Description
Sweet, smoky, rich, and loaded with irresistible bacon flavor! This Smoky Bacon BBQ Sauce combines crispy bacon, tangy ketchup, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, and smoky spices to create a thick, glossy sauce with an unforgettable sweet-and-savory taste. Every spoonful delivers a delicious smoky BBQ flavor with little bits of crispy bacon in every bite!
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 2–3 tbsp water, if needed
Instructions
- Cook the chopped bacon in a saucepan over medium heat until crispy and golden.
- Remove the bacon pieces and leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and Dijon mustard.
- Add smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- Stir everything together and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Cook over low heat for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and glossy.
- Stir the crispy bacon pieces back into the sauce.
- Add a little water if the sauce becomes too thick.
- Let cool slightly and transfer to a clean airtight glass jar.