Spicy, Smoky, Vinegary, Sweet
Nothing says summer quite like BBQ and for me that generally means a good BBQ sauce. Though I love this zingy Carolina Gold, sometimes I'm in the mood for something with more decidedly classic BBQ flavors. This Spicy Red BBQ Sauce has notes that are equal parts spicy, smoky, vinegary, and sweet.
Adjusting the heat level
I usually tend to make this Spicy Red BBQ Sauce one level below slap-yo-mamma-hot. My definition of this is that it leaves a properly spicy burn in the back of your throat for several minutes after eating it, but doesn't necessarily make you chug a gallon of milk when eaten in reasonable portions. I think this heat level works best for basting grilled chicken because it provides just the right amount of kick to make the chicken interesting, but because the chicken is merely basted, rather than swimming in the sauce, it shouldn't be overwhelmingly spicy for most adults.
If you are serving this bbq sauce to a crowd that appreciates milder flavors, or if you are serving a dish where you intend to drench the meat in sauce, I tend to lower the spice level a bit. This can be easily done by first limiting the amount of cayenne pepper in the recipe. Simply omit the cayenne until very last, tasting the sauce prior to adding it and then combining it in ¼ teaspoon increments until the sauce has reached your preferred level of heat.
If for some reason you've accidentally added too much and want to mellow the flavors a bit, this can be done by adding acid, sweetness, and/or dairy. Increasing the tomato paste, vinegar, honey (or zero carb sweetener for Keto), or adding a dollop of sour cream or yogurt can go a long way to mellowing out spicy flavors when you've accidentally made the heat level too high.
What to serve this Spicy Red BBQ Sauce with
This Spicy Red BBQ Sauce is a fantastic basting sauce for classic grilled chicken but is also equally delicious drizzled on top of beef brisket and shredded pork roast. I love to use it in this BBQ Chicken Salad recipe and it's also fantastic on these Pressure Cooker Boneless Beef Ribs.
If you're looking for other BBQ sauce options, make sure to check out my recipe for Carolina Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce.
What tools do I need to make this recipe?
Are you looking to upgrade to your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.
A note for special diets
This Spicy Red BBQ Sauce is grain-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, low-carb, and friendly for Paleo diets. It is also friendly for Keto and Low-FODMAP diets with some adjustments.
In order for this diet to fit Keto and Low-FODMAP diets, you'll simply want to swap the raw honey out for a 1:1 zero carb sweetener such as Stevia in the Raw or granulated Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener. I tend to think that these alternative sweeteners are a bit sweeter than honey, so I prefer to start by adding half the amount of sweetener than the amount of honey called for and adjusting to taste.
If you choose to use Stevia in the Raw or granulated Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener, the nutrition facts are estimated as follows:
Cal: 28, Fat: 3g, Sod: 69mg, Carb: 1g (net carb count 1g)
Print
Spicy Red BBQ Sauce
- Prep Time: 3
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 13
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
- Category: Sauces & Savory Condiments
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Nothing says summer like this Spicy Red BBQ Sauce, with notes that are spicy, smoky, vinegary, and sweet.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup distilled white vinegar
- 6 tbsp tomato paste
- 5 tbsp raw honey (or 2 ½ tbsp 1:1 alternative such as Stevia in the Raw or granulated Lakanto Monkfruit for Keto or Low-FODMAP)
- ¼ cup garlic oil (may sub extra virgin olive oil + 2 tsp garlic powder)
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp chipotle powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- ¼-1 teaspoon cayenne powder (adjust to spice preference)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except the cayenne pepper in a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat. Allow to come to a low simmer, stirring to combine the ingredients often.
- Taste for spice level and then begin to add the cayenne pepper in ¼ teaspoon increments until it reaches your desired level of heat.
- Allow to simmer lightly for 10 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken. Remember that it will thicken more once it has cooled.
- Leftovers may be refridgerated for 3-5 days.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoon (with honey)
- Calories: 40
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 69
- Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 5
Keywords: bbq sauce
I love to make my own homemade BBQ sauce and I can't wait to fire up the grill for this one. Thanks so much for sharing!
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There is no other sauce as rich in flavor as a properly made BBQ sauce. This one looks fabulous and I can only imagine how delicious it is. Well, I am definitely making it, so can't wait to share the delight from it!
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Love a good BBQ sauce recipe. Love that you use monk fruit sweetener too!
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Can't believe its so easy to make this BBQ sauce. Now, no more store bought ones. Your images look absolutely tempting.
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With certain staples hard to come by right now, this is such a great recipe to be able to make at home! We made ours a little less spicy in our house, everyone loved!
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We are thinking of having a BBQ one of these days and this spicy red BBQ sauce is just so perfect! I love that it's spicy, smoky, vinegary and sweet at the same time.
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I have never made homemade bbq sauce before, but this recipe seems easy to follow and looks really tasty! I am going to try my hand at this!
Ooh I love that I have everything in my cupboard to make this! And thanks for giving tips on how to adjust the heat 🙂
★★★★★
Love the real food ingredients in this homemade BBQ sauce! I don't like a super sweet sauce myself, so the spice combination here looks perfect! Looks like a good option for a BBQ chicken pizza!
I really like the sound of this sauce, I do not have the chipotle powder but will use the paste that |I have. I love the oregano addition - must make with the wings I bought the other day.
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Yum — thank you for such a delicious yet easy BBQ sauce recipe! It’s great on everything that hits our grill, and it’s so easy to make.
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Ooooh, I love a spicy BBQ sauce!
Katie xoxo
I love homemade bbq sauce, it's so satisfying to watch it come together. I'm excited to try out a spicy sauce for my chicken this week, and will definitely be checking out that Carolina gold sauce as well!
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I cannot wait to try this recipe! My BBQ sauce attempts so far haven't been great, but this recipe looks so much nicer! We love spicy and BBQ, so it will be a big hit!
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Oh my - this sauce is fantastic! I am sure it can make any grilling special. I mean, the combination of spicy, smoky and sweet flavors can surely make any meat incredible!
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I would LOVE to make my own sauce. This Spicy Red BBQ Sauce would go well the BBQ chicken salad you created! I am so trying this!
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