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Kansas City Style Barbecue Sauce

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ sauce in a glass jar with a spoonful lifted above the sauce, showing its thick texture, onion pieces, and stone-ground mustard seeds.
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A rich and flavorful Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce made with ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, stone-ground mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Sweet, tangy, and slightly smoky, this homemade sauce has been a family favorite for decades and is perfect for ribs, pulled pork, chicken, burgers, and more.

Ingredients

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  • 1 medium white onion
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Liquid smoke (optional) – a few drops for added smoky depth if not grilling over real fire

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion and melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the onion until translucent.
  2. Mince the garlic while the onion cooks. Add the garlic to the pan and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients—ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, stone-ground mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, black pepper, and cayenne—and stir to combine.
  4. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook until warmed through and slightly thickened, about 5–10 minutes.
  5. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before using or storing.

Find it online: https://foodienoise.com/kansas-city-style-barbecue-sauce/