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A spoon scooping some bbq sauce for chicken with bbq chicken on the side.

Best BBQ Sauce for Chicken

Kristen Stevens
By: Kristen Stevens
Updated: 12/30/2025
4.8 stars (82 ratings)
26 Comments
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This is our favorite BBQ sauce for chicken. It has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, with a subtle hint of smokiness. It makes chicken taste amazing! It’s also quick to make and can be easily refined, sugar-free.

A spoon scooping some bbq sauce for chicken with bbq chicken on the side.

This is my favorite BBQ sauce for chicken. It has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy with just a subtle hint of smokiness, and it makes even the simplest chicken taste incredible. Best of all, it’s quick to make and keeps in your fridge for up to two weeks.

This sweet, tangy, smoky BBQ sauce isn’t just great on chicken—it’s delicious on just about anything you want to taste like BBQ. Once you make it, you’ll find yourself reaching for it again and again.

If you’re interested in making this refined sugar-free, use refined sugar-free ketchup and coconut sugar.

A close up of the best BBQ sauce for chicken in a glass jar.
BBQ chicken on a plate with bbq sauce on the side.

Here are a few ways to use this BBQ sauce

Of course, you can use BBQ sauce to marinate your chicken before you throw them on the grill, but it has so many more uses.

  • Pour it over chicken thighs and bake them in the oven.
  • Sear a juicy steak and then add this BBQ sauce at the very end, just long enough to warm it up.
  • Brush it onto veggies before you grill them.
  • Coat the inside of a portobello mushroom in this BBQ sauce, pop it on the grill then use it as a delicious meatless burger patty.
  • Mix a small spoonful into some ranch dressing and use it to smother your burger.
  • Mix it into some mayonnaise and make a special dip for your fries.
  • Add some to your potato salad for a smoky BBQ potato salad.
  • Simmer meatballs in it and serve them as an appetizer. Mmm BBQ meatballs!
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4.75 stars (82 ratings)
A spoon scooping some bbq sauce for chicken with bbq chicken on the side.

Best BBQ Sauce for Chicken Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 10 minutes mins
Total: 15 minutes mins
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This is our favorite BBQ sauce for chicken, It has the perfect balance between sweet and tangy with a little hint of smokiness. It makes chicken taste amazing! It's also quick to make and easily refined sugar-free.
1

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons EACH: dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce, and sriracha
  • 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder
  • 6 drops liquid smoke

Instructions 

  • Whisk the ingredients in a small pot over medium-high heat. Bring the pot to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Prop the lid over the pot to prevent splatters but do not cover the pot completely.
    1 cup ketchup, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons EACH: dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce, and sriracha, 1 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder, 6 drops liquid smoke
  • Remove the pot from the heat and allow the bbq sauce to cool before using or storing it.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tablespoons, Calories: 50kcal (3%), Carbohydrates: 12g (4%), Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 1g (2%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 236mg (10%), Potassium: 88mg (3%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 9g (10%), Vitamin A: 154IU (3%), Vitamin C: 2mg (2%), Calcium: 7mg (1%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

A spoon scooping some bbq sauce for chicken with bbq chicken on the side.

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Kristen Stevens

Kristen Stevens

Hi, I'm Kristen! I LOVE everything to do with food: making it, taking pictures of it, and (the best part) eating it. ♡♡♡

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Posted: 05/26/2020 Updated: 12/30/2025
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26 Comments
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Karen L DeVito
Karen L DeVito

5 stars
I used the receipt as written (with some alternatives, as stated) and my son, who is a little picky said he loved it, was a little too sweet for me, but I don’t usually use dipping sauce. However, since my son loved it so did I, thank you for sharing.

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Kristen Stevens
Kristen Stevens
Reply to  Karen L DeVito

Oh I love hearing that you son loved it. As a parent, I know that’s always a win!

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Welcome!

Hi, I'm Kristen Stevens

I’m a self-taught chef, food photographer, and author of the cookbook Sugar Free Dinner Recipes. Since 2011, I have been sharing my well-tested and approachable recipes, helping home cooks like you feel comfortable and confident in the kitchen. My work has been featured in Food & Wine, Pioneer Woman, The Every Girl, Self, and many more. Let’s have some fun cooking together!

Learn more!

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