The Best Barbecue Sauce in 2022

You don’t need to be a Southerner or a pitmaster to take pleasure in the perfect barbecue sauces. Whether or not it’s candy and tangy from Kansas Metropolis or a vinegar-based selection from North Carolina, the famously thick, usually smoky, and generally spicy condiment is as scrumptious as it’s versatile. Use it to marinade and glaze your favourite meats or pour it out as a dipping sauce for something from potato wedges to Dino Nuggets. Irrespective of the way it’s served, daring and exquisite barbecue sauce is all the time a dependable addition to any meal. 

Chef Adam Hayes, government vp of Larkin’s Restaurants in Greenville, S.C., agrees. “I like barbecue sauce as a result of you may make it nonetheless you need,” he says. “My dad all the time made it with no matter he was feeling — a little bit of this, a little bit of that…simply go along with the second.” 

And although barbecue sauce is actually simple to arrange at dwelling (sometimes a basis of ketchup and brown sugar with the addition of mustard, vinegar, and/or aromatics), there are a bevy of store-bought choices that make glorious alternate options. You’ll be able to even tailor these to your liking by including your personal substances to make them sweeter, tangier, and even creamier ( you along with your mayonnaise, Alabama white sauce). 

We’ve rounded up our shortlist of the perfect barbecue sauces in the marketplace, in addition to a useful buying information offered by Hayes, a self-proclaimed grillmaster who loves barbecue sauce most on ribs, cooked and caramelized over a wood-fired grill.

Our Prime Picks

Finest General: Stubb’s Original Legendary Bar-B-Que Sauce

Good For: Dipping, marinating and basting | Flavors: Tomato, vinegar, molasses and black pepper | Natural: No | Model: Texas

Why we selected it: Low in sugar and excessive in craveability, the ever-so-versatile Stubb’s deserves a everlasting spot in any pantry. 

Naysayers, begone. Stubb’s owns the barbecue sauce sport with a harmonious mix of all-natural substances. It’s candy, however not nauseating; smoky, however not overpowering; spicy, however not an assault to the tastebuds. We merely can’t get sufficient of it. As a result of the barbecue sauce is Texas-style, it’s additionally meant to be a ending word or “sop sauce” for proteins. Texans prefer to have their smoked meats communicate for themselves, however even probably the most genuine of Lone Star State cowboys are tipping their outsized hats to the tangy delicacy by dousing their meals with it (and with out disgrace). We will’t say that we’re shocked.

Finest Worth: Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce

Good For: Basting and dipping | Taste: Candy and tangy | Natural: No | Model: Kansas Metropolis (although this produced in Chicago)

Why we selected it: Thick, silky and located in virtually each grocery retailer in America, the always-reliable Candy Child Ray’s is now an emblem of American meals tradition.  

There’s a purpose why Candy Child Ray’s is the preferred barbecue sauce in America — it delivers a drool-worthy candy style and thick texture. The no-frills, award-winning “boss sauce” may be discovered, properly, fairly actually all over the place: grocery shops, the Web, and even fuel stations. Individuals can’t get sufficient of it and, at lower than $3 a bottle, it’s no shocker that many households carry it in bulk in order that they’re all the time ready to fulfill a sudden craving. Positive, there are more healthy alternate options with zero excessive fructose corn syrup, however a little bit splurge received’t damage, particularly if it encourages you to eat your grilled greens.

Finest Traditional: Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Original Barbecue Sauce

Good For: Dipping, marinating and glazing | Taste: Candy and tangy | Natural: No | Model: Memphis

Why we selected it: Jack Daniel’s barbecue sauce lives as much as its firm’s status of offering persistently high-quality merchandise. 

Jack Daniel’s Previous No. 7 is a real testomony to the expression “if it aint’ broke, don’t repair it.” This distinctive mix of all-natural flavors that *does* embrace Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, has been a barbecue lovers’ favourite for literal generations. Whereas the flavour is strong with substances like apple cider vinegar, molasses, and yellow mustard, it’s additionally well-balanced, making it an ideal marinade, dip, or one thing to douse your complete meal in. Serve it with a shot of whiskey, in fact, for a well-rounded culinary pairing.

Finest Gluten-Free: Lillie’s Q Smoky Barbeque Sauce

Good For: Basting and dipping | Taste: Candy and smoky | Natural: No | Model: Memphis, however originated in Chicago

Why we selected it: Gluten-free doesn’t imply you need to sacrifice daring and memorable style and Lillie Q’s is a real testomony to this philosophy. 

Gone are the times of giving up your most beloved and acquainted flavors to accommodate celiac illness. Many barbecue sauce recipes at the moment are gluten-free, which implies you get to benefit from the celebrated condiment sans gluten-heavy thickeners, coloring brokers, and the gastrointestinal misery that comes with them. Lillie’s Q ranks supreme with a full-bodied line-up of all-natural substances and solely the slightest kiss of smoke. The Memphis-style mix can also be significantly scrumptious on ribs and hen, however you may legitimately put it on something. Strive it on a barbecue shrimp salad — its thinner texture  lends itself properly to getting used as a dressing.

Finest to Purchase in Bulk: Bone Suckin’ Barbecue Sauce

Good For: Basting | Taste: Candy and tangy | Natural: No | Model: Western North Carolina

Why we selected it: Bone Suckin’ sauce is so delicious {that a} bottle merely received’t suffice. You’re going to wish a jug of it. 
Bone Suckin’ additionally takes dwelling the award for greatest versatility, which is why we advocate shopping for this unhealthy boy in bulk with the intention to save your hard-earned cash, however by no means be quick on saucy bliss. It’s the condiment you’ll wish to pour on all the things, taking prime honors in lots of different publications’ “better of” rankings, together with Meals & Wine, Newsweek, and Well being journal. Sweetened with honey and molasses, the low-sodium recipe can also be paleo-friendly and offers a complexity of deep, wealthy flavors that separate it from extra generic and mainstream alternate options. Lip Smackin’, frankly, would even be an appropriate identify in the event that they resolve to pursue a rebrand within the close to future.

Finest Candy: Sonny’s Sweet BBQ Sauce

Good For: Basting and dipping | Taste: Candy and tangy | Natural: No | Model: Kansas Metropolis, however originated in Florida

Why we selected it: Shoppers have gone hog-wild over this ultra-sweet mix that pays homage to the well-known Florida barbecue chain that bears the identical identify. 

When most individuals take into consideration barbecue sauce, some stage of sweetness often involves thoughts. Relying on the area through which its produced, the inclusion of sugar and molasses varies, with some sauces taking over extra vinegar or tangy elements. Not this one, nonetheless, which is nice sufficient to have the phrase in its identify. To make sure you’re getting that coveted sugar rush to the again of the tongue, look no additional than Sonny’s Candy BBQ Sauce. It’s virtually liquid sweet, however with some smoke and acid that pairs completely with proteins, particularly spicy ones to flawlessly counter the warmth and make the dish extra palatable.

How We Selected These Merchandise

Most cooks have a common data of the high-quality barbecue sauces obtainable in grocery shops and thru e-retailers. We requested a handful of Southern cooks from various areas to share their listing of favourite sauces after which ordered practically a dozen of those bottles to strive ourselves. 

Since barbecue sauce style and texture runs the gamut, we wished to make sure that our picks excelled in several classes for various illustration. And whereas our six all-stars are improbable in their very own means, it’d be remiss of us to recommend that these are the one greatest sauces on the market. There are a whole lot of different choices, each small-batch and mainstream, home and worldwide, which might be greater than deserving of a spot in your dinner desk or close to your grill. Although it is a great place to begin, true barbecue sauce aficionados ought to actually take the time to pick out the model that works for them and their particular person wants.

Options to Hold in Thoughts When Looking for a Barbecue Sauce

Components & Taste

Each area has its personal distinct taste profil , however typically (and there are all the time exceptions) the foundations are:

Kansas City-Style: Candy, thick, and smoky

Memphis-Style: Tomato-forward, candy, and tangy

St. Louis-Style: Candy, however not as smoky as Kansas Metropolis

Alabama-Style: White mayonnaise-based with vinegar

Eastern-Style: Vinegar-based with spice 

Carolina-Style: Mustard-based 

Texas-Style: Ideally no sauce in any respect, however often spice-heavy and fewer candy

Most barbecue sauces will embrace a base of tomato paste or ketchup, vinegar, or mayonnaise. Sweeteners like brown sugar, molasses, or honey are added, in addition to aromatics like onion powder, garlic, mustard seeds, and black pepper. Lastly, some varieties shall be smoke-heavy, both by the addition of liquid smoke or precise cooking technique.   

Texture & Versatility

A runnier sauce goes to lend itself higher as a marinade or “mop sauce” to baste the meat, particularly in the direction of the tip of its cooking cycle. A thicker and stickier sauce will work greatest if you wish to create a caramelization round a meat or squeeze it right into a tray for some heavy dipping.

Ask the Specialists

Solutions offered by Chef Adam Hayes. 

Q: What area has the perfect barbecue sauce?

“Everybody within the nation has the perfect sauce,” jokes Hayes, however it fully boils all the way down to your desire and/or the kind of meat you’re getting ready. “Vinegar-based sauces, for instance, are glorious on smoked pork whereas mustard-based ones are improbable on hen.” 

Q: Why is barbecue sauce candy? 

“Candy flavors assist stability barbecue sauce’s sometimes robust smoke taste. It’s fairly the balancing act. There’s additionally such a factor as too candy, folks.”

Q: Do barbecue sauces serve completely different functions?

“Sure. The sauce ought to complement the applying,” says Hayes, although there may be some wiggle room, as barbecue sauces are fairly versatile of their use. 

Q: Does a barbecue sauce have an expiration date? 

“As of late, many sauces maintain fairly properly with the preservatives we’ve to place in them. If you happen to make one at dwelling and you place a very good quantity of vinegar in it, try to be fantastic for 2-3 weeks.  Don’t contaminate it by placing your finger within the sauce bottle! That occurs extra usually than you assume.” 

Our Take

It’s the subtleties of barbecue sauce recipes, sometimes dictated by area, that make the condiment so particular. All of us have our favourite iterations and style preferences, however a flexible choice like our Finest General decide, Stubb’s, may be loved and poured on virtually something. True barbecue sauce lovers ought to actually exit of their solution to taste-test a spread, particularly artisanal, limited-batch manufacturers that may straight assist the small companies and eating places that produce them. Giving again to the group and buying native is the Southern means, y’all, and a really “candy” gesture. 

Each product is independently chosen and vetted by editors. Stuff you purchase by our hyperlinks could earn us a fee.