Sweet Vegan BBQ Sauce

Name: Sweet Vegan BBQ Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces tomato sauce (equal to 1 and 1/2 cups, see note #1); 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/4 cup molasses; 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1 and 1/2 tablespoons whole seed mustard (see note #2); 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce; 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (optional); 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; salt (to taste)

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This sweet vegan BBQ sauce is ready in just 15 minutes! It's made without ketchup and is really easy to customize. And it tastes better than storebought!

Silver spoon dripping BBQ sauce into jar of sauce

A lot of barbecue sauces are actually already vegan and vegetarian, but sometimes they aren't. And if you know me, you know that I love making condiments from scratch because it allows more control over flavor, salt, and sugar content!

A lot of storebought BBQ sauces have high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient. If that matters to you, then you'll be happy to hear that making BBQ sauce at home is really easy.

All you have to do is stir together a handful of pantry staples and simmer them on the stovetop. Use this BBQ sauce on BBQ tofu, BBQ portobello tacos, and even pulled jackfruit sandwiches.

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Recipe features

Quick & easy: Vegan BBQ sauce takes just 15 minutes to make using mostly pantry staples.
Flavor: Inspired by sweet brown sugar barbecue sauces like Sweet Baby Ray's.
Versatile: This recipe is easy to customize and make your own.
Dietary features: vegan, vegetarian, nut-free, oil-free, soy-free, gluten-free (just double-check the Worcestershire sauce!)

Ingredients and substitutions

Labeled ingredients used to make BBQ sauce.

Worcestershire sauce traditionally contains anchovies but store brand Worcestershire sauce is often accidentally vegan/anchovy-free. This ingredient adds savory depth and is useful in lentil loaf, vegan jambalaya, and a lot of other plant-based recipes.
Tomato sauce is the rich, tomato-y base of this sauce. Choose plain canned tomato sauce, not the kind with Italian herbs or other spices added.
Mustard: I love using whole seed mustard for extra depth. You can use ground mustard or spicy brown mustard but it will slightly alter the flavor.
Brown sugar and molasses make this a very sweet sauce. You can adjust amounts to taste. Choose regular molasses, not blackstrap molasses.
Onion and garlic powder: Fresh onion and garlic are not recommended in this BBQ sauce.

Step by step instructions

Making vegan barbecue sauce is as easy as stirring and simmering.

Add all ingredients to a small saucepot. Bring to a rapid simmer over medium-high heat.
Once simmering, reduce to a slow simmer over medium-low heat. Simmer uncovered until sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon without sliding off.

The longer the sauce simmers, the thicker it becomes. Note that the BBQ sauce also thickens slightly as it cools.

Expert tip: To avoid burning the BBQ sauce, stir it every 1-2 minutes while it is simmering. Scrape down the sides of the pot with a spatula as needed.

Variations and tips

Spicy BBQ sauce: Make it spicy by adding 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes or 1-2 teaspoons of hot sauce.
Sweetness: This is a very sweet barbecue sauce. I recommend decreasing brown sugar before decreasing the molasses because molasses contributes a lot of flavor.
To make it smoky: Add ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke.
To make this BBQ sauce gluten-free just check the Worcestershire sauce. Sometimes Worcestershire sauce is already gluten-free. When in doubt, double-check the label.
Serving ideas: I use this sauce for my baked BBQ tofu, BBQ jackfruit tacos, portobello tacos, and baked beans. It is great on pizza or as a dipping sauce with air fryer tofu, tofu nuggets, or on a black bean burger.
Check out my "BBQ Jackfruit 2 Ways" video on YouTube to see my favorite way to use this sauce!

Recipe FAQ

Why won't my sauce thicken?

Always simmer the sauce uncovered to allow the liquid to evaporate. You may need to bump up the heat a little bit, but be careful not to burn the sauce. There should be bubbles constantly forming and popping. When in doubt, just keep simmering and eventually the sauce will thicken. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Can I use ketchup instead of tomato sauce?

I used to use ketchup in BBQ sauce but now I prefer tomato sauce. Ketchup will make a thicker sauce from the get-go but tomato sauce is a more neutral ingredient. That being said, you can use an equal amount of ketchup in place of tomato sauce for a thicker BBQ sauce. Some ketchup uses high fructose corn syrup, so check the ingredient label if that matters to you.

How to store

Leftovers: BBQ sauce keeps for about a week in the fridge. Technically it could last longer, but I recommend capping it at a week for food-safety reasons.
Freezing instructions: BBQ sauce freezes well. Transfer cooled sauce to a room temp container. I like using Ball jars. Make sure to leave at least ½ inch at the top. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the fridge when ready to use.

Side view of jam jar filled with BBQ sauce on a red checked cloth

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Note: This post was originally shared on May 20th, 2018. It was updated on March 23rd, 2021 with a video and tips. The recipe remains the same except ketchup was replaced with tomato sauce.