Texas Bar Bq Sauce Recipe

posted January 13, 2021

Texas BBQ Sauce

This Texas BBQ sauce is a rich sauce that is perfect served on just about any BBQ you've got cooking on the grill or smoker. Drizzle it on smoked brisket, or spoon it over some ribs, you'll fall in love with this sauce after the first bite.

Twp-image collage of Texas BBQ sauce in a mason jar and the same sauce being poured over sliced brisket. Text overaly reads: Homemade Texas Style BBQ Sauce.

Texas Style BBQ Sauce

Now before we get going on this recipe, a quick note about this BBQ sauce. We KNOW that if BBQ is good, it doesn't need sauce (especially in Texas), but this sauce might be the exception. It provides the most amazing flavor to all your grilled and smoked meats, so make sure to try it before you count it out.

What Does Texas Style BBQ Sauce Taste Like?

With no liquid smoke and a smooth tangy sweet flavor, this Texas style sauce compliments perfectly smoked brisket and ribs, without overpowering them. This is a sauce designed to be your barbecue's BFF.

Most barbecue sauces are ketchup based and sweetened with molasses and brown sugar. This Texas sauce takes a slight turn with a tomato paste base and a honey/brown sugar combo. The result is a sauce that is slightly thinner than most sticky sweet BBQ sauces and has a more robust tomato flavor. It may be different than what you're accustomed to in a traditional BBQ sauce, but once you pair it with my Texas Style Brisket, you may never go back to your old BBQ sauce.

Onions sauteeing in a saucepan.

Ingredients for Texas BBQ Sauce

This BBQ sauce requires a handful of ingredients, but believe me when I say it's well worth the effort. To begin melt butter over medium-high heat and sauté onions and garlic in a medium saucepan.

Next, add the following to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer for 20-25 minutes.

Tomato paste
Water
Apple cider vinegar
Brown sugar
Honey
Lemon juice
Worcestershire sauce
Dijon mustard
Chili powder
Celery salt
Coriander
Black pepper
Salt

This sauce can be used as-is or blended to a smooth consistency. I recommend storing any unused sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Texas style BBQ sauce boiling in a saucepan.

Tips for Making Texas BBQ Sauce

Here are some quick tips for making this Texas style BBQ sauce you should take note of before diving into the recipe.

Soften the onions. For a great final texture in the sauce, take the few minutes in the beginning to cook the onions and garlic in butter. It also makes a huge difference in flavor.
Reduce the sauce. Don't skimp on the simmering step! The sauce will start out very thin, but gently thickens over the 25 minute simmer. This simmer time also helps all of the flavors meld together.
Puree. Or not. If you like a little texture to your sauce, serve it as is. If you want a perfectly smooth sauce, let it cool completely and then puree in the blender.
Don't rush it. This sauce is actually BETTER the next day. Place the finished sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight before using.

Popular Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipes

Fancy yourself a connoisseur of BBQ sauce? Try out these other popular BBQ sauce recipes from around the U.S.

Kansas City BBQ Sauce
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Alabama White Sauce

Best Texas BBQ Sauce Recipe

Texas BBQ Sauce being spooned over a stack of sliced brisket.

Texas BBQ Sauce

Prep Time : 10 mins

Cook Time : 25 mins

Cooling Time : 1 d

Total Time : 1 d 35 mins

Servings : 24

Calories : 60 kcal

▢ ½ sweet onion (super fine dice)
▢ 6 ounces tomato paste
▢ 2 cloves garlic (minced)
▢ 2 ½ cups water
▢ ½ cup brown sugar
▢ ½ cup honey
▢ ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
▢ 2 Tablespoons butter
▢ 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
▢ 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
▢ 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
▢ 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chili powder
▢ 2 teaspoons celery salt
▢ 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
▢ 2 teaspoons salt
▢ 1 teaspoon ground coriander

Sautee the onions. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium high heat. Add the onions and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent and softened. About 4 minutes.
Add in remaining ingredients. Whisk the remaining sauce ingredients into the pan, stirring frequently, until the sauce comes just to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer the sauce for 20-25 minutes.
Blend the Texas BBQ sauce. Turn off the heat and allow the sauce to cool to nearly room temperature. You can use the sauce as is, if you like the texture of the onions and garlic. If you prefer a smooth sauce, carefully transfer the sauce to a blender, seal the lid tightly, and blend on high speed until the sauce is a smooth consistency.
Refrigerate, serve and store. This sauce tastes best when allowed to rest overnight (24 hours for the best flavor) before serving. Serve alongside brisket, mop on ribs, or drizzle on cheeseburgers. Sauce will last 2 weeks in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed jar.

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