Homemade Kansas City style bbq sauce recipe makes a thick, sweet and tangy, tomato-based barbecue sauce that’s perfect with ribs, beef, chicken, burgers, and more!
I grew up in Kansas City, and, I didn’t realize that there were different types of barbecue until I was an adult. For me, “barbecue” always meant Kansas City-style barbecue.
I’ve come to appreciate other kinds of barbecue, but Kansas City-style is still my favorite. I love a good thick, tangy, sweet, tomato sauce – like this Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce.
Since we go through so much barbecue sauce, I’ve started making my own when I have the time. It’s really simple to throw together, and it’s make with ingredients that I always have on hand.
Also, one of the great things about making your own sauce is that you can adjust it to suit your tastes. I’ve included some suggestions to customize the sauce below.
Give it a try, and I hope you’ll love it, too!
What makes Kansas City bbq sauce different?
KC barbecue sauce is a balanced blend of sweet, smoky, and tangy. It is a thick tomato-based sauce that’s sweetened with molasses and often with a bit of brown sugar.
The sauce is often used both for basting as the meat is cooking and for serving after the meat has cooked.
Ingredient tips and substitutions
- Ketchup: Any type of plain tomato ketchup should work.
- Molasses: I don’t recommend using blackstrap molasses in this recipe because it’s bitter. Feel free to use mild or robust molasses.
- Dark brown sugar: Using dark brown sugar gives the sauce a richer flavor. You can use light brown + a touch more molasses if you don’t have dark brown sugar.
- Ancho chile powder: I like ancho chile powder because it’s milder and smokier than regular chili powder.
How to make homemade Kansas City-style bbq sauce
In a medium saucepan, stir together all of the ingredients except liquid smoke.
Bring to boil over medium-low heat, whisking regularly.
Once at a boil, reduce heat to low, and let simmer 30 minutes, stirring regularly.
Stir in liquid smoke to taste.
Let cool to room temperature.
Customize this sauce
- Sweet: To make the sauce sweeter, increase the amount of brown sugar and molasses. You can also substitute honey for part of the molasses for a sweeter sauce.
- Spicy: To make the sauce spicier, increase the amount of chile powder or use an increased amount of chili powder. Also, increase the amount of Tabasco in the sauce.
What goes well with this sauce?
This sauce is good with everything from ribs to beef to burgers to chicken. This type of bbq sauce also works well as a base for barbecue pizza, and I even use it in my barbecue chili.
Storage
I like to store this sauce in a covered glass jar in the fridge. When properly stored in the fridge, the sauce will keep for up to one month.
More sauce and marinade recipes!
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Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1/3 cup molasses not blackstrap
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ancho chile powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Couple dashes Chipotle Tabasco
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke or to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, stir together all of the ingredients except liquid smoke.
- Bring to boil over medium-low heat, whisking regularly.
- Once at a boil, reduce heat to low, and let simmer 30 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Stir in liquid smoke to taste.
- Let cool to room temperature.
- Transfer to a container, and store, covered, in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Notes
- Ketchup: Any type of plain tomato ketchup should work.
- Molasses: I don’t recommend using blackstrap molasses in this recipe because it’s bitter. Feel free to use mild or robust molasses.
- Dark brown sugar: Using dark brown sugar gives the sauce a richer flavor. You can use light brown + a touch more molasses if you don’t have dark brown sugar.
- Ancho chile powder: I like ancho chile powder because it’s milder and smokier than regular chili powder.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Originally published May 10, 2017. Updated with additional photos, tips, and information 7/1/21.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
April Spelman says
This recipe was easy to make and it is delicious! My first attempt at making my own sauce was a hit. Everyone loved it!
Kate says
Yay!! I’m so glad to hear that! =)
Paula Baickle says
Delishious as is.
Kate says
Thanks! I’m so glad to hear that! =)
Lesley Panzram says
I can’t wait to try your bbq ribs and both bbq style sauces !! They look awesome !! But being on the other side of the world downunder, I have to ask ‘What is liquid smoke?’ please.
Kate says
Thank you!! Liquid smoke is a flavoring that adds smoked flavor to foods. It’s commonly used in foods such as barbecue sauce or in recipes such as slow cooker barbecue meats to give them smoked flavor. In the US, it’s usually sold right by the barbecue sauces, and I know Amazon carries it. Hope that helps!
Pitmaster @ BBQonMain.com says
Hey Kate, this sauce is tasty. I’ve been on a Carolina bbq sauce kick lately, I’ve been looking for a good KC style recipe to try and change things up. Thanks for sharing!
Kate says
Hi! Thank you! I’m glad that you enjoyed the sauce. =) Thanks for commenting!
Garry says
Tried BBQ sauce today followed recipe exactly as is and it Is just great! Will be saving this recipe for sure. Thank you very much for sharing this with us.
Kate says
I’m so glad that you liked it! Thank you for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Viktor says
Easy and super yummy, thank you!
Kate says
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
M says
At what point do you add the liquid smoke?
Kate says
After you’ve let it simmer and removed it from the heat. I’ve fixed the instructions to reflect that. Thanks!
M says
Thank you!
Kate says
Thank you for letting me know that that direction was missing!