Description
This authentic North Carolina BBQ Sauce recipe delivers a tangy, spicy, and slightly sweet vinegar-based sauce perfect for enhancing grilled or smoked meats. Made quickly with simple pantry ingredients and simmered to perfection, it embodies the classic flavors of Eastern North Carolina barbecue.
Ingredients
Scale
BBQ Sauce Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (adjust based on desired sweetness)
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp hot sauce (adjust to taste for spiciness)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the apple cider vinegar, water, brown sugar, ketchup, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes (if using), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Simmer the Sauce: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Taste and Adjust: Sample the sauce and adjust the seasoning to your preference by adding more hot sauce or red pepper flakes for extra heat, more brown sugar for sweetness, or additional vinegar for tanginess.
- Cool and Serve: After simmering and thickening, remove the saucepan from the heat. Let the sauce cool to room temperature before serving with your favorite BBQ dishes.
- Store: Transfer any leftover sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate. The sauce will keep well for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- You can adjust the spiciness by increasing or omitting the red pepper flakes and hot sauce.
- For a smoother sauce, strain after simmering, although traditionally the sauce is left with some texture.
- This sauce pairs best with pork, especially pulled pork or slow-smoked pork shoulder.
- Leftover sauce is perfect as a marinade or dipping sauce.
