Easy Gluten-Free BBQ Sauce (ready in 10 minutes)

Name: Easy Gluten-Free BBQ Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 180 g tomato ketchup; 30 g apple cider vinegar; 30 g brown sugar; 60 g honey; 1 tablespoon dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion granules; ½ teaspoon ground coriander; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon gluten-free worcestershire sauce (optional); 1 drop / spray liquid smoke (optional)

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This quick and easy BBQ sauce is naturally gluten-free, punchy with flavour and can be used for absolutely anything year round. But it becomes a true hero during BBQ season.

Spoon dipping out of a jar of BBQ sauce showing how it's thick and luscious.

Table of Contents

It's time for summer BBQs so once again I’m pulling this 10 minute BBQ sauce out to play. We make it all the time during these warm months where it has a myriad of uses:

Brushing over chicken thighs, wings or drumsticks on the BBQ for a sticky caramelised finish.
Spreading onto homemade burgers.
Dipping sauce for wedges or chips.
Glazing sausages on the BBQ.
Stirring through slow-cooked pulled pork for sandwiches or rolls.
Marinating chicken, pork or beef.
Brushing generously over pork ribs for a rich smoky glaze.
Drizzling over my one pan BBQ Chicken Nachos (recipe definitely to come!)
Making my kids’ favourite BBQ chicken pizza.

The list goes on.

It’s a super quick recipe; just 5 minutes to assemble the ingredients and 5 minutes to whisk them together over a medium heat. The resulting sauce is thick, tangy, sweet and smoky. We also have a little secret ingredient which really takes things to another level (spoiler, it’s liquid smoke!).

The sauce will last for about 2 weeks in the fridge so great to make ahead. This recipe makes enough for a one meal – for example a batch of chicken drumsticks for 4 people - but you can happily double or triple the batch if you are making for a huge crowd.

Chicken drumsticks cooked and brushed with BBQ Sauce.

Why You’ll Love This Easy BBQ Sauce

So much better than shop bought and no hidden gluten.
Easier to make than you think, I expect you even have most of the ingredients already in your larder.
Ready in just 10 minutes.
Perfect for marinating, dipping or grilling.

Is BBQ Sauce Gluten-Free?

If you are buying a bottle of BBQ sauce from the shop then checking the ingredients is a must. It’s surprising how many brands have hidden gluten listed in the ingredients.

Wheat flour can be used as a thickener in branded sauces but even BBQ sauce recipes should be carefully checked as key ingredients are often:

Worcestershire sauce (you can buy gluten-free varieties)
Soy sauce
Malt vinegar

The good news is that making your own BBQ sauce is a very simple affair and you easily substitute those ingredients.

Spoon dipping out of BBQ sauce showing how it's thick and luscious.

Ingredients Needed

Homemade BBQ Sauce ingredients on a table.

Tomato ketchup. I use a regular shop bought tomato ketchup here. The brand you use will determine if it’s extra sweet or tangy. I used Heinz.

Apple cider vinegar. Here we have our lovely tang. It’s also naturally gluten-free (unlike malt vinegar).

Brown sugar. Gives lovely gentle molasses flavour.

Honey. You need clear runny honey, the fancy stuff is not needed – just supermarket own works fine. You can swap for maple syrup if you need a vegan sauce.

Dijon mustard. I opt here for a strong mustard rather than a yellow burger mustard as I like the assertive flavour.

Sweet smoky paprika. You can buy all kinds of paprika. You could switch for hot paprika if you want to really boost the heat.

Garlic powder. You could use fresh garlic but we’re aiming for quick and easy here. You could also use garlic granules instead.

Onion granules. Gives a tasty onion bite.

Ground coriander. This just rounds out the flavours and gives it a gentle background note.

Kosher salt. This is the salt I use in my kitchen, it has a gentle flavour. You might need slightly less if you are using sea salt.

Ground black pepper. You just need a small amount for background warmth.

Worcestershire sauce. I do use Worcestershire sauce in this recipe because I have found a brand that's gluten-free friendly in our local healthy food shop. Don’t worry if you can’t find one (Lea & Perrins and most supermarket brands are not gluten-free) as I have also tried this recipe with and without the Worcestershire sauce and it can be easily omitted. The gluten-free Worcestershire sauce I buy is also vegan so this is also an option if you need it.

Liquid smoke. This is our secret ingredient but it is also another ingredient I buy online. Check the labelling here as a couple of brands I looked at are not gluten-free. However, the one I use is just condensed smoke. You only need 1-2 drops but you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes to the smoky flavour. As I said, if you can’t find it or don’t want to buy online then just omit it.

How To Make Gluten-Free BBQ Sauce

For full recipe instructions go to the recipe card at the end of this post.

Combine all the ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer, whisking together until smooth. Continue to simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.

BBQ sauce ingredients in a pan, cooked and whisked until thick and smooth.

How To Use This BBQ Sauce

Marinating. This recipe makes enough to marinate 6-8 chicken drumsticks / thighs, 12 chicken wings, 6-8 slices of pork belly, 6-8 salmon fillets. Tip the meat into a large bowl, cover with the BBQ sauce, then cover the bowl and rest the meat in the fridge for up to 12 hours. You can cook the meat on the BBQ, in the oven, under the grill or in the air fryer.

I recommend reserving some of the BBQ sauce so you can brush it over the meat towards the end of cooking, or even after cooking. Use 200g for the marinade and 50g for the brushing over.

Grilling. You can use this sauce to brush over when you are grilling chicken, pork belly slices, ribs, sausages, halloumi, salmon etc.

Dipping. Allow the sauce to completely cool where you can store in the fridge until needed or use at room temperature. You can dip in chips, potato wedges, popcorn chicken, salmon bites, halloumi fries, crudites.

This sauce can act as a ketchup replacement, so you can use it however you might use ketchup – bacon or sausage sandwiches, to accompany mac n’cheese or fish pie. It’s sweeter, tangier and smokier and definitely more interesting.

Tips & Troubleshooting

This is a thick sauce which bubbles in the pan so make sure the heat is low and if you have a cover for the pan then all the better.

If you overcook this BBQ sauce it will burn so make sure to remove it after 5 minutes.

Taste the sauce directly out of the pan. You can adjust the flavours and consistency if you would like to at this stage.

Too sweet? If your sauce is too sweet for your liking then you can whisk in an extra 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar.

Too tangy? You can whisk in 2-3 teaspoons of honey to balance out the tanginess if it’s too strong for you.

Too thick? If your sauce is too thick out of the saucepan then you can whisk in a little water to thin it out.

Too thin? If your sauce is too thin then you can reduce the sauce by continuing to cook in the saucepan for an additional 5-10 minutes with the lid off.

As the sauce rests the flavours mellow. It’s great used straight out of the pan. However, make it 1-2 days ahead and you’ll find the flavours get to know each other better as it all settles together.

Making Ahead

Even though this sauce takes 10 minutes to make, I will usually make it ahead as it’s a job to get out of the way. If I’m using it for a BBQ then I’ll make it first thing in the morning and stash in the fridge until needed later that day.

However, the sauce can last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge in an airtight container.

Freezing. You can even freeze this sauce for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Wait until it’s completely cool before storing. Thaw overnight at room temperature before using.

FAQs

Can I reduce the sugar of this recipe?

You can reduce the sugar but it will unbalance the flavours and probably be a little too tangy. Feel free to adjust according to your tastes.

Can I make gluten-free BBQ sauce without Worcestershire sauce?

You can absolutely omit Worcestershire sauce from this recipe if you can’t find a gluten-free version - check the labels as the brand I use is not a 'gluten-free' brand but it is free of any hidden gluten ingredients like malt vinegar, soy sauce or any flour thickening.

Can I use this gluten-free BBQ sauce as a marinade?

This BBQ sauce recipe works brilliantly as a marinade.

Can I bottle this BBQ sauce for long-time storage?

This BBQ sauce recipe is a fresh fridge sauce so is only designed to last a couple of weeks. However, if you need a recipe for a bottled BBQ sauce then my Plum BBQ Sauce is a real family favourite and can be stored in a cool dark place for up to 6 months.

Recipe Variations

Bourbon BBQ sauce. This is a personal favourite of mine. Whisk in 2 tablespoons bourbon for a rich variation.

Burger-style dipping sauce. Allow the sauce to cool then add 3 tablespoons mayonnaise and spread on your burgers as you’re plating them up.

Smoky chipotle. Add 1-2 teaspoons of chipotle sauce in Adobo for an ultra smoky spicy sauce.

Buffalo BBQ sauce. Add 1 tablespoon Franks Hot Sauce and 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. This is a real treat!

More BBQ Side Dishes You’ll Love

English Mint Potato Salad is a light and healthy potato salad. It is dairy-free and ideal for picnics or outdoors eating as it doesn’t have any mayo so there is no risk of spoiling in the hot sun.

Chilli Courgette Cornbread is a perfect accompaniment to your barbecues and summer parties. Sweet, savoury and spicy, it makes the most of a glut of courgettes and is so easy to prepare.

This Pesto Brown Rice Salad is crammed with crunchy veggies, tasty herbs and crisply toasted nuts. Drizzled in a punchy pesto dressing it’s packed with flavour but is very easy to whip up on a moment’s notice.