This Kansas City Barbecue Sauce is a thick, sweet, smoky classic that takes just 20 minutes to make. Perfect for ribs, grilled chicken, or dipping—this is the all-purpose BBQ sauce your summer needs.
What Makes This Kansas City BBQ Sauce Unique
- That Sweet, Smoky Signature: I use a combo of brown sugar, molasses, and smoked paprika to nail that signature Kansas City BBQ flavor—super rich and with just enough smoke. Try it with all your grilled favorites—especially my go-to grilled pork chops or a juicy grilled flank steak.
- Double-Tomato Base: Most recipes use just ketchup, but I add crushed tomatoes for a more complex flavor. With red pepper flakes and chili powder, you can adjust the kick to your liking (I love a little heat, but you do you). Perfect on my baked chicken wings.
- Fast & No-Fuss: This is a one-pot, 20-minute situation. Minimal effort, big payoff—perfect for summer parties or weeknight grilling.
- All-Season Hero: While it screams summer cookout, I use this BBQ sauce year-round—try it on holiday meatloaf, ham, hot links, brisket, pork butt, pulled pork for tailgating, or drizzled over roasted veggies in the colder months.
- Perfect for Batch Prep: I always make extra because it keeps well and honestly gets even better after a day or two. Great for meal prep, kids’ lunches, or as a homemade gift for grill-loving friends.
You'll Need These Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredients | Substitutions |
| 1 cup | Ketchup | 1 cup tomato sauce + 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup + 1 tablespoon vinegar |
| 1 cup | Crushed Tomatoes | Tomato Sauce or puree |
| ¾ cup | Brown Sugar | Use regular sugar + 1.5 tablespoons more molasses |
| ½ cup | Apple Cider Vinegar | white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or lemon juice |
| ¼ cup | Molasses | maple syrup, honey, or dark corn syrup |
| 2 tablespoons | Smoked Paprika | 2 tablespoons regular paprika + ½ teaspoon liquid smoke (if available), or use chipotle powder for some heat |
| 2 teaspoons | Garlic Powder | 2 tablespoons of pre-minced or 4 cloves of fresh minced garlic. |
| 1 teaspoon | Onion Powder | garlic powder or omit |
| 1 teaspoon | Chili Powder | chipotle powder, smoked paprika |
| 1 teaspoon | Salt | soy sauce |
| 1 teaspoon | Black Pepper | Ground white pepper or freshly cracked mixed peppercorns |
| ½ teaspoon | Red Pepper Flakes | Cayenne powder to taste |
How to Make Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and whisk well.
- Heat over medium until it starts to simmer, then cook for 10 minutes.
- Cool completely before transferring to an airtight container.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How can I change the consistency of my sauce? Simmer it longer if you would like it to be thicker. But if you want to thin it out some, you can add a bit of apple cider vinegar, broth, or water a little at a time till you reach your desired consistency.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Of course! By doing so, you give the sauce more time to marry the flavors together, which will only improve the taste. It is best to let it set for at least 24 hours before serving for peak flavor, but can be used right away.
- When is the best time to apply the sauce to the meat? If used in a slow cooker, you can add it when the recipe calls for it. However, if you are adding it to grilled meat or oven-roasted meats, you want to wait till the end of cooking the last 10-15 minutes before it is done before applying so that you don’t burn the sugars.
- How can I increase the smoky flavor in the sauce? The smoked paprika gives the smokey flavor so that you could add a little more. Another option is to add half a teaspoon of liquid smoke. Worcestershire sauce will also help add to the earthy flavor.
Tips for the Best Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
- Low & Slow Simmer: Let it bubble gently—this melds the flavors and thickens the sauce beautifully.
- Blend for Smoothness: For an ultra-smooth sauce, I’ll sometimes hit it with an immersion blender after simmering.
- Tweak the Tang: Adjust the apple cider vinegar to taste if you want more tang or less sweetness.
- Double Batch It: This stuff disappears fast. I always double (or triple) the recipe for big gatherings or meal prep.
- Play with Smoke: Swap in chipotle powder for even smokier vibes, or add a splash of liquid smoke if you want to go all-in.
- Add Bourbon: Stir in a splash of bourbon at the end for a subtle boozy finish.
BBQ Sauce Pairings & Serving Ideas
- Classic BBQ Pairings: Brush it on ribs, chicken, brisket, or burgers—can’t go wrong! I always keep some in my fridge for those random weeknight cravings—it works magic on pretty much anything like pan-seared chicken thighs, grilled salmon, pan-seared chicken breasts, or even garlic butter shrimp.
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches: My favorite way: pile pulled pork on a soft bun, douse with sauce, top with slaw.
- Creative Uses: Use as a dip for fries, roasted potatoes, or even onion rings.
- Pizza Night: Swap out pizza sauce for this Kansas BBQ sauce on a grilled chicken pizza.
- Veggie Power: Drizzle over grilled veggies, use as a marinade for tofu, or mix into baked beans.
- Party Platter: Serve as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders, meatballs, or even grilled shrimp at your next party.
Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
This Kansas City Barbecue Sauce is a thick, sweet, smoky classic that takes just 20 minutes to make. Perfect for ribs, grilled chicken, or dipping—this is the all-purpose BBQ sauce your summer needs.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup Apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Whisk together all the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring the mixture up to a simmer over medium heat. Allow the sauce to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Let the sauce cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
- This recipe will yield about 2½ to 3 cups of BBQ sauce. For most uses, figure on about ¼ cup per serving, so you’ll get roughly 10 to 12 servings out of this batch. If you’re just brushing it on meat or using it as a side sauce, you might stretch it to 14 servings.
Notes
- Storage: Kansas City Barbecue Sauce should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight if frozen.
You'll need these supplies:
- Whisk
- Saucepan
- Measuring cups and spoons
Nutrition
Nutrition Information
Kansas City Barbecue Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
108
% Daily Value*
Fat
0.3
g
0
%
Saturated Fat
0.05
g
0
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.04
g
Sodium
414
mg
18
%
Potassium
285
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
27
g
9
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
24
g
27
%
Protein
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
796
IU
16
%
Vitamin C
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
42
mg
4
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Hi Julia. Love your recipes and thank you. Cannot get molasses here (Canary Islands). I have black treacle, maple syrup and of course honey. Would black be ok or possibly maple syrup or a little of both. Advice appreciated.
Hi Caroline! I was gonna say to use either maple syrup, honey, or dark corn syrup instead of molasses, but I did look up black treacle (I've never heard it before) and it definitely seems like the closest alternative to molasses so it should work just fine! 🙂