This Hot Honey BBQ Sauce combines the perfect balance of sweet, smoky, tangy, and spicy flavors in one incredibly easy recipe. Made with simple pantry ingredients and ready in just minutes, it's the perfect homemade sauce for ribs, chicken, pulled pork, burgers, and more. Once you try this bold, flavorful sauce, you'll never look at bottled barbecue sauce the same way.
Hot Honey BBQ Sauce Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Condiment, Sauce
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 5 Minutes
- 🍴 Servings: About 1½ Cups or 12 servings of 2 tablespoons per serving
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Sweet, smoky, tangy, and spicy
- 🍚 Best Served With: Ribs, pulled pork, chicken, burgers, brisket, and grilled vegetables
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, up to 2 weeks in advance
Summarize and Save This Content On
I love keeping a jar of this sauce in the refrigerator because it instantly adds big flavor to almost any meal. The hot honey provides just enough heat to keep things interesting while the ketchup, vinegar, and seasonings create that classic barbecue flavor everyone loves. Whether you're grilling for a crowd or making a quick weeknight dinner, this sauce always delivers.
This hot honey BBQ sauce was inspired by our hot honey vinaigrette and hot honey mustard pairs perfectly with our hot honey chicken sandwich.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Sweet, spicy, and versatile: The perfect balance of hot honey sweetness and smoky BBQ flavor that works as a glaze, marinade, dipping sauce, or finishing sauce.
- Quick and easy: Made in just 5 minutes with simple pantry ingredients and no cooking required.
- Better than store-bought: Fresh ingredients create bold flavor, customizable heat, and a sauce that's perfect for grilling, meal prep, and family meals.
- Great for any occasion: A crowd-pleasing favorite for cookouts, game days, weeknight dinners, and backyard barbecues.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of pantry staples to make this sweet and spicy homemade barbecue sauce. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen, making this an easy recipe to whip up whenever a barbecue craving strikes.
- Ketchup: Creates the rich tomato base.
- Hot Honey: Adds sweetness and signature heat.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Balances the sweetness with acidity.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Provides savory depth and umami flavor.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds tang and complexity.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Boosts the spicy kick.
- Black Pepper: Adds mild warmth.
- Garlic Powder: Provides savory flavor without overpowering.
- Chili Powder: Adds subtle smoky spice.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Adjust the Heat: Make it extra spicy by doubling the red pepper flakes, or create a milder version by reducing them by half.
- Add Smoky Flavor: Stir in liquid smoke or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a deeper, smoky barbecue flavor.
- Make it Sweeter: Add brown sugar, maple syrup, or peach preserves for extra sweetness and a unique flavor twist.
- Try Fruity Versions: Mix in peach preserves or crushed pineapple for a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce that's perfect for summer grilling.
- Boost the Savory Flavor: Add fresh minced garlic or a splash of bourbon for extra depth and complexity.
How to Make Hot Honey BBQ Sauce
This homemade hot honey BBQ sauce comes together in just two simple steps. Simply combine the ingredients, whisk until smooth, and you'll have a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce ready to use in minutes. Make our hot honey sauce and refrigerate until needed or use store-bought.
Step 1: Combine the ingredients.
Add the ketchup, hot honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder to a medium mixing bowl.
Step 2: Whisk until smooth.
Whisk the ingredients together until the sauce is completely smooth and evenly blended. Taste and adjust the heat level if desired by adding additional hot honey or red pepper flakes. Use immediately or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
- Use quality ingredients: Good hot honey and ketchup create the best overall flavor and texture.
- Mix and rest: Whisk thoroughly until smooth, then let the sauce rest for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can blend.
- Adjust to taste: Taste before storing and add more hot honey, red pepper flakes, or vinegar as needed.
- Store properly: Keep the sauce in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator and stir or shake before serving if separation occurs.
- Use it wisely: Brush onto meats during the final minutes of cooking to prevent burning, and consider making a double batch because it disappears quickly.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy hot honey pretzels or hot honey Cheez-Its.
Storage Directions
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container or mason jar for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Reheat: This sauce is usually served cold or at room temperature. If desired, warm gently in a saucepan over low heat.
- Make Ahead: This recipe is excellent for making ahead. The flavors continue developing after a day in the refrigerator.
Serving Suggestions
- Great on sandwiches and burgers: Use it as a sauce for pulled pork sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, hot honey chicken tenders, hot honey chicken wings, burgers, or sliders to add bold flavor.
- Perfect for barbecue favorites: Brush it onto pork ribs, smoked brisket, pulled pork, or grilled chicken during the final minutes of cooking for a sweet and spicy glaze.
- Delicious with seafood and vegetables: Drizzle over grilled shrimp skewers or brush onto grilled vegetables such as corn, zucchini, peppers, and mushrooms.
- Use as a finishing sauce: Spoon it over smoked meats, grilled chicken thighs, or barbecue platters just before serving for an extra burst of flavor.
- Serve as a dipping sauce: Pair it with oven baked sweet potato fries, chicken wings, chicken tenders, onion rings or French fries.
Hot Honey BBQ Sauce Recipe FAQs
Yes. Reduce the red pepper flakes or use mild honey.
Yes. Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to replace the heat.
Add additional hot honey, honey or brown sugar.
Absolutely. It works well on chicken, pork, and beef.
More Hot Honey Recipes
If you love the sweet and spicy flavor of hot honey, here are some delicious recipes you may also enjoy trying.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Hot Honey BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup hot honey or store-bought
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Make our hot honey sauce and refrigerate until needed or use store-bought.
- Add the ketchup, hot honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic powder, and chili powder to a medium mixing bowl.
- Whisk the ingredients together until the sauce is completely smooth and evenly blended. Taste and adjust the heat level if desired by adding additional hot honey or red pepper flakes. Use immediately or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Use quality ingredients: Good hot honey and ketchup create the best overall flavor and texture.
- Mix and rest: Whisk thoroughly until smooth, then let the sauce rest for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can blend.
- Adjust to taste: Taste before storing and add more hot honey, red pepper flakes, or vinegar as needed.
- Store properly: Keep the sauce in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator and stir or shake before serving if separation occurs.
- Use it wisely: Brush onto meats during the final minutes of cooking to prevent burning, and consider making a double batch because it disappears quickly.
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