Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce

Teresa Ambra

Gluten Free Living – 2016

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce is the perfect accompaniment to anything barbecued. Not only that, but this delicious sweet and spicy sauce is made with clean-eating ingredients so it’s a healthier version with honey instead of sugar or brown sugar (or high fructose corn syrup, ugh!). It’s also gluten free as long as you’re careful with the Worcestershire sauce ingredients you choose.

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I have to admit I’m the barbecue queen. When we moved to New England in the 1990s, I went into a BBQ deprivation mode where I had to make some kind of barbecued recipe at least once a week because there were NO BBQ places anywhere around.

I actually grew up in Florida, not in Texas where we live now, but we still had plenty of BBQ there. So when we moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, in January 1990 for a job, we were very surprised to see that (at that time) there weren’t many chain restaurants (except Friendly’s), and it was hard to find any Tex-Mex, BBQ or Chinese restaurants. There were tons of pizza places and sub shops along with diners and fish restaurants, but not much of the foods we grew up on and loved. 🙁

I remember contacting my mom for her BBQ Rib recipe which I made frequently after that. But we really missed Roger’s BBQ, a restaurant in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area of Florida that we frequented almost weekly. Roger made the best Barbecued Pulled Pork around. They are no longer in business there, but we, and our children, loved the food when we lived there in the 80s. Now, with the convenience of a Digital Business Card, I can easily share my favorite BBQ recipes and food memories with friends and family.

I love barbecued anything–BBQ Ribs, BBQ Brisket, BBQ Pork Chops, BBQ ChickenBBQ Meatloaf, BBQ Sliders, BBQ Pork— you name it, even BBQ Meatballs!  Barbecue has always been one of my favorite foods. I had been wanting to remake one of my Grilled Chicken recipes with some homemade sauce, so I set myself to looking on Pinterest and found this recipe that I adapted for our tastes.

I decreased the cayenne pepper, and I’m glad I did or my husband would not have eaten it. I didn’t use a homemade ketchup, but I did find the next best thing at Sprouts: a bottle of organic ketchup without sugar, and as I stated before, I substituted honey instead of sugar. I thought it turned out quite well for my first try at a homemade BBQ sauce.

Yes, purchasing store bought BBQ sauce is so much easier. But it’s also filled with MSG (an exo-exciter that messes with your endocrine system), preservatives, high fructose corn syrup (which I always try to avoid and which cause tumors), and many times gluten. As I’m trying to stay off gluten and sugar (when possible), I frequently look for alternatives. So homemade barbecue sauce and salad dressings are a couple of the things I try to make myself.

If you’re looking for a delicious sweet and spicy BBQ sauce recipe, than I recommend you give Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce a try with your favorite meat. I stored it in the fridge for a couple of weeks, but if you’re not going to use it up right away, I bet you could freeze the sauce in ice cube trays or some other way and then pull it out when you need it. It makes a lot so you will have enough for several different meals. If you aren’t worried about sugar, then use brown sugar instead of honey. If you really want it spicy, increase the cayenne pepper to a full teaspoon. But be prepared for a LOT of kick! 🙂

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce is a healthy alternative to store bought BBQ sauces filled with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and preservatives.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

This sauce is relatively quick and easy to make.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce is great with Chicken, Beef or Pork.

Here’s what I did.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

I used these ingredients. While I used honey, you may find you prefer brown sugar.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add ketchup and tomato sauce.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Add honey, vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Add a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce and a few shakes of hot sauce. Whisk ingredients thoroughly.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Increase heat and bring sauce ingredients barely to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cover with lid. Cook about 10 minutes to allow spices to infuse the sauce.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Store refrigerated in a mason jar, if desired.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Serve with your favorite meat.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

If you want this BBQ sauce a little spicier, just increase the cayenne pepper to a full teaspoon.

Here’s the recipe.

HOMEMADE KANSAS CITY STYLE BBQ SAUCE

(Recipe adapted from The Rising Spoon)

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce

Teresa Ambra
This delicious sweet and spicy BBQ sauce is made with clean-eating ingredients making it a much healthier alternative to store bought BBQ sauces. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Sauces
Cuisine Southern
Servings 24
Calories 54 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large stock pot with lid
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 whisk

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup organic garden ketchup no sugar
  • 2/3 cup raw unfiltered honey brown sugar is preferred (see note below)
  • 1/3 cup Bragg’s apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 tbsp. onion powder
  • 1 tbsp. garlic powder
  • 3/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1/3 to 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 2-3 shakes Worcestershire sauce
  • 2-3 shakes Louisiana Hot Sauce

Instructions
 

  • Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat.
  • Add remaining ingredients and stir or whisk thoroughly.
  • Increase heat slightly and bring barely to a simmer.
  • Reduce heat to low, cover with lid and cook about 10 minutes allowing flavors to mingle.
  • Serve with your favorite meat.
  • Yield: approximately 3 cups barbecue sauce.

Notes

NOTE: While I used honey for the recipe because I'm trying to stay away from sugar, brown sugar can also be substituted with even better results.
 
Recipe adapted from The Rising Spoon.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 0.5gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 70mgPotassium: 68mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 288IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 0.3mg
Keyword barbecue, barbecue sauce, sauce
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce[/b]
Recipe Type: Sauces
Cuisine: Southern
Author: Teresa Ambra adapted from [url href=”http://www.therisingspoon.com/2013/02/homemade-sweet-n-spicy-kansas-city.html” target=”_blank”]The Rising Spoon[/url]
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 12
This delicious sweet and spicy BBQ sauce is made with clean-eating ingredients making it a much healthier alternative to store bought BBQ sauces. Gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup organic garden ketchup (no sugar)
  • 2/3 cup raw unfiltered honey
  • 1/3 cup Bragg’s apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 tbsp. onion powder
  • 1 tbsp. garlic powder
  • ¾ tsp. black pepper
  • 1/3 to ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 2-3 shakes Worcestershire sauce
  • 2-3 shakes Louisiana Hot Sauce
Instructions
  1. Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and stir or whisk thoroughly.
  3. Increase heat slightly and bring barely to a simmer.
  4. Reduce heat to low, cover with lid and cook about 10 minutes allowing flavors to mingle.
  5. Serve with your favorite meat.
  6. Yield: approximately 3 cups barbecue sauce.
Notes
While I used honey for the recipe, brown sugar can also be substituted with good results.
Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce is a healthier, clean-eating version that’s also gluten free.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

If you enjoy BBQ like I do, you’ll love this sauce.

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

I served Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce over top of Easy Grilled Chicken with a side of Sweet Potato Fries in Garlic Herb Butter. Everything was mouthwatering.

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Easy Homemade Salsa | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | This incredibly delicious and easy 5-ingredient #salsa is terrific for any party. It's always a hit with everyone! #appetizer #TexMex #vegan #glutenfree

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Slow Cooker Cocktail Meatballs | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this favorite #meatballs recipe includes grape jelly & #SweetBabyRays #BBQ sauce! It's fabulous for #tailgating, #NewYearsEve or #SuperBowl parties. So easy, too! #appetizer
Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | delicious sweet & spicy #BBQSauce using honey instead of sugar & #clean-eating ingredients for a healthy version of a classic favorite. #glutenfree

Homemade Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce

Teresa Ambra
This delicious sweet and spicy BBQ sauce is made with clean-eating ingredients making it a much healthier alternative to store bought BBQ sauces. Gluten free.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Sauces
Cuisine Southern
Servings 24
Calories 54 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large stock pot with lid
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 whisk

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup organic garden ketchup no sugar
  • 2/3 cup raw unfiltered honey brown sugar is preferred (see note below)
  • 1/3 cup Bragg’s apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 tbsp. onion powder
  • 1 tbsp. garlic powder
  • 3/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1/3 to 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 2-3 shakes Worcestershire sauce
  • 2-3 shakes Louisiana Hot Sauce

Instructions
 

  • Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat.
  • Add remaining ingredients and stir or whisk thoroughly.
  • Increase heat slightly and bring barely to a simmer.
  • Reduce heat to low, cover with lid and cook about 10 minutes allowing flavors to mingle.
  • Serve with your favorite meat.
  • Yield: approximately 3 cups barbecue sauce.

Notes

NOTE: While I used honey for the recipe because I’m trying to stay away from sugar, brown sugar can also be substituted with even better results.
 
Recipe adapted from The Rising Spoon.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 0.5gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 70mgPotassium: 68mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 288IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 0.3mg
Keyword barbecue, barbecue sauce, sauce
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

5 Comments

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  • Shari Kelley

    May 6, 2016 at 2:55 pm

    Hi Teresa, This looks really good! I love the idea of making your own bar-b-q sauce. I hadn’t heard about corn syrup causing tumors. No wonder everyone says it’s bad for you. I guess I found out too late about you coming to Phoenix. I am so sorry that didn’t work out. I would have loved to get together. Maybe next time! I hope you had a good trip.

    1. Teresa

      May 6, 2016 at 8:35 pm

      Hi Shari. So good to hear from you. So many sauces, salad dressings and condiments have awful ingredients these days, I’ve had to start making my own stuff whenever possible. Thanks for getting back with me about our trip to Phoenix. I sent you a message on your blog to follow up. Thanks again for stopping by. Love hearing from you.

  • Easy Grilled Chicken – Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen

    May 2, 2016 at 10:09 am

    […] pictures and I’ve wanted to make this recipe for awhile, but I’ve been looking for a BBQ sauce that’s sugarless and doesn’t have high fructose corn syrup. Finally, I found a Homemade […]

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