Making your own gluten-free BBQ sauce is a fantastic way to spice up your grilling game without the worry of gluten. Whether you're slathering it on ribs, brushing it over grilled chicken, or using it as a dipping sauce for barbecued shrimp, this gluten free BBQ sauce is packed with classic smoky, tangy, and sweet savory flavor loved by many. No one will even know it's gluten-free! This barbecue sauce works for everyone.
I've tinkered, tested, and tasted my way through many batches to create my homemade gluten-free barbecue sauce recipe and now I'm sharing it. Make your own bbq sauce to avoid hidden gluten and customize the flavors to suit your taste and dietary preferences perfectly.
Skip unhealthy ingredients common in many big brand store-bought barbecue sauces (sorry sweet baby ray). Read the package label and you'll find high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and preservatives.
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Why You'll Like This Recipe
- Takes just minutes to make.
- Versatile for many grilling needs.
- Everyday ingredients, easily customizable.
- No gluten, no added salt, lower sugar, can be made vegan if preferred.
- Gluten-free BBQ sauce is not just for people with celiac disease. Many people are gluten-sensitive.
BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- Ketchup: Start with prepared tomato ketchup (preferably unsweetened) so you control the sweetness. Here is the ketchup brand I prefer. It is easier than starting with tomato paste.
- Sugar: Choose either dark brown sugar, light brown sugar, coconut sugar, or for a no-sugar gluten-free bbq sauce use golden brown monk fruit.
- Molasses: Gives barbecue sauce a deep, sweet, rich flavor and color.
- Onion: I've used chopped sweet onion, shallot, and onion powder and onion powder is easiest and works great.
- Vinegar: Use apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar) for tang, and balsamic vinegar for it's rich sweet flavor.
- Spices: Cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper (which is smoky too) for heat and spice, ancho chili powder for that bbq flavor, smoked paprika, and granulated garlic or garlic powder for flavor.
- Mustard: I recommend using dijon mustard for more flavor and kick instead of mustard powder.
- Worcestershire sauce: Lends a rich, savory, umami kind of flavor to many sauces and dishes. A must for bbq sauce.
- Liquid smoke: A bottled liquid condiment providing natural smoke flavor. Optional but adds a nice smoky flavor. It's very concentrated, use just a little!
Please see the recipe card for measurements.
Chef's tip: Gluten-free worcestershire sauce. Is worcestershire sauce gluten-free? Some are, some are not. Top brand Lea and Perrins is certified GF (in US) as is the Wizard's (also vegan, no anchovy). Another is French's Classic Worcestershire. Call the company's customer service number for produce information if in doubt as many are not gluten-free, and look for an allergen notification on their website.
Substitutions and Variations
- For a honey BBQ sauce, either swap the brown sugar for honey or use some of both.
- For a sweeter BBQ sauce without sugar, use monk fruit (brown or regular).
- For spicy BBQ sauce, add your favorite hot sauce, more cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper, but add carefully!
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Chef's tip: Many BBQ sauces include soy sauce. If you like the salty flavor it adds, use only tamari soy sauce as it is wheat-free gluten-free soy sauce. I've left it out of this recipe as many people are soy-sensitive. If you're not soy-sensitive and like it, add a little. Start with a teaspoon or two and taste, remembering even the low-sodium brands have a lot of sodium.
Recipe Instructions
Why make homemade BBQ sauce? It's always fresh and there are no expired bottles taking up space in the fridge when you need to grab some. It takes about 5 minutes!
Ways to Use Gluten-free BBQ Sauce
- As a dipping sauce for sweet potato fries or wedges.
- Brush onto grilled shrimp after grilling.
- Use instead of hoisin sauce for these grilled chicken kabobs.
- Smear over a burger instead of ketchup.
- A must for baby back ribs!
- Terrific to glaze grilled, broiled, baked, or stovetop seared salmon.
- Use almost anywhere you'd use ketchup for more flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Gluten-containing ingredients to be wary of when making homemade BBQ sauce are worcestershire sauce (Lea and Perrins and Wizard's are gluten-free), soy sauce (made with wheat), or ingredients like barley malt, malt vinegar, or modified food starch which may contain gluten. Read labels carefully and if in doubt, call the company's customer service line and ask or research their website.
If your BBQ sauce needs thickening, the best way is to thicken it by cooking it down a little bit over medium-low heat in a small pan. For a thickening ingredients, arrowroot starch works well as it is clear. To use arrowroot, mix a tablespoon into 1-2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth and add to the bubbling bbq sauce, stir until thickened. Cool and refrigerate.
Store homemade GF BBQ sauce in the refrigerator in an airtight container, labeled and dated, for up to 2 weeks. If it smells "off" or looks funny, toss it and make more. It's easy to do. It also freezes, but as it takes little time to make, making fresh is a good way to go.
More Recipes!
Try the dry rub as the seasoning for what you're grilling, like baby back ribs, chicken, shrimp, or more! And you'll need side dishes for that great grilled dinner!
⭐️Did You Make This Recipe?
If you make this gluten-free bbq sauce recipe? Please add your comment. I appreciate your feedback and enjoy hearing from you. If you loved it, please give it a 5-star rating! They really help other readers.
📖 Recipe
Gluten-Free BBQ Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened ketchup
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or golden monk fruit
- 1 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon liquid smoke optional
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Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small (2 quart) pan and whisk until smooth over medium heat until bubbly. Cook 3-4 minutes until smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Turn heat down a bit if needed. Refrigerate, label and date for up to two weeks.
Notes
- For a sweeter bbq sauce, add more brown sugar, monk fruit, or use honey.
- For a hotter, spicer bbq sauce, add your favorite hot sauce or more cayenne or chipotle powder.
- For tangier, add a little more apple cider vinegar.
- This is thick bbq sauce. If you need it thinner, like more of a glaze, thin it down with a little water.
Lisa Foto says
I made the BBQ sauce today. So delicious and cooked the shrimp individually on it (because I didn’t have any skewers). Served it over brown rice and it was delicious. It took me 10 minutes to make once the barbecue sauce was done. Only used a quarter cup of sauce so I have plenty left over to make it again. Next time I will use it on chicken.
HBBeachboy says
Really easy to make and great flavor. I never thought about making my own bbq sauce but now I'll never buy bottled again.
Porsche Guy says
So easy and so good! Won't buy bbq sauce again!