Ensuring you have some excellent meats to work with is the first step in grilling. But to create that ideal sweetness, smokiness, and acidity, you must also use a premium sauce. Because of this, we’ve compiled some of the top barbecue sauce alternatives available right now below.
You’ll find dozens of acidic and sweet sauces while looking for the ideal barbecue sauce, many of which are offered online by smaller suppliers. To determine which barbecue sauce is the finest, we assembled bottles of hot, smokey, vinegary, sweet, and tangy sauces and a few passionate barbecue enthusiasts for an epic sauced-up competition.
The top BBQ sauces available in stores
The two elements that make the best barbecue are outstanding technique and top-notch ingredients, and when it comes to the finishing touches, nothing is more crucial than an excellent barbecue sauce.
Lillie’s Q Smoky Barbeque Sauce
Flavor: Smoky and Delicate
It can be challenging to grill if you have gluten sensitivity. Thankfully, Lillie’s Q has created this wonderful gluten-free sauce in the smokey Memphis style. Memphis-style refers to a thick, sweet Kansas City-style sauce that has been slightly started by adding extra vinegar.
Experience the authentic taste of Western Carolina with our Carolina Barbeque Sauce. Tangy and balanced, this sauce honors the region's BBQ traditions. Perfect for pulled pork, brisket, and smoked chicken, our premium BBQ sauces are made with high-quality ingredients and are gluten-free, without any additives. With a rich family heritage of BBQ passion, we've mastered crafting Southern BBQ that stays true to tradition while delivering unique flavors.
Lillie’s Q only employs natural ingredients; as a result, there is no MSG, high-fructose corn syrup, or chemical preservatives. You only receive high-quality gluten-free ingredients in the bottle and the flavor of decades of barbecue expertise.
Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce
Flavor: Sweet with a faint tangy
Sweet Baby Ray’s is a great example of a Kansas City-style sauce, enhanced with ketchup, molasses, and liquid smoke for sweetness and smoky flavor.
The vinegar in this sauce gives it a distinct tang as well.
Taste the award-winning sweet and tangy flavor loved by BBQ fans worldwide. Our versatile sauce is perfect for burgers, brats, nuggets, and fries. It's the ultimate choice for BBQ Chicken pizza. Enjoy this mouthwatering blend of any protein. Gluten-free and certified Kosher for a delightful experience.
This sauce will give your dish the “classic” taste most people associate with good barbecue, which most store-brand barbecue sauces strive to accomplish (although none of them can compare to Sweet Baby Ray’s).
Since the contents of one bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s go so rapidly, it is always a good idea to get a twin pack.
Blues Hog Original BBQ Sauce
Flavor: Sweet and spicy.
This one is a success. More awards have been given to their sauces than any other brand of bottled sauce. an extra benefit? Additionally, they employ only natural products and are gluten-free. Here’s a sample of what to anticipate:
As the recipient of the prestigious "Best Baste on the Planet" award seven times, this sauce is a testament to its exceptional flavor and quality. Gluten-free and crafted with care, Blues Hog Smokey Mountain BBQ Sauce guarantees a delightful taste experience that elevates your barbecued dishes.
The spices in this delectable barbecue sauce are perfectly balanced. Various flavors expertly complement its wonderful sweetness, created by the harmonious blending of molasses and brown sugar, ensuring it remains perfectly balanced without overpowering the tongue. The acidic flavors of tomato, mustard, and vinegar give the sauce a zingy freshness that cuts through the meat’s richness and leaves a flavorful aftertaste. A little spice gives the meal a gratifying flavor and a light to medium heat level, improving the overall experience.
Lillie’s Q Ivory Barbeque Sauce
Flavor: Tangy and spicy.
Bob Gibson, a pioneer of barbecue, created Alabama white sauce. This American barbecue sauce, unlike many others, often consists of a blend of mayonnaise, vinegar, and pepper and is best used over smoked chicken or pig.
This tangy, sugar-free white BBQ sauce is perfect for grilling chicken and fries. Inspired by Decatur, Alabama, the home of white BBQ sauces, our premium sauces are crafted with high-quality ingredients and are gluten-free. Authentic Southern BBQ is our passion, passed down through generations, led by Grandma Lillie.
The Lillie’s Q version kicks Alabama white sauce, combining regular black pepper with a sprinkle of cayenne. They advise mixing it with chicken and fries or using it instead of mayo in an Alabama-style potato salad.
Kosmos Q Cherry Habanero BBQ Sauce
Flavor: Hot and tart.
This sauce mixes the spicy heat of chile with the tangy tartness and sweet flavor of cherries. It is made with Kosmos’ renowned habanero mash and pure cane sugar. A rib glaze, marinade, dipping sauce, wing coating, or topping for burgers and hot dogs benefit greatly from the strong fruit flavor.
This classic sauce embodies the sweet, smoky, and bold flavors that make BBQ special. It is perfect for grilling and enhances the taste of brisket, ribs, and more. It is versatile and delicious and can be used as a marinade, finishing sauce, or dip. With its proven ingredients like brown sugar, Worcestershire, and ketchup, it's a true winner in the world of BBQ competitions.
This sauce might be ideal for branching out from the typical Kansas City or Texas-style barbecue sauces and trying something more novel and adventurous.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Sauce
Flavor: Strong tangy tomato base.
The fantastic Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse, New York, which first opened in 1988 and later expanded into what was formerly Andy’s Cycle Shop, is the source of this sauce, which is a great all-arounder.
Experience the tantalizing flavors of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Sauce. This smoky and bold sauce enhances the taste of your grilled meats, be it ribs, chicken, or pulled pork. Elevate your BBQ game with this authentic and mouthwatering sauce.
This thick, sticky sauce is made entirely of natural ingredients and is completely gluten-free. It has less sugar and a stronger tomato taste, so if you don’t like overly sweet barbecue sauces, this might be the one for you.
Lillie’s Q – Carolina Barbeque Sauce
Flavor: Mustard and vinegar.
This sauce’s roots are in the mustard sauce made in South Carolina, as you would have surmised from the name. The German settlers introduced the practice of serving mustard sauce with pork. The sauce familiar to us all today was made by thinning it with vinegar and adding spices.
Indulge in our authentic Southern BBQ sauces. Tangy Western Carolina Barbeque Sauce, savory Gold Barbeque Sauce, and sweet Smoky Barbeque Sauce. Made with quality ingredients and gluten-free. Elevate your BBQ experience with our passion for flavor.
While not quite as versatile as some other barbecue sauces, this mustard sauce with South Carolina roots is the pinnacle of hog condiments.
Bone Suckin’ Gourmet Foods BBQ Sauce
Flavor: Sweet and subtle.
Do you appreciate how flavorful Bone Suckin’ Gourmet Foods’ BBQ sauce is without overpowering the taste of the meat? Are you irritated that the bottle is insufficiently large?
Good news: a 64-ounce jug of your favorite Bone Suckin’ is now available!
Savor the irresistible flavor of Bone Suckin' Gourmet Foods BBQ Sauce. This sweet and tangy sauce elevates your barbecue with its premium ingredients and rich taste. Perfect for ribs, chicken, and burgers, it will leave you craving more. Elevate your grilling experience with Bone Suckin' Gourmet Foods BBQ Sauce.
This sweet and tangy sauce is low in sodium and packed with the delicate flavors of mustard, horseradish, and apple cider vinegar.
Traeger Grills Apricot BBQ Sauce
Flavor: Tangy and sweet.
By developing a variety of barbecue sauces that go well with their selection of wood pellets, Traeger has capitalized on the opportunity of being a maker of pellet grills. This specific sauce balances the sharpness of mustard and pepper with the tart sweetness of apricots.
It's tangy, sweet, and a little kick, perfect for pork, chicken, or your favorite meatloaf. Use it as a versatile marinade, or serve it on the side with your Traeger creations. Combine it with our Pork & Poultry Rub and Apple Hardwood Pellets for the ultimate pairing. Unleash the flavor and take your BBQ to the next level.
They advise combining the fruitiness of this sauce with their Pork and Poultry Rub and Apple Hardwood Pellets if you own a Traeger grill. It may not be as adaptable as a typical barbecue sauce, but it is fantastic with hog and chicken.
KC Butt BBQ Sauce
Flavor: Sweet, Tangy, and Spicy
The flavors of KC Butt BBQ Sauce include spiciness, tanginess, smoke, and sweetness. Although it isn’t particularly hot, it provides enough bite to give your barbecue foods a little heat. The smokiness gives some depth, while the tanginess helps to counterbalance the sweetness.
This all-natural sauce, made with real molasses, apple cider, vinegar, and zesty spices, adds championship flavor to your meats. Mop it on pork, beef, or poultry before removing it from the fire. Elevate your BBQ experience with KC Butt Sauce's delicious and authentic taste.
The tang of KC Butt BBQ Sauce helps balance the sweetness and heat, even if it is not as strong as some other barbecue sauces. It can be used as a dipping sauce for fries, onion rings, and other fried dishes, as well as on a range of meats such as ribs, pulled pork, and chicken.
Conclusion
So there you have it—a mouthwatering list of the top barbecue sauces on the market as of 2023. Whether you want smoky flavors, acidic undertones, spicy kicks, or a great mix of sweetness, these sauces have got you covered. There is something to satisfy every taste and culinary choice, from the time-honored classics like Sweet Baby Ray’s and Blues Hog to the distinctive and daring options like Lillie’s Q Ivory and Kosmos Q Cherry Habanero.
These sauces are excellent because of the care taken to use high-quality ingredients and the craftsmanship that went into making them. Many don’t contain high-fructose corn syrup or MSG, employ natural ingredients, or contain gluten. They capture the essence of regional flavors and customs while embodying barbecue mastery.
These carefully chosen options will up your grilling game and make your taste receptors dance with delight.
And if you find this article helpful or have any suggestions feel free to reach us!
