Pungent spices. Tangy vinegar. Sweet maple syrup. A hint of smoke. These rich flavors meld together to make the perfect BBQ sauce.
Not only is this BBQ sauce wonderfully tasty, it’s also super easy to make. Just whisk a few ingredients together, and you’re done! Plus, it’s much less expensive than the gourmet sauces you find at the grocery store. And you know exactly what goes into it—no mystery ingredients!
Planning to grill something amazing this weekend? Let me show you how to mix up a batch of Smoky BBQ Sauce before you can say butter. Well, almost…
Here’s what you’ll need: tomato paste, pure maple syrup (don’t ever use imitation), white wine vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, chili powder, and liquid smoke.
Scoop a 6 oz. can of tomato paste into a bowl. Make sure you choose a bigger bowl than I did…
Add 1 cup of pure maple syrup. Not that icky fake stuff. All natural maple syrup. Like what you get from maple trees.
Add 6 tablespoon of white wine vinegar …
1 1/2 tablespoons onion powder …
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder …
3/4 teaspoon sea salt …
1 teaspoon chili powder.
And 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke.
Whisk it all together until smooth. I made a mess because my bowl was too small for all the whisking action.
Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
Use immediately, or refrigerate until ready to use. Now go get grilling!
Notes:
1. For best flavor, allow the sauce to sit at room temperature for 1 hour before using.
2. If you like your BBQ sauce more spicy, simply add more chili powder or a dash of cayenne. Customize to your taste!
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Description
A quick and easy BBQ sauce recipe.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces, weight Can Tomato Paste
- 1 cup Maple Syrup
- 6 Tablespoons White Wine Vinegar
- 1-½ Tablespoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
- ¾ teaspoons Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Liquid Smoke
Preparation Instructions
Whisk all ingredients together in a medium bowl. Store in the refrigerator.
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Newly-married Erica Kastner shares her wonderful recipes and amazing food photography on her blog, Cooking for Seven. She also writes about crafts and posts more of her beautiful photography in her personal blog, EricaLea.com. There really isn’t much that this amazing young lady can’t do, and we’re thrilled she does some of it here.
30 Comments
Comments are closed for this recipe.
Denice on 9.7.2011
We love to barbecue at my house, and I can’t wait to try this recipe. I think I will try using honey instead of maple syrup, just because I have a beehive in my back yard and a ton of honey that is begging to be eaten.
Nathalie on 9.6.2011
I can’t cook. Not even with a recipe. However, I tried this BBQ sauce this weekend and although I goofed up the spices a bit, it was so delicious and a big hit! I don’t usually like BBQ sauces, but this one caught my eye because of the maple syrup so decided to give it a try and happy I did. I’ll definitely be making it again, thank you!
Pat Potter - Not Harry's Mom on 9.4.2011
Just wondering who won the 3 Mixers????
Thanks,
Pat Potter – Not Harry’s Mom
Sandy on 9.4.2011
Oh — forgot to ask. What if you dropped the liquid smoke and added a few chipotle peppers?
Sandy on 9.4.2011
I like the idea of using honey, which is plentiful down here in the south — and we’re as snobby about good honey as maple sugar people are about maple syrup — I have three kinds, from three nearby towns, in my cupboard. I’m afraid that using maple syrup makes this the world’s most expensive BBQ sauce!
Diane S. in San Diego on 9.4.2011
Sounds good! I’m going to try it.
Erica Lea on 9.4.2011
Lisa: I was not aware that liquid smoke posed healthy risks! The liquid smoke I use is made from water and natural hickory smoke concentrate. Actually, I not only prefer real maple syrup because it’s more natural, but also because I like the taste MUCH better than the imitation stuff.
AliciaC: I admit to being a snob about maple syrup. My family has been harvesting maple sap since I was very young. That’s what we grew up on. I’ve always hated the imitation. Sorry if I offended you!
roberta: I’m not sure how canning it would work, but I think it would be worth a try!
Karen: I haven’t tested to see how long it will keep in the refrigerator – a week or two?
Reel Girl on 9.3.2011
I made this sauce last night and it wasa hit! Hubs LOVED it! I poured it over the chicken parts in the crockpot for the last 30 minutes of cooking, and also left some to add at the table!
So easy, but so very flavorful! Definitely a keeper recipe!
Lisa~The SweetTalk Shop on 9.3.2011
Think I just found my gift for Christmas for the guys in the shop I work at. Thanks!
Ally on 9.3.2011
I’m with lisa. On the one hand, we want real maple, and on the other, we’re putting in liquid smoke (not that I haven’t done this…)
Actually, I never realized how much sugar went into bbq sauce. Perhaps that is why it is so tasty.
Karen on 9.3.2011
Looks good enough to eat! How long will this keep in the fridge?
kim w on 9.3.2011
I have no issues with “icky fake” maple syrup (in a recipe), but liquid smoke is just nasty. Of course, I wasn’t raised on real maple syrup, but I was raised on real smoked barbeque
The recipe is just fine without the liquid smoke, if you’re using it on meat that has been grilled/smoked.
Katrina on 9.3.2011
This sounds delightful!
roberta on 9.2.2011
Hmmmm. I know this looks like it could be whipped up at a moment’s notice. But per chance could it be canned in those tiny little canning jars?? I am just a canning freak and just wondered.
Love this blog
Rhonda on 9.2.2011
Erica, you’ve got a great quick recipe for BBQ sauce and believe me, after growing up with Karo syrup in everything, real maple syrup is just nirvana. My son refuses to go back to the ‘fake’ stuff, so he either has real syrup or naked pancakes and waffles. My 13 year old, a food snob, he wanted a maple tree for the backyard, silly boy. I usually use honey and maple will be a nice swap.
AliciaC on 9.2.2011
Also @Lisa: “icky fake pancake syrup”??? Eww food snob! lol
geez folks, some of US grew up pretty poor and still aren’t able to afford real maple syrup. Give the fake stuff a break!
Courtney on 9.2.2011
@lisa: Where did you get your info about the health risks with liquid smoke? I just tried to look up some info based on your comment and found many articles saying the health risks are negligible if you consume small amounts over your lifetime.
lisa on 9.2.2011
Liquid smoke is pretty bad for you. So bad that you’d be better off leaving it out and using that icky fake pancake syrup, I bet.
Erica Lea on 9.2.2011
Jessy Yancey: The flippy-top jar? I found it at a thrift store – one of my favorite places to buy food props.
Jessy Yancey on 9.2.2011
The recipe sounds delish. Also, where did you find that great container, and does it by chance NOT come in bulk? Thanks, Erica!
Katie of Cabbage Ranch on 9.2.2011
Hoo. Ray. This makes me happy, and the link for homemade seasonings is even better. Cheers!
Erica Lea on 9.2.2011
AliciaC: Okay, okay…if you actually like the fake stuff, I won’t judge you.
I’m kinda biased – I grew up on homemade maple syrup. 
AliciaC on 9.2.2011
I’ve never used REAL maple syrup. Too pricey.
I’m okay with the fake stuff. So there.
Agata on 9.2.2011
I’d love to make some of this BBQ sauce (it looks yummy!) but I haven’t seen liquid smoke anywhere in Poland yet
LorieG on 9.2.2011
Yum, we are making ribs this weekend so might have to try this.
Allyn on 9.2.2011
Liquid smoke always kind of weirds me out. I do love me some bbq though! I’m a Memphis girl, after all.
Jessica @ How Sweet on 9.2.2011
homemade bbq sauce is the best!
Tricia in Washington on 9.2.2011
Looks yummy, I look forward to tasting trying it.
TiffH on 9.2.2011
This looks yummy, and easier than the sauce I make (I cook mine). I think I will have to try this, thanks Erica.
Lois Schultz on 9.2.2011
MMMMMMMM this looks good and I love how fast you can whip it together! I’m maken this to bring with camping this weekend !!