sauce
On January 13, 2021 (Updated April 16, 2022)
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This Texas BBQ sauce is a rich sauce that is perfect served on just about any BBQ you’ve got cooking on the grill or smoker. Drizzle it on smoked brisket, or spoon it over some ribs, you’ll fall in love with this sauce after the first bite.
Texas Style BBQ Sauce
Now before we get going on this recipe, a quick note about this BBQ sauce. We KNOW that if BBQ is good, it doesn’t need sauce (especially in Texas), but this sauce might be the exception. It provides the most amazing flavor to all your grilled and smoked meats, so make sure to try it before you count it out.
What Does Texas Style BBQ Sauce Taste Like?
With no liquid smoke and a smooth tangy sweet flavor, this Texas style sauce compliments perfectly smoked brisket and ribs, without overpowering them. This is a sauce designed to be your barbecue’s BFF.
Most barbecue sauces are ketchup based and sweetened with molasses and brown sugar. This Texas sauce takes a slight turn with a tomato paste base and a honey/brown sugar combo. The result is a sauce that is slightly thinner than most sticky sweet BBQ sauces and has a more robust tomato flavor. It may be different than what you’re accustomed to in a traditional BBQ sauce, but once you pair it with my Texas Style Brisket, you may never go back to your old BBQ sauce.
Ingredients for Texas BBQ Sauce
This BBQ sauce requires a handful of ingredients, but believe me when I say it’s well worth the effort. To begin melt butter over medium-high heat and sauté onions and garlic in a medium saucepan.
Next, add the following to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Tomato paste
- Water
- Apple cider vinegar
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Lemon juice
- Worcestershire sauce
- Dijon mustard
- Chili powder
- Celery salt
- Coriander
- Black pepper
- Salt
This sauce can be used as-is or blended to a smooth consistency. I recommend storing any unused sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Tips for Making Texas BBQ Sauce
Here are some quick tips for making this Texas style BBQ sauce you should take note of before diving into the recipe.
- Soften the onions. For a great final texture in the sauce, take the few minutes in the beginning to cook the onions and garlic in butter. It also makes a huge difference in flavor.
- Reduce the sauce. Don’t skimp on the simmering step! The sauce will start out very thin, but gently thickens over the 25 minute simmer. This simmer time also helps all of the flavors meld together.
- Puree. Or not. If you like a little texture to your sauce, serve it as is. If you want a perfectly smooth sauce, let it cool completely and then puree in the blender.
- Don’t rush it. This sauce is actually BETTER the next day. Place the finished sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight before using.
Popular Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipes
Fancy yourself a connoisseur of BBQ sauce? Try out these other popular BBQ sauce recipes from around the U.S.
Best Texas BBQ Sauce Recipe
Texas BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ sweet onion super fine dice
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 ½ cups water
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons celery salt
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
Instructions
- Sautee the onions. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the onions and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent and softened. About 4 minutes.
- Add in remaining ingredients. Whisk the remaining sauce ingredients into the pan, stirring frequently, until the sauce comes just to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer the sauce for 20-25 minutes.
- Blend the Texas BBQ sauce. Turn off the heat and allow the sauce to cool to nearly room temperature. You can use the sauce as is, if you like the texture of the onions and garlic. If you prefer a smooth sauce, carefully transfer the sauce to a blender, seal the lid tightly, and blend on high speed until the sauce is a smooth consistency.
- Refrigerate, serve and store. This sauce tastes best when allowed to rest overnight (24 hours for the best flavor) before serving. Serve alongside brisket, mop on ribs, or drizzle on cheeseburgers. Sauce will last 2 weeks in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed jar.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is the best BBQ sauce! Thank you for this great recipe. I’d like to reduce the sweetness just a wee bit. Should I reduce the honey and brown sugar or increase other items? Thanks!
Excellent sauce. I did add a teaspoon of smoked paprika and 2 tablespoons of molasses.
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! I was kind of skeptical as I put it all together, but WOW! Hands down the best BBQ sauce recipe I’ve found so far. Of course, minor tweaks: reduced mustard by half and coriander by half because we don’t like them. I was sure to brown the tomato paste. I also added about 1.5 tsp oil to an empty part of the pan and bloomed the chili powder, coriander, and pepper. So tasty.
This Texas BBQ sauce is spot on! I tried several of your recipes and they are all great so far. You are my go to girl for new recipes. Keep smokin’
This sauce pairs really well with a traditional Texas style brisket of salt and black pepper. The sweet of the sauce cuts the savoury of the beef. I definitely will make it again.
Oh m’gosh, so awesome! Just the right amount of different from KC, NC, everything else! Thank you. Period.
Fantastic Susie! Excellent combination of ingredients and their ratios! I used 3 cans of 8 oz. tomato sauce instead of paste and water plus a pinch of cayenne. I’ve been making my own bbq sauces for 20+ years and am always game to try a new one. I used it as a baste on pellet grill smoked chicken with a light dry rub. The fans went wild. BTW, it freezes well.
I make my own sauce, but I like trying anything
I’m from Texas and you just about got it! I would add more cracked black pepper! Otherwise this is now a standard!
Thank you for the nice Texas barbecue sauce recipe. The nutritional information also looks very complete. Can you tell me what measurement of sauce relates to this list of nutritional amounts. Thank you very much.