Straightforward Cajun BBQ Sauce Recipe

Cajun BBQ Sauce is a type of daring, zesty recipes that immediately perks up no matter you’re cooking. It’s smoky, tangy, just a little candy, and packs simply the correct quantity of warmth—principally, all the pieces you need in a Southern-inspired barbecue sauce.

In case you love Cajun seasoning, you’ll be throughout this. It’s a step up out of your commonplace BBQ sauce, with layers of taste from the smoked paprika, molasses, and a pinch of cayenne for that further kick. Excellent for brushing on grilled meats, hen wings, drizzling over burgers, or dunking your fries.

Better of all, it’s tremendous simple to make with pantry staples and comes collectively in nearly quarter-hour. When you attempt it, you won’t return to the store-bought stuff once more!

This has truly grow to be my absolute favourite BBQ sauce. I’ve tried so many over time—store-bought, selfmade, you title it—however this one hits all the suitable notes. I first made it on a whim for a batch of grilled hen thighs, and after one chew, I used to be hooked. Now I maintain a jar of it within the fridge always—it’s too good to not.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Huge, Daring Taste: This sauce brings the warmth and the depth, with smoky paprika, Cajun spices, and a contact of sweetness from brown sugar and molasses.
Fast and Straightforward: Prepared in about quarter-hour, it’s the form of recipe you’ll be able to whip up on a whim—no lengthy simmer instances or fancy elements required.
Customizable Warmth: Prefer it hotter? Add extra cayenne. Need it sweeter or tangier? Simply tweak the sugar or vinegar. It’s simple to make it your individual.
Versatile: Use it as a marinade, a glaze, a dip, or a selection. It’s scrumptious on grilled meats, burgers, sandwiches, and even as a dip for fries and nuggets.
Higher Than Retailer-Purchased: When you style this selfmade model, it’s arduous to return to bottled BBQ sauce. The flavour is more energizing, richer, and made simply the way in which you prefer it.

Elements

The complete printable recipe card with measurements and directions is discovered on the backside of the submit.

Ketchup: The bottom of the sauce, giving it that basic BBQ texture and a touch of sweetness. Use your favourite model for greatest outcomes.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Shake the bottle earlier than pouring to ensure it’s nicely combined.
Brown Sugar: Gentle brown sugar works greatest right here for a refined sweetness.
Gentle Molasses: Be sure you’re utilizing gentle or delicate molasses, not blackstrap, which could be bitter.
Worcestershire Sauce: A little bit goes a good distance in constructing that savory spine.
Cajun Seasoning: Select a store-bought mix or use selfmade if you wish to management the warmth and salt ranges.
Smoked Paprika: It’s price looking for out for those who don’t have already got it in your spice rack.
Garlic Powder: Brings a mellow, savory taste with out overpowering the sauce. Nice for fast sauces like this one.
Onion Powder: Rounds out the savory base and enhances the general taste of the sauce.
Cayenne Pepper: Brings the warmth! Begin with a pinch and alter to style relying on how spicy you prefer it.
Black Pepper: Freshly floor pepper provides the most effective taste.
Salt: Season to style on the finish after simmering—it helps keep away from over-salting, particularly in case your Cajun seasoning has salt in it.

The best way to Make Cajun BBQ Sauce

Step One: In a medium saucepan, mix all elements. Whisk till clean.
Step Two: Convey to a mild simmer over medium warmth.
Step Three: Scale back warmth to low. Cowl and prepare dinner for 10–12 minutes, stirring sometimes, till the sauce thickens barely.
Step 4: Style and alter seasonings—add extra vinegar for tang, or extra sugar for sweetness.
Step 5: Let cool barely, then switch to a jar or squeeze bottle. Refrigerate and use inside 2 weeks.

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What to Serve With It

This Cajun BBQ Sauce is severely versatile and provides a punch of taste to absolutely anything you place it on. Listed below are some tasty methods to make use of it:

Grilled Rooster or Ribs: Brush it on throughout the previous few minutes of grilling for a candy and spicy glaze that caramelizes fantastically.
Pulled Pork or Brisket Sandwiches: Drizzle it over slow-cooked meats for a daring, saucy end.
Burgers: Attempt swapping out your traditional condiments and spreading this sauce in your burger buns as an alternative. It’s particularly good with cheddar and crispy bacon.
French Fries or Onion Rings: Use it as a dipping sauce for a smoky, tangy twist in your favourite sides.
Meatloaf Glaze: Spoon it on high of meatloaf earlier than baking for a Cajun-inspired spin on a basic.
Grilled Shrimp or Fish: The spicy-sweet combo pairs surprisingly nicely with seafood.
BBQ Rooster Pizza: Use it as the bottom sauce for a selfmade pizza topped with shredded hen, purple onions, and mozzarella.

The recipe in a jar with a wooden spoon.

Variations and Substitutions

Modify the Warmth: Adore it spicy? Add extra cayenne pepper or a couple of dashes of scorching sauce. Want it milder? Use much less Cajun seasoning or skip the cayenne altogether.

Swap the Sweetener: No brown sugar readily available? You should utilize honey or maple syrup as an alternative. They’ll add a barely totally different sweetness, however nonetheless style nice.

Use a Completely different Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar provides a pleasant tang, however white vinegar and even purple wine vinegar will work in a pinch.

Attempt Selfmade Cajun Seasoning: If you wish to management the salt and spice ranges, make your individual mix.
Smoky Taste Increase: For further smokiness, stir in a tiny drop of liquid smoke. A little bit goes a good distance!
Thicker Sauce: Simmer it a bit longer uncovered for those who like a thicker, stickier sauce.
Make it Vegan: Most Worcestershire sauces include anchovies. Use a vegan model if you wish to maintain the sauce fully vegan.

Storage Directions

Let the Cajun BBQ Sauce cool fully earlier than transferring it to a clear jar, bottle, or hermetic container. Retailer it within the fridge, the place it’s going to maintain recent for as much as 2 weeks.

If you wish to make a giant batch, you may as well freeze it. Pour the cooled sauce right into a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag (depart just a little room for enlargement) and freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and provides it stir or shake earlier than utilizing.

Tip: Label the container with the date so that you don’t overlook whenever you made it!

Recipe Suggestions and Tips

Style as You Go: After the sauce has simmered, give it a style and alter. Add just a little extra sugar for sweetness, vinegar for tang, or cayenne for warmth, relying in your desire.
Simmer Gently: Don’t boil the sauce. A low, mild simmer helps the flavors meld with out burning the sugars.
Use Non-Reactive Cookware: Because the sauce comprises vinegar, prepare dinner it in a chrome steel or enamel-coated pan to keep away from any metallic style.
Double the Batch: This sauce disappears quick! It’s simple to double the recipe if you wish to maintain further within the fridge or freezer.
Let It Relaxation: The flavour will get even higher after sitting for a couple of hours. When you have time, make it forward so the spices have an opportunity to develop.
Shake Earlier than Utilizing: If saved in a jar or bottle, give it shake earlier than every use to redistribute any settled spices.

BBQ Sauce Recipes

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Cajun BBQ Sauce

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Prep Time 5 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 12 minutes

Complete Time 17 minutes

This daring and smoky Cajun BBQ Sauce is good, tangy, and full of spice. Straightforward to make in quarter-hour with easy pantry elements!

In a medium saucepan, mix all elements. Whisk till clean.
Convey to a mild simmer over medium warmth.
Scale back warmth to low. Cowl and prepare dinner for 10–12 minutes, stirring sometimes, till the sauce thickens barely.
Style and alter seasonings—add extra vinegar for tang, or extra sugar for sweetness.
Let cool barely, then switch to a jar or squeeze bottle.
Refrigerate and use inside 2 weeks.

Use this as a basting sauce throughout the previous few minutes of grilling.
For a deeper taste, let the sauce relaxation in a single day within the fridge earlier than utilizing.
Attempt it brushed on smoked ribs, grilled shrimp skewers, and even stirred into baked beans for a spicy twist.
Retailer within the fridge for as much as 2 weeks in an hermetic jar or container.
Freeze further sauce in a freezer-safe container for as much as 3 months. Thaw within the fridge and stir nicely earlier than utilizing.
Fancy molasses is gentle molasses in Canada.
Makes about 1¼ cups.

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The knowledge proven is an estimate offered by a web based diet calculator. It shouldn’t be thought-about an alternative choice to knowledgeable nutritionist’s recommendation.

Course Pantry

Delicacies American

Key phrase bbq sauce

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Straightforward Cajun BBQ Sauce Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Elements