Memorial Day weekend always seems like the unofficial kick-off to summer. It’s also the time when grilling season gets into full swing. During the summer months we always have the refrigerator stocked with homemade barbecue sauce to serve on top of grilled chicken, ribs, or chops.
Making barbecue sauce at home is incredibly easy. For the three recipes below, inspired by American, Asian and Mexican flavors, we started with a ketchup and brown sugar base. Then, we layered on the flavor with vinegar, citrus, liquid smoke, hot sauces and smoked chiles. This weekend, make one sauce or even all three and let your guests decide what flavor suits them best.
Recipes:
- Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce
- Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
- Sriracha Ginger Barbecue Sauce
- Grilled Barbecue Chicken Breasts
Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
Directions
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Stir until well combined. Makes about 2 cups barbecue sauce.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes
Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 finely chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Garnish: Chopped cilantro, if desired
Directions
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Stir until well combined.
Makes about 2 cups barbecue sauce.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes
Sriracha Ginger Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Sriracha sauce
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Garnishes: Sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired
Directions
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Stir until well combined.
Makes about 2 cups barbecue sauce.
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes
Grilled Barbecue Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce, Chipotle Barbecue Sauce or Sriracha Ginger Barbecue Sauce
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon oil
Directions
Heat gas or charcoal grill. Place 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce in a bowl for brushing chicken while grilling. Reserve the remaining barbecue sauce for serving alongside the chicken.
Brush oil onto both sides of each chicken breast. Place chicken on the grill over medium heat. Cover your grill; cook 5 minutes. Flip chicken breasts. Cook 5 to 7 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F). Brush both sides of the chicken breasts with the barbecue sauce during the last few minutes of grilling. Serve with reserved barbecue sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4
The barbecue chicken pairs deliciously well with a Grilled Vegetable Farro Salad and a Spiked Raspberry Lemonade.