This easy Memphis barbecue sauce is sweet and tangy, and only takes 25 minutes to make! Use this homemade sauce on pulled pork, ribs, and chicken.

About Memphis BBQ Sauce

Memphis barbecue sauce typically features a rich tomato base with mustard, molasses, brown sugar, hot sauce, and savory ingredients such as onion and garlic, paired with tart red wine vinegar. This homemade sauce is a powerhouse of flavor, and it’s delicious on grilled and smoked meats.

Memphis BBQ

Memphis is known for its “dry” ribs, which means they are not coated in sauce. Just ribs, herbs, and spices. However, some outdoor cooks enjoy a good Memphis-style barbecue sauce slathered on their smoked ribs. Some will serve it on the side, allowing others to help themselves. If you’re looking to make the best Memphis-style ribs, season them with our Memphis Dust Rub, and apply this barbecue sauce toward the end of cooking.

Kid-friendly sauce. This is a great Memphis BBQ sauce recipe for picky eaters. Serve a dollop of this as Memphis-style BBQ sauce on the side. Or, combine it with a little mayonnaise for dipping french fries. Cut back on the hot sauce for the little ones!

Ingredients

• Ketchup (use a good quality ketchup for this barbecue sauce)
• Yellow onion (or sweet onions)
• Garlic (sub with garlic powder: 1/8 tsp is equal to 1 clove garlic)
• Vegetable oil
• Red wine vinegar (sub with apple cider vinegar)
• Brown sugar
• Yellow mustard
• Molasses
• Louisiana hot sauce (substitute with a pinch or two of cayenne pepper)
• Salt

How to Make Memphis Barbecue Sauce

• Puree the onion, garlic, and vinegar in a blender or food processor.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan. Add the blended onion mixture to the pan and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
• Add ketchup and mustard and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir often. 
• Reduce the heat to low and add the brown sugar, molasses, salt, and hot sauce to the saucepan. Simmer sauce for an additional 10-15 minutes.
• Remove barbecue sauce from the heat and cool to room temperature before using. 
• Apply the Memphis barbecue sauce to meats during the latter half of cooking.
• For a smoother sauce, blend it to your desired consistency.
• Store in an airtight container (or jar) in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

How to use Memphis BBQ Sauce

• BBQ glaze: Brush it on pork ribs or chicken during the last 30 minutes of cooking to create a sticky, caramelized glaze.
• Condiment: Drizzle sauce over smoked pulled pork or grilled burgers.
• Dipping sauce: Serve the Memphis BBQ sauce on the side for dipping grilled chicken wings, skewered meats, and other appetizers.
• Pizza sauce: Use the sauce as a base for pizza instead of tomato sauce, and top it with shredded smoked chicken and your favorite veggies.
• Flavor enhancer: Add this sauce to baked beans and dishes like pulled pork mac & cheese or other side dishes for a fantastic flavor boost!

Tips:

1. Substitute Mustard for Horseradish: If you are not a fan of mustard, use one tablespoon of it instead of two, or omit it entirely from the sauce. Substitute with one tablespoon of prepared horseradish, for delicious flavor and health benefits!
2. Smokier Sauce: Stir in 1/2-1 teaspoon liquid smoke right before taking the sauce off of the heat. Or, use 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika instead.
3. Increase Recipe as Needed: This recipe yields roughly 2 cups of barbecue sauce, enough for two racks of spare ribs or three racks of baby backs. Double this recipe if you are planning to cook more. 
4. How much barbecue sauce should you use? Aim for 1/8-1/4 cup of Memphis barbecue sauce for each pulled pork sandwich. Two cups will be enough for 8-10 people.

Print

Memphis Barbecue Sauce

Course Sauces

Cuisine American BBQ

Keyword Memphis barbecue sauce, memphis bbq sauce

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 2 Cups

Calories 362kcal

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups ketchup
• 1/2 small yellow onion finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1 1/2 tablespoons molasses
• 1 teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce optional
• salt to taste

Instructions

• Puree the onion, garlic, and vinegar in a blender or food processor.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan. Add the blended onion mixture to the pan and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
• Add ketchup and mustard and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir often.
• Reduce the heat to low and add the brown sugar, molasses, salt, and hot sauce to the saucepan. Simmer sauce for an additional 10-15 minutes.
• Remove barbecue sauce from the heat and cool to room temperature before using.
• Apply the Memphis barbecue sauce to meats during the latter half of cooking.
• For a smoother sauce, blend it to your desired consistency.
• Store in an airtight container (or jar) in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 91g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1817mg | Potassium: 845mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 77g | Vitamin A: 935IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 2mg

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