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Home » Recipes » Basics and Staples

No Cook Barbecue Sauce

Last Modified: May 21, 2024. Originally Published: Nov 23, 2023 by Janessa.

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This easy, no cook bbq sauce recipe is made from pantry staples and can be whipped up in mere minutes. The perfect blend of sweet, spicy and tangy flavor, it is delicious on grilled meats, as a dip, on pizza and more.

Jump to:
  • The Ingredients
  • The Method
  • Leftovers and Storage
  • Make It Your Own
  • No Cook Barbecue Sauce Uses
  • And if you liked this recipe...
  • Recipe Card
  • Comments
Jar of barbecue sauce sitting on the edge of a barbecue.

I'm not going to claim that this is the best barbecue sauce recipe. With secret family recipes passed down from generations and annual competitions for the best sauce, I have to say- I have respect.

Many people take their homemade BBQ sauce recipe very seriously.

I am going to suggest though, that this may be the best BBQ sauce that you can whip up in less than a minute (as can this pizza sauce).

No, it hasn't been cooked down for hours to achieve the perfect caramel flavor, nor is it made with any special tomatoes or secret ingredients.

It's pretty simple. It's not shooting for awards. It's just here to add some great flavor to your barbecue creations the next time you need it.

Made with pantry ingredients, it is the perfect way to make your own sauce for an impromptu grilled supper or if you forgot to pick up a jar for barbecue chicken pizza night.

So let me show how to make this super easy (and tasty) sauce!

The Ingredients

Ingredients for no cook bbq sauce.
  • Tomato Paste- The base of this sauce, made from concentrated, cooked tomatoes is a key element to skip the cooking step in this recipe.
  • Maple Syrup- Adds sweetness and caramelized flavor. Honey, molasses or another sweetener can be used. See this post on maple syrup substitutes for more options.
  • Balsamic Vinegar- Adds the key tanginess and bit of sweetness. I prefer balsamic vinegar for its sweetness but apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar will work if needed.
  • Ground Dry Mustard
  • Paprika
  • Fine Sea Salt- Kosher salt or table salt will also work.
  • Onion Powder
  • Garlic Powder
  • Cayenne Pepper- Adds a bit of heat. For a milder barbecue sauce, you can use black pepper or omit it.

The Method

1. Mix. Add all of the simple ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk together to combine.

Ingredients added to a bowl.

2. Adjust consistency. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time as is needed to reach your desired thickness.

Ingredients mixed together with a spatula.

3. Use.

Leftovers and Storage

To Store: Store leftovers of this easy BBQ sauce in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

To Freeze: Freeze leftovers of this barbecue sauce recipe for up to 3 months. I like to freeze it in an ice cube tray and then transfer it to a sealed container so that I can take out just the amount that I need for different recipes.

Bowl of barbecue sauce with a spoon.

Make It Your Own

  • Spicy BBQ Sauce- If you'd like to add more kick to this easy recipe, you can use more cayenne, to taste.
  • Sweeter Sauce- You can also add more maple syrup if you prefer it on the sweeter side.
  • Honey BBQ Sauce- Replace the maple syrup with honey. If your honey is quite thick, you may want to melt it for a few second in the microwave to make it easier to incorporate.
Bowl of bbq sauce.

No Cook Barbecue Sauce Uses

This delicious sauce is great for so many uses! Try it:

  • On grilled meats, such as pork chops, pork ribs, chicken thighs, chicken breasts or Barbecued Burgers
  • To make BBQ Chicken Pizza
  • Or make BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato
  • As a dipping sauce for Homemade Fries or meatballs
Barbecue sauce on a barbecue.

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And if you liked this recipe...

...you might also like:

  • Unsweetened Applesauce
  • Tomato Paste Pizza Sauce
  • Healthy Peanut Sauce
  • Baked Beans (With Less Sugar)
  • Barbecue Seasoning (No Sugar)

Recipe Card

Bowl of barbecue sauce with a spoon.

No Cook BBQ Sauce

Tangy, sweet and a little spicy, from scratch barbecue sauce is ready in minutes. Use it on your favorite grilled meats, pizza or in a sandwich.
5 from 40 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 19kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup plus additional to taste
  • 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • water
US Customary - Metric
(Prevent your screen from going dark)

Instructions

  • Add all of the simple ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk together to combine. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time as is needed to reach your desired thickness.
  • Use.

Notes

Leftovers
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months. I like to freeze in ice cube trays to be able to take out small portions for use in recipes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 19kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 157mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 178IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Did you make this recipe?Let me know what you thought in the comments below!
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Comments

    5 from 40 votes (36 ratings without comment)

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  1. Tayler says

    September 13, 2022 at 11:44 am

    5 stars
    This is my go to barbecue sauce! We put it on everything and I always keep some in the fridge!

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 13, 2022 at 12:08 pm

      I'm glad you enjoy this recipe, Tayler!

      Reply
  2. Jamie says

    September 13, 2022 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    This was great on some grilled chicken. Perfectly seasoned and flavorful.

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 13, 2022 at 12:08 pm

      I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Jamie!

      Reply
  3. Sharon says

    September 13, 2022 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    This super easy homemade BBQ sauce is the perfect addition for brushing on chicken or ribs.

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 13, 2022 at 12:08 pm

      Thank you for your kind review, Sharon!

      Reply
  4. Neha says

    September 13, 2022 at 12:39 pm

    5 stars
    Looks like a super easy sauce recipe. I need to try this out for a barbecue party I am throwing this weekend!

    Reply
    • Janessa says

      September 13, 2022 at 4:41 pm

      Thank you for your kind review, Neha!

      Reply
Janessa

Hi, I'm Janessa and I'm passionate about sharing recipes that are made with wholesome ingredients, are quick and easy and most importantly, delicious!

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