If you are a fan of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, you will love the taste of this made from scratch BBQ sauce!
With (1) the first college football Saturday and (2) Labor Day coming up in the next few days, I thought it might be a good time to post this homemade BBQ sauce.
Since you make it yourself, you can avoid all the sketchy ingredients. (<- I’m looking at YOU, high fructose corn syrup!) This recipe uses basic pantry ingredients, and it comes together in a snap.
It is great on chicken, pork, veggies…the possibilities are endless.
Tools Used to Make This Recipe
Note: These are Amazon affiliate links.
- Sauce Pan
- Whisk
- Measuring spoons
- Storage container (2 cup capacity)
Copycat Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce
If this recipe looks good to you, please pin it and share it!
Copycat Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce {Made from Scratch}
You may never buy premade barbecue sauce again after you make this from scratch recipe that tastes just like Sweet Baby Ray's!
Ingredients
- 1 bottle bottle organic ketchup (I used Annie's 24-ounce bottle)
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1.5 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (you could add more if you prefer a smokier BBQ sauce)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan, and whisk to combine.
- Simmer for about 5 minutes (or longer if you prefer a thicker texture).
- Store for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator. Each serving is approximately 2 tablespoons and is approximately 1 PointPlus on Weight Watchers.
Makes about 2 cups total.
I hope you enjoy this recipe! Pin and share if you like it. Happy Labor Day, y’all!
Marie says
I was making bbq ribs today and realized that I didn’t have any sauce. I typically buy sweet baby rays so I put that in the search engine and found your recipe. My family favors the honey one. I didn’t have any liquid smoke nor Dijon mustard and I needed what honey I had for another recipe I was making. So,I added a little squirt of classic yellow mustard and some maple syrup. It was very good and the ribs got rav reviews. I may never buy bottled again. I’m going to use the rest in a few days for chicken.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
That is amazing! I am so happy to hear that.
Vanessa says
My daughter just helped me make this tonight. I was craving bbq chicken and only had a little bit of sweet baby ray’s. It was deeee- lish!! I may use a smidge less vinegar but loved the liquid smoke in it.
It’s definitely a keeper!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Vanessa!💖
Mike Coulter says
It’s great I have to admit but it’s not a copycat to sweet baby rays. Having folks over today. Hopefully they’ll enjoy it as well. I’ve been smokin meat and making sauce for close to fifty years.
Jen G says
If you’re thinking that sounds like too much ketchup, it is. I made a half batch and only used 3/4 of the ketchup (8oz instead of 12). I’m glad it was only a half batch. Next time I’ll try 1/4 of the ketchup and add more if it needs it
Terisa says
Why does it only last 2 weeks in frig? I need one that lasts a month or more.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
It could last longer than 2 weeks, depending on the freshness of your ingredients.👌🏻
Tammy says
It is great and I love that it has things that I can pronounce and I can eat thanks
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay, Tammy!
Jennifer Howard says
We’ve been keto for about 3 years, and always leary of rave reviews that you can’t tell the difference…My non-keto son loves Sweet Baby Ray’s the best, and often dislikes attempts I make at ketofied foods. This was amazing. He loved it, said it would fool any regular person, and was about as close to Sweet Baby Ray’s as you could get. We all enjoyed it, and after testing this it does not spike my glucose at all. It’s a win win, and will be staple in my fridge. Thank you so much!
Jennifer Howard says
Sorry for being unclear – I used a brown sugar subst, Erythritol/Monkfruit blend, and the result of this was amazing. I realize it was not intended to be a keto recipe.
Loretta Messer says
I used Truvia brown sugar because I’m on the ketogenic diet and my oldest daughter is a diabetic. She loves Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ. She didn’t know the difference until after she her ribs. She was surprised and delighted :o)
Loretta Messer says
Sorry, it was after she ate her ribs that I told is was a homemade copycat!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yay! That is so great to hear.💖
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Jennifer!💖 Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.🙏🏻
Marcia Sam says
What if you don’t have liquid smoke? What can you use as a substitute?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Marcia! You can leave it out, and it’ll still be good. Just won’t have a smoky flavor, but still very tasty.
Lynn says
Omit it then
VAnessa says
I can’t wait to make this! Does it freeze well?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I have not frozen it, but a couple others have written in and said it freezes well. It may separate a little when it is thawed, just just stir it back together. Enjoy!
Suzanne says
Thanks for sharing! It would be fun to make as a gift and put in a pretty bottle!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
What a great idea!
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a great way to make without the preservatives!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Thanks Suzanne!
Shanda Klodzinski says
I went to the fridge to find out one of the children (or hubs) left an empty Sweet Baby Ray’s bottle in the door. All of the spices in your recipe are things I keep on hand. I had one cup of ketchup and a bottle of banana sauce to work with. I was already smoking meat when I discovered I did not have the liquid smoke so I set a cup under the drip pan to get some of that. your recipe is amazing!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
That is some great feedback! Glad you enjoyed it.💖
Cor says
What’s the lifespan this sauce can be kept for?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Cor! I estimate at least two weeks, just to be on the safe side. It is possible it may last longer.
Sylvia wojnicki says
Loved this recipe. I’m just wondering if all of the ingredients are stable at room temp, when I p[ut it all together and boil it, why will it only last 2 weeks in the fridge?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Sylvia! You could likely keep it longer than that. I’d say two weeks minimum.
Kate says
This is wonderful! thank you.. has anyone tried freezing this?
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I have not tried freezing it. The only potential issue I might see with that would be the solids and liquids separating out a little bit. I would think a good stir or shake should mix it all back up, though. Let me know if you try it.
Irma says
Hi im from the Netherlands and sweet baby rays is a bit hard to find around here. I wanted to try your recipe but if i compare it to other recipes, yours uses twice the amount of ketchup. also it says that it makes about two cups but a 24oz bottle is already more than 2 cups right? Are you sure your measurements are correct? If so i will definitely try this for my next barbecue. Thanks!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Irma! Yep, that is correct. It may make slightly over 2 cups. The other ingredients don’t add too much volume, and some of the liquids reduce/ evaporate with cooking. I hope you enjoy it!
Steve says
Remember that the 24 oz of ketchup is a measurement of weight not volume, so it actually might be a lot closer to 2 cups aka 16 0z by volume. Water is the only thing where oz of weight and oz of volume are the same
Yvonne Detres says
Awesome.. people dont know how to take things as they come..just have fun and enjoy..everyone has their own way of making things that they like..I thank you for your bbq sauce..
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Thank you Yvonne!💖 LOL. Yep, it’s weird how some people apparently get suuuuper triggered by recipe ingredients.😜😂🤷🏼♀️ I hope you enjoy it!😘
Leonie Neylon says
Thanks so much. I made my own ketchup as I had heaps of tomatoes and then made this. Divine ness.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Yum! I bet that made it extra yummy.
Christy says
This recipe yields the most delicious BBQ sauce! Sweet and smoky, just like sweet baby Ray’s!
Pat says
You say 1 Bottle Bottle of ketchup. What size bottle??
Paula says
Can this sauce be canned?
Emily says
I just compared this recipe to some others approved for canning, and I don’t see any ingredients that would make it not suitable for canning. However, I have only been canning for less than a week, and have no idea what processing time to use. But I do plan on trying to can it!
Linda says
Sounds easy enough 4 me, super excited to try it tomorrow
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hope you enjoy Linda!
Susan P Boyer says
hate to tell ya, but organic ketchup is just tomato sauce, vinegar, salt, some spices. you could easily sub
tomato sauce and salt to taste, then taste and make sure the salt to sugar ratio was to your personal tastes. Molasses could be added as well, and cut back on the brown sugar (which is just cane sugar mixed with molasses anyway). also, Sweet BAby Ray’s does NOT contain molasses – it is High fructose corn syrup, number one ingredient – source, https://www.sweetbabyrays.com/Sauces/Barbecue-Sauces/Original-Barbecue-Sauce
Quit being a troll and do some research for once
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
With all due respect, I stand by the recipe.🙌🏻 It’s delicious just as it is, and plenty of people agree with me. No HFCS was one of my goals for this recipe, which is why I did not include it. The intention was to make SBR-tasting sauce (sweet and smoky) with ingredients I like better. I have zero issues with using ketchup or brown sugar. If you do, I’m 100% cool with that.😎 I’m not trying to convince you of anything, nor am I attached to you approving of my recipes. 💁🏼♀️
Renee says
Good answer. I appreciate that you posted the recipe. I am interested in making healthier less expensive food.
Denise D Opuni says
That was annoying. You picked apart the recipe for no good reason.
Dharma eyer says
Susan p boyer is an illiterate, bored, and lonely hack. She should stay offline and work on herself.
She’s got a lot of ugly on board. Maybe finding Jesus might serve her too. Lol
Thanks for sharing this recipe, @APinchofHealthy
Those of us that can read and think appreciate this recipe without HFCS and artificial colors.
We’ve made it with and without ketchup. It’s great no matter what.
My next item is to find liquid smoke without Carmel coloring in it.
Cheers foodies!
Mary says
Most of the comments to Susan were uncalled for, Why do you think it is your right to criticize her. Your comments sound very judgmental. The author took care of it and it was her right to do so. If you meet “ugly” with kindness and understanding you will get better results most of the tim!
Brittany Rose says
Wow Susan, no reason to be a total jerk. Who peed in your cornflakes?! I am trying this recipe tonight! I sure it’s fantastic. Too bad I can’t post a video eating it while flipping you the bird.
Ken says
If you buy C&H it is real brown sugar. If you buy cheap imitations it is sugar and Molasses. Sorry De de delete
Staci @ anewstaci.blogspot.com says
The sauce is the boss! 🙂 We love SBR.