Johnny's BBQ Sauce Recipe
The main specialty of Johnny’s BBQ Sauce Recipe is the way smoky, tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy flavors come together. Ketchup gives the sauce a smooth, rich base, while brown sugar and molasses add a deep sweetness that goes well with the tangy apple cider vinegar.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan & whisk
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Clean airtight jar or storage container
Ingredients
- 1 cup 240 g ketchup
- ⅓ cup 67 g packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup 60 ml apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons 40 g molasses
- 1 tablespoon 15 ml Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon 16 g tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon 2 g smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon 1.5 g garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon 1 g onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon 0.5 g cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon 0.5 g black pepper
- ½ teaspoon 3 g salt
Instructions
Step 1
- Add the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste to a medium saucepan. Whisk the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Continue whisking until the brown sugar begins to dissolve and the ingredients are evenly blended.
Step 2
- Add the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt to the saucepan. Whisk thoroughly until all the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the sauce. Make sure the spices are fully incorporated without any visible clumps.
Step 3
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally so the sauce does not stick to the bottom. Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer rather than allowing it to boil vigorously.
Step 4
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the BBQ sauce cool for several minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed. Transfer it to a clean airtight jar or container. It can be used immediately, but resting for a few hours gives the flavors more time to blend.