Oklahoma BBQ Sauce Recipe
This Oklahoma BBQ sauce recipe has a rich tomato base, a sweet-tangy taste, and a warm kick from cayenne, chili powder, ginger, and black pepper. Vinegar cuts through the sweetness, while cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg add a subtle spiced note.
Equipment
- Large heavy-bottomed saucepan
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Wooden spoon
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Immersion blender or regular blender
- Heatproof storage jar
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 ¼ cups tomato juice
- 1 medium onion finely minced, about ¾ cup
- 1 ¼ teaspoons ground ginger
- ¾ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
- 1 ¾ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 ¼ teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 ½ tablespoons butter
- 1 ⅓ cups ketchup
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 ¾ tablespoons chili powder
Instructions
Cook the onion
- Finely mince the onion so it softens quickly. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until tender.
Add the tomato ingredients
- Pour in the tomato juice and ketchup. Stir everything together until the onion is well mixed into the tomato base.
Season the sauce
- Add the sugar, white wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, ginger, cloves, garlic powder, celery seed, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, nutmeg, and chili powder. Stir until the seasonings are well incorporated.
Let the sauce simmer
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then lower the heat. Leave the pan uncovered and cook for 35–45 minutes. Give it a stir from time to time so the sauce does not stick to the bottom.
Check the consistency
- Once the sauce has cooked down and reached your preferred thickness, give it a taste. For a smoother texture, carefully blend the sauce until the onion is fully broken down.
Cool and serve
- Take the saucepan off the heat and let the sauce cool for a few minutes. Spoon it over your favorite BBQ dishes while warm, or let it cool completely before placing it in a clean storage container.
Notes
Calories: 105 calories | Carbohydrates: 19 grams | Sugar: 16 grams | Protein: 1 gram | Total Fat: 3 grams | Saturated Fat: 2 grams | Fiber: 1 gram | Cholesterol: 0.01 grams | Sodium: 0.45 grams