• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Vindulge

BBQ and Grilling Recipes with Wine Pairings

  • Home
  • About
    • About Mary
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work With Me
  • Cookbook
  • Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Resources
    • Fundamentals For Learning How to Grill
    • Guide to Pellet Grills – Common Q and A
    • Best Pellet Grill – MAK Two Star General – Versatile American Made Pellet Smoker
    • Blogger Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop Wines
  • Shop Products
  • Cookbook
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Wine Guides
  • Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You are here: Home » Food » Rub and Seasoning Recipes

    Easy Kansas City BBQ Sauce

    February 15, 2022 By Sean Martin 6 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    4.7K shares
    • Facebook127
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe

    Homemade Kansas City BBQ Sauce couldn’t be easier! This sweet and slightly spicy homemade BBQ sauce represents the flavors you would expect from a Kansas City style sauce. With a tomato base, molasses, sugar, and seasonings, you get that classic flavor with a little bit of heat.

    Jar of Easy Homemade KC BBQ Sauce
    Kansas City Style BBQ sauce has a touch of sweet, spicy, and that rich flavor from molasses.

    Add to ribs, or a burger, this versatile and easy Kansas City BBQ Sauce is finger smacking good.

    Jump to:
    • Kansas City BBQ Sauce Highlights
    • What Is A Kansas City Sauce?
    • How to Make BBQ Sauce From Scratch
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Kansas City BBQ Sauce
    • How Long Will BBQ Sauce Stay Fresh?
    • What to Put This On
    • More Easy BBQ Sauce Recipes
    • Easy Kansas City BBQ Sauce Recipe

    Kansas City BBQ Sauce Highlights

    • Blackstrap Molasses is the main ingredient that adds richness and depth
    • Fresh onions and garlic add more natural flavor than dried powders
    • This sauce will last three months in the refrigerator
    • This recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan

    What Is A Kansas City Sauce?

    Sauces come in all flavor profiles. Really it reflects the flavors regionally that evolved around the country. In the Carolinas, you have vinegar-based sauces (among others). In Texas, you’ll find less of a sauce and more of a flavor mop while cooking. And in Alabama you’ll find a mayo-like white sauce.

    But in Kansas City, it’s all about the sweet and slightly spicy tomato and molasses based sauce. The kind that many of us grew up with. The kind that BBQ joints throughout Kansas City tend to toss their famous burnt ends in. If you haven’t been to Oklahoma Joe’s, or some of the other pit houses in the state, it is worth the trip. You can learn more about other styles of BBQ sauces at this post about BBQ sauce styles.

    How to Make BBQ Sauce From Scratch

    It’s quite simple. All you really need to think about is finding the balance between sweet, which will come from your sugar, molasses, and ketchup, savory and heat, which is driven by onions, garlic, peppers, or dried spices. And the final touch is acid, which helps with a strong and complex finish to the sauce. You can get acid from apple cider or white vinegar, or even mustard.

    Let the combination simmer together and you have sauce!

    Mason jar filled with homemade Kansas City Style BBQ sauce
    A good homemade BBQ sauce should be thick, but not so thick it won’t pour easily.

    Ingredients

    You will see many recipes that call for dried onion powder or granulated garlic. While dried spices are fine (and we use them too), taking the extra step to sauté and use fresh ingredients will go a long way in the flavor arena.

    • Use yellow onion for the right balance of onion flavor and sweetness. As it sautés in the pan it will mellow out and even sweeten slightly. If you use a red onion, the sauce will have a more pronounced onion flavor.
    • The ketchup should taste good by itself. This makes it easy so you don’t have to balance a ratio of tomato sauce and tomato paste to get the right flavor.
    • Molasses is key for a KC style sauce as it adds the element that makes it authentic. As the molasses simmers and the sauce reduces it takes on the smoky flavor without the need for liquid smoke.
    • To avoid the sauce from tasting bitter from the molasses and reduced tomato sauce, add brown sugar. This also sweetens the sauce and provides the right balance with the acid.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar brings the finish to the dish. We add water to thin out the sauce as needed.
    • The heat comes from cayenne pepper. If you don’t want heat you can leave this out, or cut it in half.
    • Dried spices add more flavor like chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

    How to Make Kansas City BBQ Sauce

    1. Soften Fresh Ingredients: Start by warming up a stock pot, then sautéing the onions until translucent and soft, but not caramelized then add garlic and stir for another minute.
    2. Add Liquids: Add ketchup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, and water and bring to a simmer.
    3. Add Seasonings: Finally add everything else.
    4. Blend: Using a hand immersion blender, blend the ingredients to grind up the onion and garlic and get a nice smooth consistency.
    5. Simmer: Bring back to a simmer and cover for another 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and then using a funnel, pour the sauce into a mason jar. This helps the sauce reduce slightly and brings the flavors together.
    BBQ Sauce simmering in a stock pot
    An immersion blender helps with the consistency.

    How Long Will BBQ Sauce Stay Fresh?

    Adding a little apple cider vinegar is a great way to maintain a shelf life on your sauce. How long can you keep a fresh BBQ sauce you may ask? Up to three months in the refrigerator.

    What to Put This On

    This sauce is versatile. Slather onto ribs, maybe use as the glaze base for your burnt ends, or maybe just serve the sauce to dunk your meat into. Here are a few recipes to use this sauce in!

    • Pork Ribs
    • Whole Roaster Chicken
    • Pork Shoulder
    • Glazed Chicken Thighs
    • Pork Belly Burnt Ends
    • Brisket Burnt Ends
    • Pulled Pork Nachos
    • Baked Beans
    • Smoked Tofu
    • Pellet Grill Ribs
    • Western Burger
    A spoonful of BBQ sauce

    More Easy BBQ Sauce Recipes

    • Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce
    • Pinot Noir BBQ Sauce
    • Spicy Mango Jalapeño (no sugar added)
    • Blueberry Bourbon
    • Different Styles of BBQ Sauce


    This post was originally published February of 2019 and republished with new steps for the recipe, modification of ingredients, and based on reader feedback.

    If you like this recipe we’d truly appreciate it if you would give this recipe a star review! And if you share any of your pics on Instagram use the hashtag #vindulge. We LOVE to see it when you cook our recipes. 

    Jar of Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce Kansas City Style

    Easy Kansas City BBQ Sauce Recipe

    An Easy Kansas City style BBQ sauce recipe with sweet and heat. 
    3.87 from 30 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 446kcal
    Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge
    Cost: $10.00

    Equipment

    • Immersion Blender

    Ingredients

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 cup yellow onion, diced
    • 2 cloves garlic, diced
    • 2 cups ketchup
    • ¼ cup blackstrap molasses
    • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ cup water
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Instructions

    • Preheat a 3 ½ quart sauce pot over medium heat. Add olive oil. 
    • Next add onions and sautee for 5 – 6 minutes, stirring often, or until translucent and soft, but not caramelized. Add garlic and stir for another minute.
    • Add ketchup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, water, and tomato paste and bring to a simmer. Should take about 5 minutes to come to a simmer.
    • When the liquids are simmering, add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Using a hand immersion blender, blend the ingredients to grind up the onion and garlic.
    • Bring back to a simmer and cover for another 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and then using a funnel, pour the sauce into a mason jar.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 97g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 2377mg | Potassium: 1235mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 83g | Vitamin A: 1966IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe? We would love to see!Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge

    « 12 Wines for Valentine’s, Galentine’s, and The Big Game
    ThermoWorks ThermoPop – The Best Digital Thermometer under $35 »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ken says

      December 19, 2022 at 7:46 pm

      5 stars
      I bbq low ‘n slow on a pellet grill and it’s perfect for its bark and its bite 😉 I’ve made it at least 5 times and it’s always fantastic. So easy I can’t see why anyone would buy sauce off the shelf

      Reply
      • Sean Martin says

        December 21, 2022 at 10:51 am

        That is so awesome! Thanks so much for leaving such great feedback!

        Reply
    2. Ken W says

      August 10, 2022 at 6:54 pm

      4 stars
      Classic, easy, delicious!

      Reply
    3. Ashley says

      August 13, 2019 at 9:50 am

      The ingredients list calls for apple cider vinegar, but it is never used in the description.

      Reply
      • Sean Martin says

        August 19, 2019 at 6:45 pm

        I cannot believe we did not catch that! Updated and thanks for pointing out! Add to the other liquids is the right answer. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Susie Weinrich says

      February 21, 2019 at 3:08 pm

      5 stars
      KC BBQ Sauce is my absolute favorite! Sweet, sticky and a little spicy- this recipe is perfect!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Just Released | Get Your 3-Pack

    Three bottles of Vindulge Red Wine BBQ Sauce

    Fire and Wine Cookbook Cover.

    What’s on our Grill

    Grilled Tofu steaks topped with BBQ Sauce with a jar of Vindulge Red Wine BBQ Sauce on a platter

    Grilled BBQ Tofu – How to Grill Tofu

    A BBQ Chicken Pizza on a serving platter

    Neapolitan Style BBQ Chicken Pizza

    Perfectly cooked filet mignon topped with blue cheese, bacon, and caramelized onions on a serving platter.

    Perfectly Grilled Filet Mignon with Bacon and Blue Cheese

    Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs on a platter coated with Vindulge Red Wine BBQ Sauce

    Grilled Boneless and Skinless Chicken Thighs with BBQ Sauce

    More

    As Seen On

    Products we love

    taking the temperature of a porchetta roast on the grill
    We use Thermoworks Signals BBQ Alarm to monitor the internal temperature of the meat while it’s cooking, then double check with an instant read thermometer, like the Thermapen One.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Exclusive member of Mediavine Food

    Copyright © 2023 Vindulge

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    4.7K shares
    • 127
    Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
    Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
    Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
    Kansas City Barbecue Sauce