Texas-Style Barbecue Sauce 
(American Tex-Mex mopping and grilling sauce)

Written by on in Recipe
The Salt Lick barbecue in Driftwood, Texas
Image by Meat!

Texas-style barbecue sauce differs substantially from its cousin to the north in Kansas City. It’s thinner — almost soupy — less sweet and has only a touch of tomatoes or ketchup (sometimes none).

Use the sauce as a mop while your beef brisket is barbecuing. Pour it over shredded roast pork to moisten and flavor it. Or pass it warm at the table for dipping or pouring.

Texas-Style Barbecue Sauce
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Texas-Style Barbecue Sauce

Course: Condiments, SaucesCuisine: United States, Tex-Mex
Makes about

3

cups

Texas-style barbecue sauce differs substantially from its cousin to the north in Kansas City. It’s thinner — almost soupy — less sweet and has only a touch of tomatoes or ketchup.

Ingredients

  • Oil — 3 tablespoons

  • Onion, finely chopped — 1

  • Garlic, minced — 2 to 4 cloves

  • Chili powder — 2 tablespoons

  • Chicken stock, beef stock or beer — 2 cups

  • Ketchup or crushed tomatoes — 1/2 cup

  • White or cider vinegar — 1/3 cup

  • Brown sugar or molasses — 1/4 cup

  • Worcestershire sauce — 2 tablespoons

  • Dry mustard — 2 teaspoons

  • Salt and pepper — to taste

Directions

  • Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium flame. Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent and just starting to turn golden, 4 or 5 minutes. Stir in the chili powder and cook for another minute or so.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer slowly for at least 30 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool. Put the sauce in a blender and puree. Adjust seasoning and serve warm or store refrigerated for up to a month.

Texas-Style BBQ Sauce Notes and Variations

  • Substitute some of the stock or beer with strong coffee. Add any beef drippings or trimmings to the pot while it simmers.
  • Crank up the heat by adding a couple good dashes of Tabasco sauce or some dried chile peppers (ancho, pasilla, guajillo, etc.), hot chile flakes, cayenne pepper, chopped habaneros or canned chipotles.

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