We love having cookouts and outdoor barbecues and everyone knows BBQ is best enjoyed saucey! If you’re looking for a delicious but easy, no-cook BBQ sauce recipe, then look no further! This 3 ingredient barbecue sauce will add the perfect touch to your grilled burgers, chicken, beef, or pulled pork meal without vinegar or brown sugar.
![Basting 3 Ingredient BBQ Sauce on chicken on a plate.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/homemade-bbq-sauce.jpg)
Content Covered Here
Why Our Recipe Makes the BEST Homemade BBQ Sauce
- This easy barbecue sauce recipe has no vinegar or brown sugar for the BEST flavor! Instead, we use honey to create the ideal condiment for recipes for chicken tenderloin, dutch oven pulled pork, or crock pot chuck roast. It’s so delicious you’ll want to put it on everything!
- It’s no-cook! When it’s warm outside, the last thing you want to do is stir a pot over the stovetop. Instead, just mix up three simple ingredients (or leave out the Worcestershire for a two ingredient BBQ sauce) and it’s ready.
Plus, if you’re like me and often find out that someone used up the last of the store-bought barbecue sauce, you’ll love knowing you can make this super simple recipe with ingredients right from the fridge and pantry at any time!
Love easy sauces and dips? Then check out our In n Out secret sauce recipe, easy basil pesto sauce recipe, spicy honey mustard recipe, mango chili sauce, and roasted red peppers dip.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
![3 Ingredients for the BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Raw Unfiltered Honey, and Worcestershire Sauce along with the measuring spoon and cup.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-ingredient-bbq-sauce.jpg)
- Ketchup is the base of this recipe. Use a high-quality brand for a really rich flavor.
- Honey provides the sweetness for the perfect taste and rich texture. You could substitute with corn syrup, agave syrup, or molasses for a deep flavor,
- Worcestershire gives a smoky and tangy flavor. There’s no good substitute for this, but if you’re out of Worcestershire, a half teaspoon of soy sauce would be the best substitute, or leave it out completely.
Tasty Recipe Variations
Spicy Honey BBQ Sauce
- Add 1 teaspoon of chili pepper paste to give a bit of a kick.
- If you don’t have chili pepper paste, substitute 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or hot chili powder. Alternatively, substitute 2 teaspoons of Tabasco.
![Adding and mixing the chili pepper paste on the 3 Ingredient BBQ sauce in a medium bowl.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/spicy-honey-BBQ-sauce-1.jpg)
Hickory BBQ Sauce
- Add a 1/2 teaspoon of liquid hickory smoke flavoring for a smokey hickory taste.
![Adding and mixing the liquid smoke hickory flavoring on the 3 Ingredient BBQ sauce in a medium bowl.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/hickory-BBQ-sauce.jpg)
How To Make BBQ Sauce Without Brown Sugar
Making this recipe is so fast and easy that you’ll find yourself making it over and over!
- Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl.
![Honey, Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce altogether in a bowl.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-ingredient-bbq-sauce-.jpg)
- Whisk the ingredients until they are smooth and the honey is completely mixed with the ketchup. This should take just 1-2 minutes with a wire whisk.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Note: To mix the honey easier, warm it up first. You can do this by putting it in a bowl of hot water or microwaving it for 5-15 seconds.
![Mixing the 3 Ingredients with a wire whisk.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/easy-no-cook-bbq-sauce.jpg)
- Spread or spoon it over your favorite smoked chicken thighs, BBQ chicken dinner ideas, or favorite grilled meats.
![Basting the 3 Ingredient Homemade Honey BBQ Sauce on chicken.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-ingredient-bbq-sauce-1.jpg)
How to Store Leftovers
If you have leftover homemade barbecue sauce, add it to a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t have honey, you can use corn syrup, agave syrup, or even molasses as a substitute in our recipe.
Yes, this can be frozen. Pour it into a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to three months. To use it, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
You can use any ketchup for this recipe. Ketchup brands taste differently due to the blend of ingredients. I like using Heinz because it has a good balance of sweetness and acidity.
![Chicken on a plate with 3 Ingredient Homemade BBQ sauce on a medium bowl with a basting brush.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/no-cook-BBQ-sauce-1.jpg)
More BBQ Recipes To Love…
If you tried this 3 ingredient bbq sauce or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
![basting chicken with 3 ingredient bbq no cook sauce.](https://thefeatherednester.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/3-ingredient-bbq-sauce-2-300x300.jpg)
3 Ingredient BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- medium bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup honey (warmed honey is easier to mix)
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
optional (spicy honey BBQ sauce)
- 1 teaspoon chili pepper paste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl. I recommend warming your honey to make it easier to measure and mix.
- Whisk the ingredients together until they smooth, and the honey is completely mixed in with the ketchup (1-2 minutes).
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Harriet Young says
This is delicious and has just the right balance of flavour. And only 3 ingredients! Magic. Thank you
kushi says
I love this simple and easy BBQ sauce recipe. Thanks for sharing.