The 8 Best Barbecue Sauces of 2023

Barbecue sauce is a serious and highly debatable topic. Depending on which BBQ enthusiast you ask, the best barbecue sauce can range from vinegary Carolina-style to thick and a little sweet, like you’d find in Kansas City.

Of course, it all comes down to personal preference, but no matter which style is your favorite, one thing most people can agree on is that the right sauce can elevate everything from BBQ ribs to juicy chicken to tofu. In an ideal world, you’d be able to make your barbecue sauce from scratch every time, but bottled barbecue sauces have come a long way (and come pretty close to the homemade stuff).

With high-quality ingredients and that bold barbecue-y taste you’re looking for, these are the best barbecue sauces you can find on the shelves.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Rufus Teague Touch O' Heat BBQ Sauce at Amazon

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Best for Ribs:

Stonewall Kitchen Baby Back Rib Sauce at Amazon

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Best Spicy:

Cowtown Night Of The Living BBQ Sauce at Amazon

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Best Gluten-Free:

Stubb's Original Legendary BBQ Sauce at Amazon

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Best for Chicken:

Heinz Carolina Vinegar Style Tangy BBQ Sauce at Amazon

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Best Carolina Gold:

Lillie’s Q Gold Barbecue Sauce at Amazon

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Best Honey:

Good & Gather Organic Honey BBQ Sauce at Target

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Best Organic:

Good Food For Good Organic BBQ Sauce at Amazon

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Amazon

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What We Like

Balance of sweet and heat
Gluten-free
No high-fructose corn syrup

What We Don't Like

A little acidic
Can be overly thick

The Rufus Teague Touch O’ Heat BBQ Sauce has all of the things that make barbecue sauce great: It’s thick with a little bit of smokiness and slightly sweet with just the right amount of heat without being overpowering. Reminiscent of its origin, the barbecue sauce is also unique in that it comes in a whiskey bottle.

A genuine Kansas City barbecue sauce, the Rufus Teague BBQ Sauce is good on just about everything, from ribs to chicken to pulled pork sandwiches. And it’s made with ingredients without any additives or high-fructose corn syrup.

Price at time of publish: $5

Weight: 16 ounces | Calories (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 70 | Type/Flavor Profile: Kansas City, smoky, sweet, a touch of spice

Amazon

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What We Like

Perfect for grilled meats
Smooth drippy texture
Sweetened with passionfruit juice

What We Don't Like

Pricey

If you’re looking for the perfect barbecue sauce for ribs, look no further than Stonewall Kitchen Baby Back Rib Sauce. This Memphis-style barbecue sauce is tangy with a little bit of sweetness, and it has a slightly thin texture that’s ideal for evenly coating your rack of ribs. That’s not all it’s good for, though. It’s also an excellent choice for marinating meats, adding to recipes, and dipping. While it does have some sugar, it’s also partly sweetened with passionfruit juice, which adds some beautiful tartness as well.

Price at time of publish: $9

Weight: 11 ounces | Calories (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 35 | Type/Flavor Profile: Memphis-style, tangy, sweet

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What We Like

Kick of spice
Goes well with everything
Award-winning

What We Don't Like

Tomato paste can be overwhelming

If you like your barbecue sauce with a little heat, the Cowtown Night Of The Living Bar-B-Q Sauce is the one for you. It has just the right amount of spice to leave a little bit of tingle on your lips and tongue, but not so much that you can’t fully immerse yourself in your meal. It could taste a little too heavy on the tomato for some, but sweet brown sugar and molasses balance the heat while adding some smokiness, too.

And there’s a reason it won the title of "The Best BBQ Sauce on the Planet" at the American Royal Barbecue Contest. This Kansas-style barbecue sauce goes great with meaty mains and barbecue side dishes.

Price at time of publish: $17

Weight: 18 ounces | Calories (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 50 | Type/Flavor Profile: Kansas-style, spicy, smoky

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Amazon

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What We Like

Sweet and tangy
Short ingredient list
Cost-effective

What We Don't Like

Thinner than others

Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce was born in 1968 when Stubb opened a Texas barbecue joint that was a hit among BBQ lovers everywhere. While it wasn’t bottled at the time, the made-from-scratch barbecue sauce perfectly blended tomato, vinegar, molasses, and black pepper to create a sweet and tangy topping for anything you could imagine.

Now, you can take it home with you, and this bottled version is inspired by the original recipe, with a short ingredient list that would make Stubb proud. Notably absent is wheat—so even those who eat gluten-free can enjoy this sauce. It pairs well with all types of meat, from ribs to homemade meatloaf, and won't break the bank.

Price at time of publish: $3

Weight: 18 ounces | Calories (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 30 | Type/Flavor Profile: Texas-born, tangy, sweet

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Heinz Carolina Vinegar Style Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce

Amazon

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What We Like

Balanced flavor
Versatile
Made with two types of vinegar

What We Don't Like

A little thin

When it comes to condiments, Heinz is already a household name. But the culinary giant also teamed up with Sam Jones—the heir to the legendary Skylight Inn BBQ in North Carolina—to create one of the best barbecue sauces around. This Carolina-style barbecue sauce is made with a mixture of white and apple cider vinegar, then blended with some sweetness and spices for a one-of-a-kind tangy flavor that’s great on any meat, including chicken, pork, and ribs. It is slightly thinner than other BBQ sauces out there but comes in a convenient squeeze bottle, so you can easily pinch out as much or as little as you want.

Price at time of publish: $3

Weight: 18.6 ounces | Calories (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 35 | Type/Flavor Profile: Carolina-style, tangy, sweet

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Amazon

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What We Like

Tangy and sweet
Versatile
Great for marinating

What We Don't Like

Can be a little too sweet

South Carolina is known for its gold barbecue sauce—a mustard-based condiment that has some tang, sweetness, and a lot of deliciousness. And Lillie’s Q, inspired by Grandma Lillie, a BBQ-enthusiast from the South, is one of the best there is. It has a distinctive, sweet, yet slightly spicy and tangy flavor that lends well to pork and chicken. For some who love traditional BBQ sauce, it may be too sweet, but it’s ideal for marinating, slathering, and dipping.

Price at time of publish: $8

Weight: 20 ounces | Calories (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 50 | Type/Flavor Profile: Carolina-style, sweet, spicy, tangy

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Target

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What We Like

Great for dipping
Organic
Smoky

What We Don't Like

Thin

There’s something about a really delicious honey barbecue sauce that makes you want to eat a plate full of chicken wings (and then lick your fingers after). And with the Good & Gather Organic Honey Barbecue Sauce, you can do that and a lot more. With the right balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky, it’s perfect as a dipping sauce, marinade, or glaze for meats and tofu—or anything you want. It’s sweetened with a combination of sugar, honey, and molasses, and as Target’s own brand, it’s budget-friendly but still has some organic ingredients. Although it is thin, it thickens up during the cooking process, but also can get some heftiness by adding some cornstarch into it.

Price at time of publish: $4

Weight: 19 ounces | Calories (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 45 | Type/Flavor Profile: Honey-based, sweet, tangy, smoky

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What We Like

Organic ingredients
No added sugar
Slight heat kick

What We Don't Like

A little thick

With simple organic ingredients, the Good Food for Good Classic BBQ Sauce proves that condiments don’t have to be complicated and unnatural to be delicious. This barbecue sauce is made with a base of apple cider vinegar and tomato paste and sweetened only with date paste, for a perfect balance of sweet and bold, without any added sugars. Thanks to spices and a little mustard, it has a slight kick, but it’s still family-friendly.

Price at time of publish: $7

Weight: 9.5 ounces | Calories (per 2 Tbsp. serving): 15 | Type/Flavor Profile: sweet, spicy

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Final Verdict

With the right balance of sweet and spicy, the Rufus Teague Touch O' Heat BBQ Sauce is our overall top pick. If you want something smooth and mild, Lillie’s Q Gold Barbecue Sauce is right up your alley.

What to Look for in a Barbecue Sauce

Flavor

There are four main types of barbecue sauce—tomato-based, vinegar-based, mustard-based, and mayonnaise-based (yes, really)—and they’re vastly different. Tomato-based sauces typically have a naturally sweeter taste, while vinegar- and mustard-based sauces are tangier and have more of a bite. Before choosing a barbecue sauce, figure out what kind of taste you want. It may change based on what you’re cooking. For example, you may prefer a tomato-based barbecue sauce for ribs but opt for a vinegar-based sauce on your pulled pork.

Texture

Another factor to consider is texture. If you want to coat chicken and ribs, you need a barbecue sauce that’s smooth and thick. However, if you prefer drizzling sauce on pulled pork sandwiches, you can go for something thinner.

Ingredients

It's always a good idea to look at the nutrition label when buying food of any kind, particularly if you have allergies or follow any specific diet. Some of the options on our list, for example, are gluten-free or organic, if either of those things are important to you. You can also find options with no added sugars.

FAQs

What is barbecue sauce made of?

There are so many barbecue sauces out there from which to choose, and the ingredients vary greatly based on the type of sauce and where it’s from. But there are some ingredients that are pretty classically in most barbecue sauces you’ll find. These include ingredients like: ketchup, vinegar, tomatoes, worcestershire sauce, salt/pepper, hot sauce, and sugar.

Is barbecue sauce vegan?

This entirely depends on the ingredient list. One somewhat common barbecue sauce ingredient, honey, is not vegan, so any sauce that contains that ingredient would not qualify. But there are plenty of barbecue sauces out there that use other sweeteners that should be vegan-friendly!

How long does barbecue sauce last?

According to foodsafety.gov, barbecue sauce can last 1 year unopened in the pantry, or 4 months once opened in the fridge.

Can you freeze barbecue sauce?

Yes, you can freeze barbecue sauce. Like anything you freeze, it’s best to label/date it before you put it in the freezer, so you can keep track of how long it’s been frozen. Also note that it’s always possible the quality may differ upon defrosting.

Does barbecue sauce need to be refrigerated?

From a food-safety standpoint, it’s not necessary, but to help maintain the quality, it’s best to keep it cold. According to foodsafety.gov, “Refrigeration ensures that commercial sauces and condiments stay fresh for a longer period of time. Shelf-stable commercial barbecue sauce is safe when stored at room temperature after opening. Quality, not safety, is the reason the labels on these products suggest that they be refrigerated after opening.”

How can you thicken barbecue sauce?

You can thicken your barbecue sauce the same way you’d thicken other dishes. One option is to reduce it–simply heating it up on the stovetop and simmering it so excess water evaporates and the sauce thickens. Alternatively, if you have cornstarch on hand, you can combine cornstarch and water to make a slurry, and add that to your sauce.

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best BBQ sauces on the market, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, thickness, and price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Lindsay Boyers is a certified holistic nutritionist with extensive nutrition knowledge and food and beverage-testing experience. She’s developed over 1,000 original recipes and is constantly on a mission to find the healthiest, best-tasting options and ingredients across all food and drink categories.

Amanda McDonald is an editor at The Spruce Eats and has over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food — from what new products are at the grocery store to chef-approved hacks that keep tricky leftovers fresh for days. She updated this article to include the most up-to-date information.

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Article Sources

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services FoodSafety.gov. Food Safety by Type of Food,