
I was making some ribs and wanted them glazed in BBQ Sauce. Unfortunately, I was out of BBQ sauce and was short on time so I made this simple BBQ Sauce for my Ribs.

You only need 7 simple ingredients to pull this BBQ Sauce Recipe off. Yep, this recipe is really that easy.

The only ingredient you might not have on hand for this recipe is Chili Sauce. I personally like the Heinz Variety but you can use what you have on hand or the brand you prefer.

I originally made this sauce for my pork ribs, but you can pretty much use it on whatever kind of meat you want like a pork tenderloin or even chicken! It’s a pretty versatile BBQ sauce.

When it comes time to baste your ribs, I prefer to slowly cook the meat without any sauce and then baste it with the bbq sauce in the final 10 to 15 minutes of cooking.
You can baste sooner but I like my method as it will prevent the meat from burning on the outside before the internal temperature reaches its target.

If you are cooking ribs you are shooting for an internal temperature of at least 145°F and 165°F for chicken. Make sure you use a good quality thermometer to check the internal temp.
Now you are probably wondering what this bbq sauce tastes like. Well it does have a little “kick” to it from the chili sauce and powder but not too much. You also get a little sweetness from the molasses.
Ingredient Substitution
I often get asked what a good substitute for molasses would be. Not sure if it’s because they don’t have any on hand or simply don’t like the flavor.
You have a few options as far as substitutes go: dark corn syrup, maple syrup, honey or even some dark brown sugar with a little water added to it.
Remember that substituting for one of these ingredients will alter the overall flavor of this recipe.

If you plan on gifting some of this BBQ Sauce or just want a cool way to store it, check out my favorite Sauce Bottles on Amazon.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this BBQ Sauce for Ribs recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Ketchup, Chili Sauce, Molasses, Apple Cider Vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce, Chili Powder and Ground Black Pepper.
How to Make BBQ Sauce for Ribs
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the BBQ sauce has thickened.
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Printable Recipe Card

Easy BBQ Sauce for Ribs
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Ingredients
- ¾ Cup Ketchup
- ¾ Cup Chili Sauce
- ½ Cup Molasses
- ¼ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
- 1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium-heat, combine all the ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the bbq sauce has thickened.
I made this BBQ Sauce as I wanted to try something new. I will never go back to my old recipe. It was extremely tasteful and delicious.