Spicy Barbecue Sauce Recipe
This spicy barbecue sauce recipe is made with just a handful of ingredients and is finger-licking good! Slather it onto chicken, pork chops, ribs, or even shrimp and salmon, and you can’t go wrong.
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Did You Know?
Barbecue sauce is believed to have originated as early as 1698(!), when Dominican missionary Père Labat observed French West Indies chefs applying lime juice and hot peppers to barbecued meat.
My late father always made this spicy barbecue sauce recipe when I was growing up. Although he was never much of a cook (bacon and eggs being an exception), he did know how to work the outdoor grill, and this sauce became a staple of summer weekend suppers. He frequently applied his concoction to chicken, pork chops, ribs, and shish kebabs.
I never took an intentional note of how my father made this sauce, and I tried to remember the ingredients when I chose to include it on this blog. Between my memory and my mother’s, we determined it was Hoisin sauce, vegetable or olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, and Tobasco sauce. I replaced the Tobasco with red pepper flakes and added a dash of Worcestershire because that seemed like something my dad would have done. Mom agreed. 🙂
I only had to make this barbecue sauce once, and my mom and I thought it tasted just like we remembered! It really is delicious and doesn’t need a ton of ingredients to make it so.
Thanks, Dad, for this recipe and the memories that come with it!
Shopping List
- hoisin sauce
- neutral oil
- lemon juice
- worcestershire sauce
- garlic powder
- red pepper flakes
Suggestions for Variations and Substitutions
- Use Tobasco sauce or a dash of cayenne pepper in place of the red pepper flakes.
Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also freeze the barbecue sauce for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before use.
Spicy Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon neutral oil
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients for the barbecue sauce to a small bowl and whisk together thoroughly.¾ cup Hoisin sauce; 1 teaspoon neutral oil, juice of ½ lemon, ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, pinch of red pepper flakes
- Pour the sauce into a small saucepan and cover partly with a lid. Turn the heat to medium-low, bring it to a gentle simmer, and cook for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. You may have to reduce the heat to low at some point to keep it from bubbling too much.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Allow the barbecue sauce to cool fully before using it, or store it in the refrigerator to chill.