3 Ingredient Barbecue Sauce

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When you need a quick sauce full of flavor this 3 Ingredient Barbecue Sauce is the answer! Sweet, tangy, simple and perfect to use as a marinade or dipping sauce all summer long!

Thick barbecue sauce coats a basting brush over a jar, with brown sugar scattered on a wooden board.

Long summer days call for cookouts and barbecues. And when you need a quick sauce to bring the flavor this 3 Ingredient Barbecue Sauce is there!

It does not get much simpler than a good 3 ingredient recipe. Like my 3 Ingredient Sloppy Joes, my Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, or my 3 Ingredient Honey Mustard, this recipe is fast and super convenient!

It’s the perfect mix of sweet and tangy to smother on your Air Fryer barbecue Chicken or use as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders. If you’re looking to add some quick flavor with simple ingredients, let’s get started!

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Why Make This Recipe

3 Ingredients: You can make a great barbecue sauce with just three ingredients that you probably already have at home!
Quick: No need to overthink this sauce. Just mix and serve as a dipping sauce or smothered on baked or grilled meat.
Versatile: You can easily add more ingredients to this sauce to give it a twist. Add a splash of hot sauce for spice or a little honey for some added sweetness.

Ingredients to Make 3 Ingredient Barbecue Sauce

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

Ingredient shot of the ingredients used to make 3 Ingredient Barbecue Sauce.

Brown sugar: I love the sweetness of brown sugar, and prefer light brown sugar for this recipe because it has less of a molasses taste. You could substitute honey if you prefer, but it will give your barbecue sauce a thinner texture.
Worcestershire sauce: This is necessary to add a slightly smokey depth of flavor to the sauce.
Ketchup: Ketchup is the perfect base for this recipe because it already has the vinegar base that barbecue sauce also needs. You can use any brand, but make sure not to use any speciality flavors.

Recipe Variations

This recipe is easy to customize to your liking. If you want even more flavor here are a few options to try:

Add a little heat: You can add a dash of hot sauce, chili powder, cayenne powder or even diced jalapenos to this sauce to give it a little more spice.
Make it smokey: A little liquid smoke goes a long way. Start with just a ½ teaspoon for some smokey flavor
Extra tang: Extra spices like garlic powder, onion powder or even a teaspoon of yellow mustard can add a little extra boldness to your barbecue

How to Make 3-Ingredient Barbecue Sauce

Ketchup, brown sugar, and worcestershire sauce were put together in a small bowl.

Step One: Add all of your ingredients in a small bowl.

A bowl of perfectly mixed 3 ingredient barbecue sauce.

Step Two: Mix until smooth.

Expert Tips

If you prefer your sauce a bit thicker you can heat this sauce in a sauce pan over medium heat for about 10 minutes. It’s not necessary to cook this sauce to enjoy it but it may intensify the flavor and thicken the sauce!
Let your barbecue sauce sit for 10-15 minutes before serving to really allow the flavors time to meld together.
This sauce is easy to double to triple, and it stores very well! Feel free to make a big batch and keep it in the fridge throughout the week.

Serving Suggestions

This sauce is great because of how versatile it is. It’s great as a marinade on just about any grilled meat, but it’s also a great consistency to use as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders, corndogs and steak fries.

Recipe FAQs

A thick, glossy 3 ingredient barbecue sauce in a glass bowl with a red spoon..

How to Store Barbecue Sauce

Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should stay good to use for about a month! You can also freeze your barbecue sauce. It should stay good in the fridge for about 6 months. If desired, portion it into smaller batches and freeze them individually so that you only need to thaw what you are prepared to eat.

Can I Use Homemade Barbecue Sauce for Grilling?

Yes! You can make your barbecue sauce and then brush it on the meat during the last few minutes of it cooking on the grill.

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