Best Bbq Sauce For Chicken: Tangy, Sweet, And Spicy

Choosing the right barbecue sauce for chicken can be a daunting task, with countless options available at grocery stores. While it is possible to make your own barbecue sauce at home, there are also several suitable pre-made versions that can save you time and effort. The best barbecue sauce for chicken will have the perfect balance between sweet and tangy, with a hint of smokiness. Some popular options for store-bought barbecue sauces that pair well with chicken include Stubb's Original Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce, Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce and Dip, KC Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce, and Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce. These sauces offer a range of flavours, from sweet and thick to smokey and tangy. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even experiment with adding your own ingredients to store-bought sauces to create a unique flavour profile that suits your taste preferences.

Sweet barbecue sauces

Stubb's Sticky Sweet Bar-B-Q Sauce

A gluten-free option, this sauce is loved for its rich taste and texture, especially when cooked down with whiskey, bourbon, or beer. It pairs well with salmon or chicken.

The Tailgate Foodie's The All-American

This classic barbecue sauce has a tangy flavour with hints of vinegar and a subtle cayenne heat. It also contains cloves, garlic, and anchovies, which are the secret ingredients in many recipes.

Elijah's Xtreme Bourbon Blueberry Chipotle

This sauce is versatile and can be used as a marinade or a barbecue sauce. It has a looser texture and an intense flavour, with prominent blueberry and bourbon notes. It would be a great choice for salmon or shrimp dishes.

Elijah's Xtreme Beer Bacon Maple

This sauce has a slight smokiness, but its flavour is funkier, possibly due to the inclusion of anchovies. It would be perfect for adding to chili, burgers, or even the Bacon Blue Chicken bites.

Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce

This sauce is thick and sweet, with a prominent brown sugar note. It has a smokey flavour and is perfect for baked beans, ribs, and steaks.

KC Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce

This sauce has a nice thick consistency and a sweet, slightly tangy, and smokey flavour. It is a great option for those on a budget, as it is very affordable.

Spicy barbecue sauces

Spicy Southern Barbecued Chicken

This recipe by James Beard Award-winning chef Scott Peacock from Alabama is perfect if you want something mildly sweet and sour with a spicy kick. It is recommended for grilled or roasted chicken.

Ingredients:

• One 3 1/2-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure ancho chile powder
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons unsulfured molasses

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, dissolve 1/4 cup of kosher salt in 2 quarts of cold water. Add the chicken and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook over low heat until softened.
• Add the paprika, ancho powder, and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add 1 cup of water, the brown sugar, and vinegar and bring to a simmer.
• Stir in the tomato paste and molasses and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens (about 10 minutes). Season with salt and let cool.
• Grill or roast the chicken until just cooked through.
• Brush the sauce onto the chicken and continue grilling or roasting for 10 minutes, or until nicely glazed.

Spicy BBQ Chicken

This recipe is for those who like their barbecue sauce tangy with a little extra kick.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 (5-ounce) bottle hot pepper sauce
• 1 (3-pound) chicken, cut into pieces

Instructions:

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic until tender.
• Mix in ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat grill to high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place chicken on the grill and brush constantly with the sauce.
• Cook for 8 to 15 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the piece, until juices run clear.

Best BBQ Sauce for Chicken

This recipe has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy with a hint of smokiness and spice.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ketchup (refined sugar-free if needed)
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons each of dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and sriracha
• 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder
• 6 drops liquid smoke

Instructions:

• Whisk all the ingredients in a small pot over medium-high heat.
• Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Prop the lid over the pot to prevent splatters but do not cover completely.
• Remove the pot from the heat and allow the sauce to cool before using or storing.

Homemade BBQ Sauce

This recipe includes smoked paprika, which goes well with chicken and pork. You can adjust the spice level by adding cayenne pepper.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar (or a mix of cider and bourbon)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar or cider
• 1 small red onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• Brown sugar, to taste
• Cayenne pepper, to taste

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Cook for about 5 minutes.

Smoky barbecue sauces

Lillie's Q Hot Smoky Barbeque Sauce

A Memphis-style sauce with a kick of cayenne, this sauce delivers the flavour of a long, slow cook in a barbecue pit. It's a little harder to find, but you can buy it online.

Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce

This sauce is a favourite for its woodsy notes and the convenience of its squeeze bottle. It's widely available and will add a touch of smoke to any grilled dish.

Carolina Q's Sweet Hickory Sauce

This rich, dark, and smoky sauce is crafted by a small producer in North Carolina. It's a flavour bomb with a big sweetness that's cut by the rich, smoky taste of hickory and a generous amount of heat.

Stubb's BBQ Sauce

Stubb's BBQ Sauce strikes a perfect balance without any single flavour dominating. It's thick but not gloppy, and its sweetness comes from brown sugar, not corn syrup. It also has a nice kick from lots of black pepper. You can easily find it in most supermarkets.

Bludso's BBQ Mild BBQ Sauce

Created by James Beard award-winning pitmaster Kevin Bludso, this sauce is thick and sweet with a strong black pepper taste that will remind you of Lay's barbecue chips. It's perfect for dipping potatoes or thick-cut fries.

Homemade Smoky BBQ Sauce

If you're feeling adventurous, you can make your own smoky BBQ sauce at home. Here's a simple recipe:

Ingredients:

• Tomato sauce (one 15-ounce can of plain tomato sauce, just puréed tomatoes with no extra ingredients)
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• Cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

Directions:

• Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and whisk them together.
• Cook the mixture over medium-high heat until it reaches a simmer.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer (uncovered) for 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly thickened.
• Use the sauce immediately, or refrigerate it in a sealed container for up to a week.

So, whether you buy a ready-made sauce or make your own, smoky barbecue sauces are a delicious addition to any chicken dish.

Vinegary barbecue sauces

If you're looking for a vinegary barbecue sauce to elevate your chicken dish, here are some excellent options to consider:

The Tailgate Foodie's Lowcountry Gold Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce:

This sauce is a delightful blend of mustard, vinegar, and cayenne pepper. Its tangy and slightly spicy flavour pairs beautifully with grilled meats. For a perfect harmony of flavours, pair it with chorizo sausage and add roasted peppers and onions to the mix.

The Tailgate Foodie's White Lighting Alabama White BBQ Sauce:

This sauce originates from Alabama and combines mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and sugar. It makes an excellent coating for chicken, adding a tangy twist to your meal.

Stubb's Original Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce:

This sauce stands out with its roasted orange appearance. It achieves a perfect balance between tomato paste, sharp vinegar notes, and the sweet softness of brown and cane sugars. It offers a nice roasted element instead of a smokey flavour, making it a unique choice.

Heinz Classic Original Barbecue Sauce:

While this sauce may be too sweet for some, it delivers on its promise of a "sweet and thick" consistency. If you're looking for a sauce to glaze your chicken, the thick paste it provides can be quite appealing.

Homemade BBQ Sauce:

For those who want to craft their own sauce, a simple recipe includes smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. You can adjust the consistency by thinning it out with water, preventing the sugars from burning too quickly over the fire. This sauce pairs beautifully with chicken and pork.

Teriyaki, Japanese, Hawaiian, and Korean barbecue sauces

Barbecue sauces inspired by flavours from Japan, Korea, and Hawaii can add a unique twist to your chicken.

Teriyaki and Japanese Barbecue Sauce

Teriyaki sauce is a popular choice for grilled chicken. It is a sweet and savoury sauce that soaks into the chicken, keeping it juicy. The sauce typically includes soy sauce, mirin, ginger, garlic, and green onion. You can either make your own or use a store-bought version. To prepare, let the chicken marinate in the sauce for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. Then, grill the chicken on high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. After removing the chicken from the grill, baste it with a reserved portion of the sauce that did not come into contact with the raw meat.

Bachan's Japanese Barbecue Sauce is another option with a similar savoury-sweet profile. It is described as "teriyaki-ish" and includes ingredients like soy, mirin, ginger, garlic, and green onion.

Korean Barbecue Sauce

Korean BBQ chicken, also known as Dak Bulgogi or Chicken Bulgogi, features a distinct marinade that results in a thick, sticky, and sweet sauce. The classic ingredients include soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and brown sugar. However, additional ingredients like ketchup, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and rice wine vinegar can be added for a more complex flavour. This sauce is typically used for stir-fried chicken but can also be used for grilled chicken.

Hawaiian Barbecue Sauce

Hawaiian BBQ sauce offers a sweet and tangy flavour with a distinctive red colour. It is typically made with a ketchup base and includes ingredients like pineapple, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar. This sauce is perfect for basting chicken or as a wing sauce, and it can also be drizzled over pork. To make your own, simply combine the ingredients in a saucepan, bring to a boil, and then simmer for about 25 minutes until it reaches the desired consistency.

These unique barbecue sauces can add a delicious twist to your grilled chicken, so why not give them a try?

Frequently asked questions