Learn how to make a delicious homemade Texas BBQ Sauce without any ketchup or mustard! Using wholesome ingredients for ultimate flavor and the perfect blend of sweet, smoky, tangy and slightly spicy! This is the perfect homemade barbecue sauce!
TEXAS BBQ SAUCE
Growing up in Texas, we know our bbq sauce. In fact, Texas is known for its barbecue. We ate barbecue and Tex-Mex more than anything else growing up. And as many of you know, who’ve followed my blog for sometime, I love bbq more than any other flavor. I honestly think bbq sauce tastes good on just about anything, haha.
I’ve made many barbecue sauce recipes on my blog and even a new one in my cookbook.
But, this one, is truly the perfect southern Texas style bbq sauce for me. It is the best bbq sauce I’ve created to date and we are obsessed with it in my house. It is the ultimate flavor and perfect balance of sweet, smoky, tangy and slightly spicy, but not overly so. My Dad made so much bbq in the backyard growing up and always smothered it in the most delicious bbq sauce. As a Texan, this one makes me super happy.
Everybody has their own idea of what makes bbq sauce the best. Some like it really tangy with a ton of vinegar, me not so much. I like some of course, for balance, but too much can taste rather strong. Some like it super sweet. This Texas BBQ Sauce is perfectly sweet, but not a sugar coma.
INGREDIENTS FOR TEXAS BBQ SAUCE
To me, you need each one of these for that perfect overall balanced flavor. I feel the best barbecue sauce has to have some molasses and liquid smoke in it, period. (recipe card below with full details)
- tomato sauce/puree (not tomato paste)
- pure maple syrup
- molasses
- worcestershire sauce
- apple cider vinegar
- garlic powder
- chili powder
- liquid smoke
- black pepper
HOW TO MAKE TEXAS BBQ SAUCE
Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
Add to a pot over medium heat. Once it begins to simmer, cook for 3-5 minutes, whisking continuously until the spices cook through and it is warmed throughout. I love to heat up pinto beans with some of the barbecue sauce. So so good.
OTHER BBQ SAUCE RECIPES TO TRY
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thevegan8 #thevegan8!
Texas BBQ Sauce (No ketchup!)
Ingredients
- 2 cups (480g) tomato sauce/puree (not tomato paste)
- 1/4 cup (80g) pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons (40g) regular molasses (not blackstrap) can be found at walmart, many stores
- 2 tablespoons (30g) apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons (45g) worcestershire sauce (I buy a vegan one, Annie's, from whole foods or sprouts)
- 2 tablespoons (30g) liquid smoke
- 1 1/2 tablespoons regular American chili powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- optional: 1/2 teaspoon ground espresso
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
- Add to a pot over medium heat. Once it begins to simmer, cook for 3-5 minutes, whisking continuously until the spices cook through and it is warmed throughout.
- This bbq sauce is delicious right away, of course, but the flavors truly enhance to amazing flavor by the next day after chilling overnight! I love to use this over pinto beans and heat through or over veggie burgers, fries, potatoes, etc.
I made this recipe and loved it! I’m allergic to mustard in any form and most BBQ sauces include mustard. I was very happy to find this one. I’m not a fan of pure maple (the price or taste) so I used light brown sugar for a sweetener. Also, I sautéed a diced yellow onion. I made low & slow beans in a crockpot with this sauce and they were the best I’ve ever had!
I haven’t made this recipe, yet, but I definitely will. Both my husband and I are plant-based and he loves BBQ. I’m excited about your site, because I’m definitely into cooking healthy, whole food plant-based recipes. Quick question. Can you substitute brown sugar for the molasses? Thank you and thank you for the amazing recipes!
Hi Kendra! Brown sugar will make it a lot more sweet, as molasses is quite bitter, so maybe a little bit less?
Thanks for the recipe.
David can’t seem to get enough meat in his mouth.
Lol, right!!
Sorry one last comment if you truly were a Texan you would know that true Texas BBQ goes sauce less,the meat speaks for itself if it’s done right.Kinda like when people drown a perfectly good steak in A1 sauce ridiculous.
Why start a sentence with sorry when you are just going to be a rude jerk? I’ve eaten meat, you aren’t going to change my mind or convince me. I’ve been vegan almost 13 years and I love bbq sauce period, regardless of meat. Your opinion means nothing to me.
How do you know if it’s good sauce? Because hmm you don’t eat meat,I’m just sayn.
I grew up eating meat David and I have taste buds.
Fabulous! Other barbecue sauce recipes I’ve tried just tasted like catsup. This one has a complex, not-too-sweet flavor with a nice kick.
The recipe looks like a winner. I will be making this recipe for our family reunion cook out. I like the fact that it does not use ketchup. I do not have expresso on hand so will have to purchase it.
I have never used it in a bbq recipe but based on the comments, it helps make the recipe ….so I will give it a try. Thank you
Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks. I am out of BBQ sauce and ketchup and was looking for a recipe for BBQ sauce for making cowboy beans. Your recipe did the trick! For some reason I have all the ingredients listed. What luck!
Yay!!
Hello! I was reading through the comments here and have a question. How much “less” of a measurement would you suggest if substituting brown sugar for the molasses?
Also, if I were to make the recipe ahead if time, how long would it last in a container in the fridge?
This is the perfect balance of flavors. I want to eat it with a spoon. Thanks for a great recipe!
Woohoo!!