I’m a big fan of anything that makes my life even just a little bit easier, and this semi-homemade BBQ brisket sauce is such a great life hack! Sure, it’s not the made-from-scratch kind of homemade, but this BBQ sauce is my own special recipe. It starts with my favorite bottled sauce, but it’s those extra little ingredients that make it perfect. The brown sugar adds a bit of sweetness, the red pepper adds a tiny bit of spice, and the Worcestershire sauce adds a bit of tanginess. Together, they create the perfect brisket sauce.

homemade BBQ sauce recipe

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This may not be a fully homemade BBQ sauce recipe, but I think it still counts if I make it my own. Sometimes I just feel like store-bought BBQ sauces are missing something, so why not just add in those extra flavors myself?

Starting with my personal favorite BBQ sauce, I just mixed in some Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and a couple of other special ingredients to get the exact flavor I wanted. I love using this as a brisket sauce because I think it just complements beef brisket so well.

What’s in This BBQ Brisket Sauce Recipe?

  • Brown Sugar: Dark brown sugar adds the perfect sweetness and depth of flavor. I love that caramelly molasses taste!
  • Mustard: Dijon mustard adds the perfect amount of tang to the sauce.
  • Ketchup: Adds classic tomato flavor to the sauce. I prefer Heinz, but any brand will work.
  • BBQ Sauce: Using jarred sauce is my quick hack for creating a rich and flavorful sauce with minimal work. I like Original Recipe KC Masterpiece or Original Blues Hog, but feel free to use your favorite.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Enhances the tangy and umami flavors of the sauce.
  • Nutmeg: Adds a touch of warmth to the sauce.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a little heat to the sauce!
a container of brisket sauce next to a bowl of pickles and a piece of brisket
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Tips for Success

  • I’ll be the first to admit that everyone’s tastes are different, so I recommend tasting the sauce often as you’re mixing it together and adjusting the sweetness/saltiness as you go.
  • I almost always double this recipe since I like a lot of sauce!

How to Store

Store leftover homemade BBQ brisket sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Stir well before using.

pouring bbq sauce over brisket

Serving Suggestions

This semi-homemade BBQ brisket sauce is good with so many recipes, but I especially love it with BBQ brisket. It’s the best brisket sauce and cooks into the beef so perfectly. I also often find myself using this recipe in place of BBQ sauce in tons of other dishes, too! I love it in my little smokies, crockpot spare ribs, and baked BBQ chicken breast! It just adds a little extra something.

5-Star Review

“This was perfect. Just cooked my first brisket and this sauce was exactly spot on what I was wanting.” -Michael

Recipe Card

BBQ Brisket Sauce

4.46 from 111 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 5
Author: Becky Hardin
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is the best BBQ sauce for brisket! It's so easy and so delicious. Make this amazing brisket sauce to cook with our BBQ beef brisket recipe. Or use it for any of your BBQ recipes!
This semi-homemade BBQ brisket sauce starts with bottled BBQ sauce but has tons of flavorful additions that make it so yummy!
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Ingredients 

  • ¾ cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 cup store-bought BBQ sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
  • teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Serve with BBQ Beef Brisket! (click for recipe!)

Instructions 

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often.
  • Allow to cool, and store in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator.
  • Enjoy!

Becky’s Tips

Yield: This recipe makes approx. 1⅔ cups of sauce. A serving is ⅓ cup.
Storage: Store BBQ brisket sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Serving: 0.33cupCalories: 249kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 1gFat: 0.4gSaturated Fat: 0.05gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 832mgPotassium: 249mgFiber: 1gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 267IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

More Sauce Recipes to Try!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.46 from 111 votes (106 ratings without comment)
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10 Comments
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Tammy
Tammy
November 1, 2023 11:02 am

I tried this for brisket and I didn’t have enough bbq sauce to add but it turned out delicious. Way better than I thought5 stars

Samantha Marceau
November 1, 2023 11:43 am
Reply to  Tammy

So happy to hear you loved it, Tammy!

Michael
Michael
July 16, 2023 5:18 pm

This was perfect. Just cooked my first brisket and this sauce was exactly spot on what I was wanting.5 stars

Annie
Annie
January 22, 2023 3:49 am

Great quick, easy sauce. Everything was in my cupboard. Added a great element to our Brisket.4 stars

16743807930608155788770589722602.jpg
Samantha Marceau
January 23, 2023 9:13 am
Reply to  Annie

I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Annie!

J
J
December 23, 2018 2:58 pm

Sounds and looks wonderful!
Curious what brand of stone where is that gravy bowl/pourer? Love it also! ????

Hugo Guessit
Hugo Guessit
December 1, 2018 11:06 am

This came out great! I skipped adding the ketchup and other stuff, though, and just doubled the amount of my favorite bbq sauce. It was Perfect. 2 cups of Sweet Baby Rays. My brisket was heavenly.5 stars

Pat McDaniel
Pat McDaniel
June 6, 2022 11:52 am
Reply to  Becky Hardin

They are cooking right now. I didn’t see a recipe for the rub. So I just did equal parts . Gosh I hope it’s good.3 stars