What Are the Types of Barbecue Sauce?

I love BBQ sauce! Thinking of the words itself stimulates a rich, smokey, sweet, and tangy flavor on my taste buds. Through this post, I’ll explain what barbecue sauce is, share some of the recipes, and give you tips on how to modify and enjoy it.

What is Barbecue sauce?

Barbecue sauce or Barbeque sauce (also abbreviated as BBQ sauce) is a well-seasoned sauce made from an assortment of ingredients like tomato puree, vinegar, mustard, sugar, and spices. Barbecue sauce is often used as a marinade, basting, flavoring sauce, dip, or topping.

Its flavoring varies from region to region, and each sauce has a taste of its own.

Barbecue sauces can be broadly classified into four categories based on their base ingredient. The types of BBQ sauces are: 

• Vinegar-based sauces
• Mustard-based sauces
• Tomato-based sauces
• Mayonnaise-based sauces

Before we dive into the types of barbecue sauces we can use, let’s look at the origins of barbecue sauce.

What are the Types of Barbecue Sauces?

Vinegar-based sauces are tangy, spicy, and thin sauces. It is ideal as a meat marinade.

But the good thing about Vinegar-based sauces is that you can add it at any time during the process, and the vinegar works itself into the meat. It can be used as a basting sauce during cooking and is a primary ingredient for finishing sauces on the barbecue table. 

Vinegar’s acidity helps tenderize the meat and add a sharp, sour flavor to the meat.

Carolina Style Vinegar BBQ Sauce Recipe

One of the very first varieties of barbecue sauces, its origins come from North Carolina. Vinegar-pepper sauces are said to be made famous by Native Americans. 

It was used as a basting sauce while cooking the animal over fire pits and as a dipping sauce when it was served.

It has a sour, tangy, and spicy flavor that is very easy to make and perfect for smoked or grilled pork.

1. 1 cup cider vinegar
2. 1 cup white vinegar
3. 1 tablespoon brown sugar
4. 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
5. 1 teaspoon salt
6. 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
7. 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce 

• Mix all the ingredients in an airtight container and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days so that the flavors blend well.
• Pop it out when you’re ready to barbecue.
• It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

02.

Mustard-Based Barbecue Sauces

Mustard-based sauces are tangy (and usually spicy) sauces made up of yellow mustard, vinegar, and condiments like black pepper or Worcestershire sauce.

It usually is a perfect accompaniment to smoked pork dishes but works well with ribs and chicken too.

Mustard-based sauces are typically used as a finishing sauce that does not require cooking.

Mustard-based sauces are tangy (and usually spicy) sauces made up of yellow mustard, vinegar, and condiments like black pepper or Worcestershire sauce.

It usually is a perfect accompaniment to smoked pork dishes but works well with ribs and chicken too.

Mustard-based sauces are typically used as a finishing sauce that does not require cooking.

South Carolina Style Mustard BBQ Sauce Recipe

Originated in South Carolina, this mustard BBQ sauce is very common in a small stretch between Charleston and Columbia. 

This region was historically settled by many Germans. Since Germans love mustard with their pork, the mustard-based BBQ sauce became a famous barbecue sauce in the region. 

It has a sweet and tangy flavor that can be dripped on top of smoked pork, ribs, or chicken.

Equipment required
Measuring cup, Measuring spoons, Spoon spatula, Airtight Container.

Ingredients

1. 3/4 cup yellow mustard
2.  1/4 cup honey
3.  1/4 cup brown sugar
4.  1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
5.  1 tablespoon ketchup
6.  2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
7.  1 teaspoon garlic powder
8.  1 teaspoon onion powder
9.  1/2 teaspoon salt
10.  1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
11.  1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
12.  1/2 teaspoon hot sauce

Directions

• Mix all the ingredients in an airtight container and let it sit in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days so that the flavors can blend.
• Pop it out when you’re barbecuing and use it as a finishing sauce.
• It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Tomato-sugar based sauces are finishing sauces. This sauce is thick, sweet, and tangy and one of the most commonly found sauces on supermarket shelves.

They are not used during the barbecuing process as the sugar added in them (typically brown sugar or molasses) can get burnt during the cooking process.

They can be paired well with pork, beef, or chicken.

Tomato-based sauces are useful as an all-purpose sauce, from using it as a dip or topping to using it as a marinade or basting sauce. 

They come in two types, tomato-vinegar based or tomato-sugar base.

Tomato-vinegar based barbecue sauce is thinner, so it is used as a basting sauce throughout the whole cooking process. You can use it on a pork shoulder or even a whole hog.

Tomato-sugar based sauces are finishing sauces. This sauce is thick, sweet, and tangy and one of the most commonly found sauces on supermarket shelves.

They are not used during the barbecuing process as the sugar added in them (typically brown sugar or molasses) can get burnt during the cooking process.

They can be paired well with pork, beef, or chicken.

Memphis Style BBQ – Tomato-Vinegar base

It is a simple tomato and vinegar-based sauce. It was first made by migrant workers in Memphis, Tennessee, and it has undergone a lot of changes to become what it is today.

It is a sweet, tomatoey sauce that packs considerable heat.

It has a light flavor that is ideal for pork as it does not distract from the beautiful smoky flavor of pork. 

Equipment required
Measuring cup, Measuring spoon, Saucepan, Spoon spatula, Airtight Container.

Ingredients

1. 1 cup ketchup
2. 3/4 cup white vinegar 
3. 2 tablespoons brown sugar 
4. 1 tablespoon onion powder 
5. 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 
6. 2 tablespoons prepared mustard 
7. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
8. 1/4 teaspoon salt 
9. 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

Directions

• Combine all ingredients into a saucepan and bring it into a low simmer.
• Simmer for about 5 to 10 mins and transfer into an airtight container.
• Serve warm and store the rest in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce- Tomato-Sugar base

Kansas City-style variant is the most commercially popular variant, which can be found on any grocery store shelf across the world. It is a rich and dark tomato and molasses-based sauce with a tangy and sweet flavor. 

Equipment required
Measuring cup, Measuring spoon, Saucepan, Spoon spatula, Airtight Container.

Ingredients 

1. 3 cups ketchup 
2. 2/3 cup dark brown sugar 
3. 1/2 cup water 
4. 1/2 cup white wine vinegar 
5. 1/2 cup tomato paste 
6. 2 tablespoons yellow mustard 
7. 2 tablespoons pure chile powder 
8. 1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper 
9. 1 teaspoon salt 
10. 1 teaspoon granulated onion powder 
11. 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder 
12. 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

• Add ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat.
• Bring it to a simmer and reduce heat to low. 
• Stir the ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes until the flavors come together.
• Transfer contents into a container.
• It can be stored for up to 1 month.

04.

Mayonnaise-Based Barbecue Sauce

Though it’s base is different from the usual barbecue sauces, this needs a mention of its own.  The most famous one is Alabama’s famous white BBQ sauce. 

Though it’s base is different from the usual barbecue sauces, this needs a mention of its own.  The most famous one is Alabama’s famous white BBQ sauce. 

Alabama White Barbecue Sauce

It’s creamy, tangy, peppery, and slightly sweet sauce that is an excellent accompaniment to grilled foods like grilled chicken, grilled fish, turkey, etc. 

It can be used as a marinade or basting sauce but works just as great as a dipping sauce too.

If sugars are added, it’s best to use it as a finishing sauce, as done with other barbecue sauces; otherwise, the sugars will get burnt. 

Equipment required
Measuring cup, Measuring spoons, Spoon spatula, Airtight Container.

Ingredients

1. 2 cups mayonnaise
2. 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
3. 1/4 cup prepared extra-hot horseradish
4. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
5. 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
6. 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
7. 1 teaspoon kosher salt
8. 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
9. 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

• Mix all the ingredients in an airtight container and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before use so that the flavors can blend.
• It can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

How to Personalize, Modify, or Salvage Your BBQ Sauce?

Sometimes barbecue sauces just aren’t quite right. Whether it is your own sauces that need salvaging or a store-bought  sauce that needs to be modified, the following tips will guarantee barbecue sauce perfection:

If your barbecue sauce is too sweet
If the bottled sauce is too sweet for your taste, you can add vinegar. This will help balance the sweetness. Apple cider vinegar is usually used for barbecue sauces, but rice vinegar or white vinegar works just as well.

If your barbecue sauce is too spicy or tart
You can add sugar to balance the tartness or the spiciness. Sugars like brown sugar, molasses, and/or Honey can be stirred in to suit your palate.

If your barbecue sauce is not spicy enough
Add hot sauce!
Green or red Tabasco sauce works great! You can experiment with others like habanero sauce too, but make sure to do a taste test first.

If your barbecue sauce is a little too bland for your taste buds
Adding flavors like garlic, cumin, pepper, onion powder can make a bland, generic barbecue sauce into a mouth-watering delight. 

If you want a bit of umami flavor, you can add Worcestershire sauce and plain yellow mustard.
Add it in a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and a teaspoon of plain yellow mustard and conduct a taste test to see if you would like to add more.

If the bottled barbecue sauce has too much of artificial smoke flavor
Add fresh fruit juices like citrus juices (Orange works really well), or you can try sweeter juices like pineapple or mango to add a bit of flavor to your barbecue sauce.