Lighter Honey BBQ Sauce Easy-From-Scratch Recipe

This Honey Barbecue Sauce Recipe brings bold flavor with natural ingredients like sautéed red onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, molasses, and liquid smoke. Skip the artificial flavors of store-bought varieties with this sweet, balanced sauce that’s perfect as a dipping sauce or marinade for any grilled dish.

Honey barbecue sauce in a jar.

This Honey Barbecue Sauce Recipe brings bold flavor without overpowering spice, offering a balanced and sweet alternative to store-bought options. Made with simple, natural ingredients like sautéed red onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, molasses, and a touch of liquid smoke, this sauce skips the artificial flavors and high fructose corn syrup found in many store-bought varieties.

Whether you’re using it as a dipping sauce or marinade, this honey BBQ sauce is perfect for anyone who wants big flavor with a natural twist. It’s one of those recipes you’ll find yourself reaching for time and time again, thanks to its easy preparation and deep, rich flavor. A staple in my kitchen, it’s a simple way to elevate any grilled dish or snack without the fuss of overly processed sauces.

Bring Your Own Spice Mild Recipe logo

BYOS: Flavor Without the Fire!

Love bold flavors but not the heat? Spice things up on your own terms with this BYOS recipe bursting with deliciousness. All the ingredients are prepped for easy digestion and a heartburn-free experience. Adjust the spice level to your preference—no more burnt tongues or tears here! Now, everyone can enjoy this recipe regardless of their spice tolerance!

YouTube video

Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Orange Muffin Recipe

  • Bold, rich flavor: Made with molasses, balsamic vinegar, and liquid smoke for a deep, balanced taste.
  • Simple, natural ingredients: Uses real ingredients like red onion, garlic, and apple cider vinegar.
  • Versatile sauce: Perfect for dipping, marinating, or brushing onto grilled meats and veggies.
  • Skip store-bought sauces: No artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup, just homemade goodness.
Gluten-free chicken tenders on a plate with homemade barbecue sauce.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here is everything you need to make my easy homemade honey barbecue sauce:

Red Onion: Substitute with yellow onion or shallots for a milder flavor. You can also replace it with onion powder.

Garlic Cloves: Use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder per clove if fresh garlic is not available.

Light Olive Oil: Replace with avocado oil, coconut oil, or canola oil.

Tomato Sauce: Use tomato paste thinned with water or crushed tomatoes for a chunkier texture.

Water: Substitute with vegetable broth or chicken broth for added flavor.

Honey: Use maple syrup or agave nectar as an alternative sweetener.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Substitute with white wine vinegar or rice vinegar.

Balsamic Vinegar: Replace with red wine vinegar or a mix of vinegar and a touch of brown sugar. You can also replace it with worcestershire sauce.

Molasses: Use dark corn syrup, maple syrup, or brown sugar.

Liquid Smoke: Use smoked paprika or a small amount of chipotle in adobo sauce for a smoky flavor.

Paprika: Substitute with smoked paprika or chili powder.

Salt: Use sea salt, kosher salt, or a salt substitute.

Black Pepper: Substitute with white pepper or a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat.

Honey barbecue sauce in a jar.

How to Make My Crispy Healthier BBQ Sauce Recipe

Here are easy, detailed, step-by-step instructions for making the best-tasting honey barbecue sauce recipe. The simple ingredients are also repeated in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

Step 1: Sauté the Vegetables

Chop the red onion and mince the cloves of garlic.

In a medium-sized saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of light olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped red onion and season with salt. After a minute add the minced garlic.

Sauté for another 3-5 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent.

Sauteeing onions and garlic in a sauce pan.

Step 2: Cook the Sauce

Add the can of tomato sauce, water, honey, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, molasses, liquid smoke, paprika, salt, and black pepper.

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency.

Adding ingredients to barbecue sauce over medium heat.

Step 3: Blend the Sauce (Optional)

For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender directly in the saucepan or transfer the sauce to a blender and blend until smooth.

Let the sauce cool to room temperature. Transfer to a clean jar or airtight container.

Blending barbecue sauce.

Expert Recipe Tips

Consistency: For a thicker sauce, extend the simmer time, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desire consistency. For a thinner sauce, reduce the simmer time.

Blending: For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender directly in the saucepan or carefully transfer the sauce to a blender. Let the sauce cool slightly before blending to avoid hot splashes.

How Can I Make This Honey Barbecue Sauce Spicier?

If you prefer a spicier BBQ sauce, here are some easy ways to add more heat:

  • Chipotle Peppers: Finely chop chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and add them to the BBQ sauce for a smoky, spicy kick.
  • Cayenne Pepper: Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to increase the heat level.
  • Hot Sauce: Add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the BBQ sauce and adjust to taste.
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Mix in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes for a consistent, moderate heat.
  • Fresh Jalapeños: Mince a fresh jalapeño (or other hot peppers like serrano) and sauté it with the red onion and garlic for an extra layer of spiciness.

What Can I Use Honey BBQ Sauce On? 

  • BBQ Chicken Pizza: Use this sauce as a base for a delicious BBQ chicken pizza. Spread it on your pizza crust, top with shredded chicken breasts, red onions, and cheese, then bake to perfection.
  • Salad Dressing: Transform the BBQ sauce into a tangy salad dressing by mixing it with a splash of lemon juice and a touch of olive oil. Drizzle over a fresh green salad for a unique sweet flavor.
  • Vegan Alternative: Create a vegan BBQ dish by using this sauce to marinate tofu or tempeh. Grill or bake for a hearty and flavorful meal.
  • Backyard Barbecues: This sauce is perfect for backyard barbecues. Use it as a glaze for grilled chicken breasts, ribs, or vegetables to add a savoury flavour.
  • Slow Cooker: For an easy meal, add chicken breasts and chipotle peppers to a slow cooker with the BBQ sauce. Cook on low for a few hours until the chicken is tender and infused with a spicy bbq sauce.
  • Mustard Seed Addition: Enhance the flavor by adding a teaspoon of mustard seed to the sauce. This will give it an extra layer of savoury flavour.
  • Spicy BBQ Sauce: If you like your BBQ sauce with a kick, mix in some finely chopped chipotle peppers. This will add a smoky heat that pairs perfectly with the sweet flavor of the sauce.

Refrigeration: Store the cooled BBQ sauce in an airtight container or a clean jar in the refrigerator. It will keep fresh for up to 2 weeks.

Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the BBQ sauce. Pour it into a freezer-safe container or ice cube trays for easy portioning. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Thawing: Thaw frozen BBQ sauce by placing it in the refrigerator overnight. For a quicker option, thaw in the microwave on a low setting, stirring frequently.

Reheating: Reheat the sauce gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You can also reheat it in the microwave in short intervals, stirring in between.

Separation: Natural separation may occur during storage. Simply stir or shake the sauce well before using to recombine the ingredients.

What is honey BBQ sauce made of?
Honey barbecue sauce is typically made with ketchup, honey, vinegar, spices, and sometimes molasses or brown sugar for added sweetness and depth of flavor.

Does honey BBQ sauce taste different from traditional BBQ sauce?
Yes, honey BBQ sauce is known for being sweeter and tangier than traditional BBQ sauce.

Is this honey BBQ sauce gluten-free?
Yes, all the ingredients are gluten-free. Just check the product labels to make sure everything is gluten-free to avoid any cross contamination.

How long will homemade honey BBQ sauce last?
Homemade honey BBQ sauce will typically last for a week or two in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Are there alternatives to honey?
Yes, you can substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.

Can I customize the spices?
Absolutely! You can swap paprika with smoked paprika or chili powder, and replace black pepper with white pepper or a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat.

How can I make the sauce smoother?
For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender directly in the saucepan or transfer the sauce to a blender. Always let the sauce cool slightly before blending to avoid hot splashes.

What should I do if the sauce separates?
Natural separation may occur during storage. Simply stir or shake the sauce well before using to recombine the ingredients.

Honey barbecue sauce in a jar.

Lighter Honey BBQ Sauce Easy-From-Scratch Recipe

Dairy-Free diet-friendly recipe
Gluten-Free diet-friendly recipe
This Honey Barbecue Sauce Recipe brings bold flavor with natural ingredients like sautéed red onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, molasses, and liquid smoke. Skip the artificial flavors of store-bought varieties with this sweet, balanced sauce that’s perfect as a dipping sauce or marinade for any grilled dish.
5 from 3 votes
Servings 16
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 red onion (chopped)
  • 3 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons light olive oil
  • 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Chop the red onion and mince the cloves of garlic.
    In a medium-sized saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of light olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped red onion and season with salt. After a minute add the minced garlic. Sauté for another 3-5 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent.
  • Add the can of tomato sauce, water, honey, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, molasses, liquid smoke, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
    Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
  • For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender directly in the saucepan or transfer the sauce to a blender and blend until smooth.
    Let the sauce cool to room temperature. Transfer to a clean jar or airtight container.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

Consistency: For a thicker sauce, extend the simmer time, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desire consistency. For a thinner sauce, reduce the simmer time.
Blending: For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender directly in the saucepan or carefully transfer the sauce to a blender. Let the sauce cool slightly before blending to avoid hot splashes.

Nutrition

Calories: 42kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 0.3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 215mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 123IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.3mg
Keyword barbecue sauce, bbq sauce
Did you make this recipe and love it?Please let me know in the comments below how it turned out 🙂

4 Comments

  1. This is soooo good! I’ve never used molasses before but it totally made it taste like the storebought. But without all the sugar and junk!

  2. I’m so excited to share this healthy honey bbq sauce with you! I hope you have a chance to make it soon 🙂

5 from 3 votes

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