HORN · Sauces
BBQ
House sauce. Sweet, smoky, balanced.
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House sauce. Sweet, smoky, balanced.
By Matt Horn | Updated on October 6, 2026
Cook25-30 min
Prep5 min
ServesAbout 2 cups
EasyThis is the sauce we keep on the line — sweet from brown sugar and molasses, tang from vinegar and Worcestershire, smoke from paprika. It's a stovetop sauce you can bottle and keep in the fridge, and it's just as good on ribs as it is on a sandwich. Taste it at the end and adjust the balance to your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 011½ cups ketchup
- 02¼ cup brown sugar
- 032 tbsp honey
- 042 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 051 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 061 tbsp soy sauce
- 071 tbsp molasses
- 081 tsp smoked paprika
- 091 tsp coarse black pepper
- 10½ tsp garlic powder
- 11Pinch cayenne
- 12Kosher salt to taste
Method
- Step 1Combine everything in a saucepan.
- Step 2Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Step 3Reduce heat and cook uncovered for roughly 25 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Step 4Taste and adjust the balance of sweet, salt and acid.
- Step 5Cool before bottling. Refrigerate in a sealed container.
Matt's Notes
It thickens as it cools — pull it when it's still a touch looser than you want it.
What you'll need
