Backyard BBQ
9 BBQ Sauce Brands Ready for Chicken, Ribs, Tofu, You Name It
Food writers and chefs tell us about their can't-miss picks to slather all summer long.
Nothing gets me craving sticky barbecue sauce-coated chicken thighs or pulled pork like a warm evening. There’s just something about the heat—maybe it’s the near-constant earthy aroma of other grills at work—that screams "slather everything in barbecue sauce"! Apparently, other food writers and chefs think so too, so I asked some to tell me about their favorites. Whether you’re into a vinegar- or mustard-forward, tomato- or mayonnaise-based sauce, you’re bound to find a new favorite in this list.
Here are 9 killer barbecue sauces, recommended by food writers and chefs.
1. Cattlemen's Carolina Tangy Gold BBQ Sauce
“Our family was introduced to Carolina Tangy Gold BBQ Sauce several years ago by one of our neighbors who was originally from South Carolina. And it has been a staple in our house ever since. There’s just something about that sweet mustardy tang that we just love.” —Michelle Braxton, recipe developer and blogger at Supper with Michelle
2. Stubb's Smokey Mesquite Bar-B-Q Sauce
“I’m pretty partial to the Stubb’s Mesquite Bar-B-Q Sauce. I’ve tried other brands but nothing beats the smokey-tangy-sweet balance of Stubb’s.” —Amelia Rampe, food stylist and Studio Food Editor at the Kitchn
3. Dreamland Barbecue
“I'm from Alabama, and the barbecue style there is something of a hybrid. You can find both the tomato-based Memphis-style sauces and the more mustard-forward Carolinas one. My favorite sauce—the one that reminds me of home and instantly transforms a pile of pulled pork—is Dreamland barbecue sauce, from a mini chain of pits started in Tuscaloosa.
"It has a good balance of vinegar, heat, and the umami from the tomatoes, and it isn't as sweet as many of the sauces I've tried from the grocery stores up north. it's popular enough that you can grab 32-ounce jars of it once you pass airport security in Birmingham, which I do when I have the chance, but barring that, you can order it from Dreamland's website or at a considerable mark-up from Amazon." —Margaret Eby, Senior Editor, Food & Wine
4. Big Bob Gibson White Sauce
“My other favorite barbecue sauce more unique to Alabama is Big Bob Gibson white sauce, a mayonnaise-based concoction that's particularly great on grilled or roasted chicken. It has this wonderful creamy-tangy-sweet-garlic thing going on, and it's also very versatile. You can thin it out to use as a salad dressing with excellent results.” —Margaret Eby
5. Bachan's the Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce
“I've been pretty obsessed with Bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce. It's made with soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, and other spices making it the perfect meld of sweet, savory, and tangy. I love using it as a glaze on ground chicken meatballs under the broiler, immediate flavor boost. The origin story of Bachan's is also very touching, the sauce was created by Justin Gill in honor of his Japanese-American grandmother ("bachan" means "granny" in Japanese), and her prized recipe that has been passed down in his family for years.” —Noreen Wasti, recipe developer and food stylist
6. Jones Bar-B-Q Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce
“Truthfully I’m not a huge barbecue sauce person, but I would happily douse any protein with this sauce. So tangy and delicious. It’s great as a marinade too when I’m not feeling super creative!” —Sara Tane, food editor and private chef
7. Bone Suckin’ Sauce
“My dad makes the absolute best ribs. Like, so good that recently a vegetarian friend had to make an exception to try one. Needless to say they involve a top secret recipe, but the part I can share is our favorite barbecue sauce: Bone Suckin' Sauce. The perfect balance and sugar and vinegar, both the sauce and dry rub are fundamental to a good rack of ribs.” —Courtney Kassel, food writer
8. Richard's Vermont Made
“I always grab a bottle of Richard’s Vermont Made Barbecue Sauces when I’m in search of barbecue sauce. The hot version is my favorite—properly spicy, balanced, and not too sweet. —Christine Clark, writer, cheese educator, and co-host of “Is This a Brie” podcast
9. We Rub You
“An unexpected but then totally obvious brand I love is We Rub You, the Korean BBQ brand with a few different flavors and a great price point. My favorite is the Original Korean BBQ Sauce flavor that has great umami from the ginger and sesame, and still has the sweetness, kick and tang you want in a sauce. I love it over fish, juicy charred chicken, and steaks!” —Fatima Khawaja, freelance chef
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Written by: Rebecca Firkser
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3 Comments
He says that Gertie's has a perfect smooth balance of sweetness, tang and heat. I have to agree 100 percent with him.
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