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A white bowl filled with thick, deep red Easy Hot Honey BBQ Sauce, with a spoon dipped in and resting on the edge, placed on a textured cloth surface.
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Hot Honey BBQ Sauce Recipe

A homemade hot honey BBQ sauce that comes together in 20 minutes with pantry staples. Sweet, smoky, and spicy with real heat. Ready in 20 minutes with pantry staples, and better than anything from a bottle.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: Condiment, sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hot honey bbq sauce
Servings: 32 tablespoons
Calories: 28kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup hot honey
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar packed
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a medium saucepan. Whisk until fully combined.
  • Bring to a light boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors meld together, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat, then taste and adjust. Want more sweetness? Add another drizzle of hot honey. More tang? A splash more apple cider vinegar. More heat? See the heat ladder in the notes - this is your sauce, spice it up just the way you want it.
  • Cool and store. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to a jar or airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using. It thickens as it chills and the flavors come together even more. Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

The Heat Ladder
  • Mild. Swap hot honey for regular honey and skip the cayenne and red pepper flakes.
  • Medium (as written). Hot honey + ½ tsp cayenne + ½ tsp red pepper flakes. Sweet heat that builds.
  • Hot. Double the cayenne to 1 tsp and add 1-2 tbsp of your favorite hot sauce.
  • Extra Hot. Use a habanero-based hot sauce or add ½ tsp ghost pepper powder. Not for the faint of heart.
Makes about 2 cups.

Nutrition

Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.03g | Saturated Fat: 0.004g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.004g | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 92IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg