Chicago Style BBQ Sauce Recipe
Chicago Style BBQ Sauce Recipe is a tangy, tomato based sauce with molasses, vinegar, lemon, Worcestershire, mustard, and chili, creating a slightly sweet, zesty flavor that pairs beautifully with ribs, chicken, and hot links.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan & whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Heatproof spatula
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups 360 g ketchup
- ½ cup 120 g apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup 55 g packed dark brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons 60 g molasses
- 2 tablespoons 30 g Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons 30 g fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon 15 g yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon 8 g red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon 3.1 g garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon 2.4 g onion powder
- ½ teaspoon 1.2 g freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon 0.5 g cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon 3 g salt
Instructions
Step 1
- Add the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, dark brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, yellow mustard, red chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt to a medium saucepan.
Step 2
- Whisk the ingredients together over medium heat until the brown sugar melts and the sauce looks smooth. Bring it to a gentle simmer, but do not let it come to a hard boil.
Step 3
- Turn the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 15–20 minutes. Stir it from time to time as it cooks. The sauce will start to thicken, and the vinegar, molasses, spices, and tomato flavors will come together nicely.
Step 4
- Take the saucepan off the heat and let the sauce cool for a few minutes. Give it a taste and add a little more seasoning if needed. Pour the sauce into a clean airtight container and let it cool completely. It will thicken a bit more as it cools.