Kansas City BBQ Sauce Recipe
Kansas City BBQ Sauce Recipe has a thick texture, rich tomato base, sweet finish, and a light smoky flavor. What makes this sauce special is the sweet and tangy balance, along with its glossy texture that coats grilled foods nicely.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 2 cups 480 g tomato sauce or ketchup
- 2 tablespoons 28 g butter
- ¼ cup 60 ml apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup 80 g molasses
- ½ cup 100 g dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon 15 g yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon 2 g smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon 3 g minced garlic
- 1 medium onion about 150 g, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon 1 g freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon 0.5 g chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon 0.5 g cayenne pepper, or less to taste
- ½ teaspoon 3 g kosher salt
Instructions
Step 1
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and let it cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring every so often. You want the onion soft and just lightly golden, not deeply browned.
Step 2
- Pour in the tomato sauce or ketchup, apple cider vinegar, molasses, dark brown sugar, yellow mustard, smoked paprika, minced garlic, black pepper, chili powder, cayenne, and kosher salt. Stir well until everything comes together and the brown sugar starts to dissolve.
Step 3
- Lower the heat and let the sauce gently simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes. Stir it every few minutes so nothing settles on the bottom. The sauce will slowly get thicker, darker, and more full-bodied as it cooks.
Step 4
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the sauce cool for a few minutes. For a silky smooth texture, blend it carefully until creamy, then strain it if you like. Give it a taste before serving and add a little more vinegar, sugar, or cayenne if needed.