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Summertime is the perfect time to break out the grill and cook up some delicious barbecue meals. But if you’re looking for something a little different this year, why not try one of the best store bought BBQ sauce available at your local grocery store? There are plenty of options to choose from, so it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. But don’t worry-we’ve narrowed it down to 11 of the best options out there.
From classic ketchup-based sauces to more unique options like coffee-infused BBQ sauce, there’s something for everyone. And whether you like your sauce sweet, spicy, or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered. So fire up the grill and get ready to enjoy the best BBQ of your life.
Types of Barbeque Sauces
Before I jump into the list of the best store bought barbeque sauces, it is important to know about the different types of BBQ sauces and how they taste and are used.
Whether you are smoking outdoors or grilling indoors with a smokeless grill, there is a perfect store bought sauce for you. Barbecue sauces can be generally classified into four different types: mop, slather, baste, and dip/table sauce.
Mop Sauces
Mop sauces are thin and liquidy, designed to be brushed onto the meat while it is cooking. They often contain a high amount of vinegar or citrus juice, which helps to keep the meat moist and also adds a tart flavor.
Slather Sauces
Slather sauces are thicker than mop sauces, but still thin enough to be brushed onto the meat. They often contain a high amount of sugar, which helps to create a caramelized crust on the meat.
Baste Sauces
Baste sauces are even thicker than slather sauces, and are designed to be brushed onto the meat during the last few minutes of cooking. They often contain a high amount of butter or fat, which helps to create a crispy outer crust.
Dip/Table Sauces
Dip/table sauces are thick and viscous, designed to be used as a dipping sauce. They often contain a high amount of sugar, which gives them a sweet flavor.
Now that you know about the different types of BBQ sauces, let’s take a look at the different regional varieties of BBQ sauce.
Regional Barbeque Sauces
Across the US there are a variety of different regional styles of BBQ sauce. Here are some of the most popular:
Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce
Kansas City-style BBQ sauce is a thick, sweet, and tangy sauce that is perfect for slathering on ribs or chicken. It often contains molasses or brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, and spices.
Memphis-Style
Memphis-style BBQ sauce is a thin, vinegar-based sauce that is perfect for basting pork. It often contains vinegar, ketchup, mustard, and spices. You will know right away from the tangy flavor on your taste buds that you are enjoying Memphis style sauce.
Carolinas-Style
Carolina-style BBQ sauce is a thin, vinegar-based sauce that is perfect for basting pork. It often contains vinegar, ketchup, mustard, and spices.
Alabama-Style
Alabama-style BBQ sauce is a mayonnaise-based sauce that is perfect for dipping chicken or pork. Alabama white sauce often contains mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, and spices.
Texas-Style
Texas-style BBQ sauce is a thick, spicy sauce that is perfect for slathering on beef or pork. It often contains ketchup, vinegar, mustard, and chili peppers.
North Carolina-Style
North Carolina-style BBQ sauce is a vinegar-based sauce that is perfect for basting pork. It often contains vinegar, ketchup, mustard, and spices.
Now that you know about the different types and regional varieties of BBQ sauce, let’s take a look at the 10 best store bought options.
Best Store Bought BBQ Sauce
Below are my top picks for the best store bought barbecue sauces, based on taste, ingredients, and heat level.
Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce – Best Texas BBQ Sauce
Best Texas BBQ Sauce
For me, it simply does not get any better than Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce. This sauce has a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors, with a thick and rich texture that is perfect for slathering on ribs or chicken. It contains molasses, vinegar, ketchup, mustard, chili peppers, and spices.
In spite of the fact that Texans don’t use sauces, Stubb’s Texas-style original sauce is the best one available in a bottle. The first thing you’ll notice about this sauce is that it’s surprisingly tepid for a bottle of it. No high fructose corn syrup or artificial additives are used in this product.
As a result of this, Stubb’s has chosen to use a less obnoxious tomato- and vinegar-based sauce. The more time you spend eating, the more smokiness and spice you’ll detect, although it’s not overly smoky or spicy in flavor. Like any sauce, it was well seasoned and well-balanced.
In addition to the BBQ sauce, Stubbs makes a hell of a chili kit. If you like your food with a little more of a kick, then the Stubb’s Spicy BBQ sauce is the one for you.
Jack Daniel’s Original No. 7 Recipe Barbecue Sauce – Best Smokey Sauce
Best Smokey Sauce
Jack Daniel’s is a brand that needs no introduction, and their barbecue sauce is just as iconic as their whiskey. This sauce has a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors, with a thick and rich texture that is perfect for slathering on ribs or chicken. It contains molasses, vinegar, ketchup, mustard, and spices.
The Jack Daniel’s barbecue sauce has a unique flavor that is unlike any other sauce on the market. It is a bit sweeter than most sauces, with a distinct molasses flavor that is well balanced by the acidity of the vinegar. The spices are present, but they are not overwhelming, and the smokiness is subtle but definitely there.
This sauce is perfect for those who want a sweeter barbecue sauce with a distinct flavor. It is also worth noting that Jack Daniel’s makes a great southwestern-style BBQ sauce that is also excellent.
G Hughes Smokehouse BBQ Sauce – Best Sugar Free Store Bought BBQ Sauce
Best Sugar Free Store Bought BBQ Sauce
If you need to cut back on the sugar but not the taste, then G Hughes Smokehouse BBQ Sauce is the perfect option for you. This sugar free BBQ sauce has all of the flavor of a traditional sauce, without all of the sugar. It contains vinegar, tomato paste, water, onion, spices, and natural flavors.
G Hughes sauces are sweetened with fruit juices and have no high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. This makes them a great option for those on a sugar free diet.
The Smokehouse sauce has a great balance of sweet and tangy flavors, with a smoky finish. It is perfect for slathering on ribs or chicken.
Big Bob Gibson Original White Sauce – Best Store Bought Alabama Sauce
Best Store Bought Alabama Sauce
Big Bob Gibson’s White Sauce is the perfect option for those who want a tangy, vinegar-based sauce. It is a mayonnaise-based sauce that is perfect for basting chicken.
This sauce has a tart and tangy flavor, with a creamy texture that is perfect for basting chicken. It is the same sauce found in Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ chain in North Alabama.
Big Bob Gibson’s White Sauce is the perfect option for those who want a tangy, vinegar-based sauce. It is a mayonnaise-based sauce that is perfect for basting chicken.
Rufus Teague Whiskey Maple BBQ Sauce – Best Sweet Whisky BBQ Sauce
Best Sweet Whisky BBQ Sauce
Is there anything better than the smoky whisky flavor added to BBQ? Pairing bourbon with BBQ is a match made in heaven, and Rufus Teague Whiskey Maple BBQ Sauce does not disappoint. This sweet and smoky sauce is perfect for slathering on chicken or pork. It contains ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, whiskey, spices, and onion powder.
Rufus Teague was born in Kansas City, so it’s no surprise that this sauce has a sweet and smoky flavor. The addition of whiskey gives it a nice depth of flavor, while the maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness.
This sauce is perfect for those who like their BBQ with a little bit of sweetness. It would also be great on grilled chicken or pork chops.
Williamson Bros. Original Bar-B-Q Sauce – Best Vegan Store Bought Barbecue Sauce
Best Vegan Store Bought Barbecue Sauce
If you are looking for a limited ingredient, vegan barbeque sauce, Williamson Bros. is the way to go. This original recipe only contains 5 simple ingredients: ketchup, vinegar, sugar, water, and spices.
Despite the limited ingredient list, this sauce has a complex flavor that is perfect for slathering on all your non-meat dishes. It has an authentic Western NC BBQ sauce flavor, with a vinegar and ketchup base. The sugar balances out the acidity from the vinegar, while the spices give it a nice kick.
This sauce is perfect for those who are looking for a simple, yet flavorful, vegan BBQ sauce. It would be great on tofu, tempeh, or seitan.
Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce – Best Sweet BBQ Sauce
Best Sweet BBQ Sauce
This classic sauce has been a favorite for years, and for good reason. It is perfect for slathering on ribs, chicken, or pork. It contains high fructose corn syrup, vinegar, tomato paste, molasses, honey, onion powder, and spices.
Looking to make your store bought sauce better, see How to Improve Store Bought BBQ Sauce
Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ sauce is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The sweetness comes from the high fructose corn syrup and honey, while the vinegar and tomato paste give it a nice tang. The molasses adds a touch of depth of flavor, while the onion powder and spices give it a nice kick.
This sauce is perfect for those who like their barbecue sauce on the sweeter side. Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce would also be great on grilled chicken or pork chops right from the hot grill.
Sticky Fingers Smokehouse Carolina Sweet Barbecue Sauce – Best Carolina Sauce
Sticky Fingers Smokehouse Carolina Sweet Barbecue Sauce (18 Ounce (Pack of 6))
Best Carolina Sauce
This traditional Carolina sweet BBQ sauce is perfect for slathering on pulled pork or chicken. It contains sugar, vinegar, ketchup, tomato paste, honey, molasses, onion powder, and spices.
Sticky Fingers Smokehouse Carolina Sweet BBQ sauce is a thick and sticky sauce that is perfect for slow cooking meats. The honey gives it a nice sweetness, while the molasses adds a touch of depth of flavor. The vinegar and ketchup provide a nice tang, while the onion powder and spices give it a nice kick.
This sauce is perfect for those who like their BBQ on the sweeter side. It would also be great on grilled chicken or ribs.
Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce – Best Non-Traditional BBQ Sauce
Bachan's - The Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce
Best Non-Traditional BBQ Sauce
This non-traditional BBQ sauce is perfect for slathering on chicken or pork. It contains soy sauce, mirin, sake, cane sugar, Koji Seed, Organic Ginger, and spices.
Bachan’s Japanese BBQ sauce has a sweet and savory flavor that is perfect for grilling meats. The soy sauce and mirin give it a nice salty flavor, while the sake and cane sugar add a touch of sweetness. The koji seed and ginger give it a nice depth of flavor, while the spices give it a nice kick.
This sauce is perfect for those who like their BBQ with a little bit of sweetness. It would also be great on grilled chicken or pork chops.
Bull’s-Eye Original BBQ Sauce – Best Cheap BBQ Sauce
Bull's-Eye Kansas City Style BBQ Barbecue Sauce
Best Cheap BBQ Sauce
This Kansas City inspired BBQ sauce is perfect for slathering on chicken or ribs. It contains high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, tomato paste, water, molasses, honey, onion powder, natural hickory smoke flavor, and spices.
Bull’s-Eye Original BBQ sauce is a thick and sticky sauce that is perfect for slow cooking meats. The high fructose corn syrup and honey give it a nice sweetness, while the vinegar and tomato paste provide a nice tang. The molasses adds a touch of depth of flavor, while the onion powder and spices give it a nice kick.
This sauce is perfect for those who like their BBQ on the sweeter side. It would also be great on grilled chicken or pork chops.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Sauce – Best Mild Barbeque Sauce
Best Mild Barbecue Sauce
Sensuous Slathering sauce isn’t as commonly available as some of the other sauces on our list, but if you can get it, it’s worth the effort. It has a smoky, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor thanks to the use of bell peppers. It’s easy to use directly out of the container because of its thick, creamy consistency. You won’t find any corn syrup in it, and all of the ingredients are easily recognizable.
Looking for more grilling tips, get started with cold smoking.. Best Cold Smokers
If sickly sugary barbecue sauce are not your favorite, this will be a hit at your BBQ. Dinosaur contains some sugar, although it doesn’t taste particularly sweet. The sauce is tomato-based and contains no “heat” (no obvious cayenne or heat from other peppers).
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Sauce is perfect for those who like a milder BBQ sauce. It would also be great on grilled chicken or pork chops.
Conclusion
So there you have it-11 of the best Store Bought Barbecue sauces on the market today. Whether you like your BBQ sweet, tangy, or spicy, there is a sauce out there for you. So fire up those grills and get cooking!
FAQ
Can BBQ Sauce Be Left Out?
Yes, BBQ sauce can be left out. Barbecue sauce can be stored at room temperature since food with a pH lower than 4.5 is too acidic to sustain the formation of spoiling bacteria.
How Do I Thicken Store Bought Sauce?
There are several methods to thicken sauce to help it adhere to meat without being clumpy. See our guide on how to thicken sauce for recommendations to solve any issues you may be having.
Is there Ketchup in Barbecue Sauce?
Most BBQ sauce contains ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Some also contain mustard, onion, garlic, or Worcestershire sauce.
What is the Best Way to Store Barbecue Sauce?
Barbecue sauce can be stored at room temperature since food with a pH lower than 4.5 is too acidic to sustain the formation of spoiling bacteria. Once opened, BBQ sauce will last 3-4 months in the pantry. For best quality, store in a cool, dark place.
Difference Between Memphis and St Louis Barbecue Sauce?
The two sauces are similar, but Memphis sauce is thinner and sweeter, while St. Louis sauce is thicker and spicier.
What Is the Difference Between Steak Sauce and Barbeque Sauce?
Steak sauce is thinner and has a more savory flavor, while barbecue sauce is thicker and sweeter.
