From smoky ribs to crispy fried chicken, a great barbecue sauce can elevate your grilled food to culinary glory. A good barbecue sauce can be used as a marinade, baste during cooking, or even as a dipping sauce.
Whether you prefer a sweet, tangy or spicy sauce, there’s a barbecue sauce for every palate. Here are 10 of the best you can buy online.
1. Lillie’s Q
With an abundance of all-natural ingredients, a full range of flavors, and no gluten-heavy thickeners or coloring agents, this top-rated barbecue sauce is a great option for anyone looking to ditch the old standbys. This Eastern North Carolina variety is full of vinegar and spices for a tangy kick, but it also has just the right amount of sugar to give it that sweet-and-savory balance.
Its sweetness and molasses lend it an Asian influence—not unlike the hoisin sauce that Jean-Georges Vongerichten uses to marinate pork chops. Lillie’s Q is named after founder Charlie McKenna’s grandmother and her father Quito, who helped him compete in barbecue competitions around the country. The result is a deliciously complex barbecue sauce that works on any protein, but especially ribs and chicken. This is a staple for any grill or barbeque lover.
2. Sweet Baby Ray’s
Sweet Baby Ray’s lives by the saucy motto, “The sauce is the boss.” The brand’s bottles can often be found taking up a large chunk of shelf space in your local grocery store.
Company founder and chef Larry Raymond tinkered with a family recipe starting around 1982, according to the Chicago Tribune, and perfected it enough by 1985 to enter it in the Mike Royko Rib-off. That was the beginning of a barbecue empire.
Ray’s sauces tend to have multi-faceted layers that present themselves in a progression from sweet to tangy to spicy to smoky. This Honey Chipotle variety is no different. It’s a fine finishing sauce for grilled meats or as a dipping sauce for fries and nuggets. It also makes a tasty marinade.
3. Bachan’s
The summer barbecue season calls for plenty of burgers, dogs, and pulled pork—but it wouldn’t be complete without the right sauce. Luckily, there are tons of store-bought options. These top-rated bottles are a great shortcut to the complexity of homemade recipes.
Tasters adored this thin, easy-pouring sauce for its vibrant tomato flavor and a peppery bite that builds with each mouthful. It’s made with no high-fructose corn syrup or starches and is cold-filled (not pasteurized), which reduces the need for preservatives. Founder Justin Gill uses traditional Japanese ingredients like mirin and rice vinegar to create craveable umami-filled sauces. Try it on a bao bun or slathered over grilled chicken. It also works as a marinade.
4. Stubb’s
You don’t have to be a Southerner or a grillmaster to appreciate the versatility of barbecue sauce. The sweet and tangy condiment can be used to marinade meats or as a dipping sauce for everything from potato wedges to Dino Nuggets. It’s also a great option for those who like to grill their food without using a heavy amount of oil.
A friend of Stubb’s brought a bottle with him to a performance on Late Night with David Letterman, giving the brand a much-needed boost. Stubb’s began selling his Original and Spicy BBQ sauces in grocery stores, and he also started to produce other products like marinades and rubs.
This Carolina-style sauce is slightly thinner than other barbecue sauces and boasts a unique tangy flavor that will make your pork, chicken, or wings taste amazing. It also has no HFCS or gluten and is made with natural ingredients.
5. Bone Suckin’
Although some may dislike Bone Suckin’ due to its high levels of horseradish, tasters found this sauce to be very complex and versatile enough to pair with a variety of dishes. Besides being great for grilling, this barbecue sauce also works well as a dip or marinade.
This barbecue sauce from Kansas City offers a sweet and tangy blend without any of the unhealthy ingredients that can be found in other brands. The original variety is perfect for dipping or marinating, and the spicy version will spice up grilled veggies and other meats.
This workhorse barbecue sauce has tomato puree and vinegar as its base, giving it a ketchup-like consistency with a little extra zing. One editor even called it “the Ford Taurus of barbecue sauces.” Try Bachan’s original or spicy versions for a balance of flavor.
6. Heinz Classic
The best barbecue sauces have a balance of sweet, tangy and smoky flavor. They pair well with grilled meats like ribs, chicken and pork and even amped-up cheeseburgers. They can be used as a dipping sauce or marinade and are perfect to drizzle on artisanal pizzas and chopped salads. Paired with a good meat rub from a selection of smoker meat rubs, you’re all set!
This Kansas City-style barbecue sauce is heavy on tomato and vinegar but also has a hint of sweetness from brown sugar and molasses. It’s also smoke-heavy with actual shagbark hickory tree syrup harvested by a husband and wife team.
The winner of the 2020 National Barbecue Championships is a classic in a bottle. It’s made with hickory smoked brisket, pulled pork and beef brisket, which give the sauce a rich and hearty flavor that pairs well with smoked meats. The non-GMO sauce is also gluten-free and contains no MSG or artificial flavors.
7. Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Chipotle
Sweet Baby Ray’s continues to impress with a range of barbecue sauce flavors that are tangy, thick, and full of flavor. Their Honey Chipotle barbecue sauce is sweet and smoky with a delicious chipotle kick.
The upfront sugary sweetness in this barbecue sauce comes from molasses and mixes well with a fruity tomato base that’s more acidic than sweet. A mellow vinegar tang also plays a role in this bourbon-based sauce.
The smokey smokiness of the chipotles is apparent in the aroma, but it doesn’t get too spicy or overwhelming for a non-tomato barbecue sauce. This sauce is a perfect addition to pork chops and chicken or can be used as a dipping sauce for burgers and other grilled foods. Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Chipotle barbecue sauce handles grilling well, creating attractive caramelization over direct heat without burning or charring the meat.
8. Stubb’s Original
A good barbecue sauce is all about balance. You want a little sweet and tangy, some spice and some fruit. Any sauce that goes overboard in any of these areas can be overwhelming and not enjoyable.
This sauce from Stubb’s is perfect for those who want a bit of everything without going overboard. It is a tomato-based sauce that is thick, which makes it great for marinating and pouring over your meats, but also works well as a dipping sauce.
The flavor is zesty and a little spicy, and there are just enough hints of smoke to add depth to your meal. This sauce is a must-try for barbecue lovers. It is even available in a gluten-free version for those who are watching their carbs. This is a great sauce to have on hand for any occasion.
9. Bachan’s Spicy
While there are many different styles of barbecue sauce, all tend to use the same basics: tomato and vinegar, molasses or sugar, and spices like mustard powder, garlic, and paprika. This particular original sauce has no added sugar, but it packs a punch of flavor from its short ingredient list.
This staff favorite is a teriyaki-style BBQ sauce that will add some Asian flair to your grilling. Founder Justin Gill’s bachan (meaning grandmother in Japanese) inspired him to create this sauce, which is vegan, non-GMO, and preservative free. It’s great for marinating meats and dipping your favorites, such as Dino Nuggets or potato wedges. It’s also a nice drizzling over rice bowls and grilled vegetables. Yum!
10. Togarashi
While it may seem like a no-brainer to choose a barbecue sauce that’s labeled “original,” the truth is many versions of this popular choice contain a lot of high-fructose corn syrup and other questionable ingredients. Instead, opt for a more nutritious version that has all the same flavors you love without those extra ingredients.
Bachan’s offers a delicious teriyaki-style BBQ sauce with no added sugar or starches. It also includes a healthy dose of ginger and sesame, which adds flavor and a hint of heat to the mix.
This versatile bottled sauce can be used as a marinade or for dipping. Tasters liked it for its vibrant tomato flavor and moderate vinegar-forward kick. Try it on ribs or as a sauce for sandwiches and baked beans.