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Get out your sauce mops and fire up the grill (or grill pan, or broiler, whatever you can make work!). We’re talkin’ barbecue and slow-smoked burnt end goodness today — and we’re sayin’ it with a Southern accent (because I’m from Texas and have no choice in the matter).
Yeah, great barbecue takes a spell to cook, but one time-saving tip is to invest in the best store-bought barbecue sauces for homemade flavor you can’t shake a stick at. (OK, I’ll stop with the Texanisms now. Probably.)
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The sauces on this list represent the best of the best available at the grocery store and online, because let’s face it — if you’re going to be spending a ton of time cooking your meats, you don’t want to have to spend even more time making a sauce from scratch. We based our results on a combination of online reviews, input from our friends and personal preference. From tangy to sweet, mustard-based to hot n’ spicy, there’s a barbecue sauce here for everyone.
Kinder’s Barbecue Sauce
It can be puzzlingly difficult to find a store-bought barbecue sauce that doesn’t list high fructose corn syrup as one of the first ingredients, but Kinder’s hits the mark in that regard. Their Mild BBQ Sauce is sweetened with regular ol’ brown and white granulated sugar, and has a versatile sweet-tangy flavor.
Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce 2 Pack
Once you try Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce, you’ll never go back. It’s got teriyaki vibes, with a sweet and savory flavor that’s bolstered by aromatics like ginger, garlic, and green onion. We love it on grilled chicken, pork, and beef, but it’s also delicious as the base sauce for tofu veggie stir-fries. Try the Original flavor, but don’t miss the others, like the citrusy Yuzu or sweet Honey flavors.
Lillie’s Q Barbeque Sauce 2-Pack
Your slow-cooked ribs and tri-tip will get just the right amount of heat at the end from this smoky-sweet Memphis-style sauce. Get the two-pack – you’ll definitely end up using all of it.
Rufus Teague Honey Sweet Barbecue Sauce
The bold tang of this honeyed barbecue sauce is not too sweet and not too spicy.
Bone Suckin’ Sauce
Bone Suckin’ Sauce has a vinegary kick that makes it an ideal pairing for fattier cuts of meat. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free and non-GMO (also, it’s kosher), but it ain’t health food — the honey and molasses will keep you hooked if you like the sweet stuff.
Bootsies Delta Funk Hi-Tone White BBQ Sauce
Alabama white bbq sauce is usually used for chicken (or, you know, french fries or mozz sticks). But this tangy, creamy, spicy sauce is also great on turkey, pork, and even on top of burgers.
CaJohns Trinidad BBQ Sauce
This Trinidadian bbq sauce is not for the faint of heart. It’s made with scorpion peppers, which means it’s the spiciest sauce on this list. The fruity sweetness of the sauce balances it out, making for the complex flavor you’d hope for in a barbecue sauce.
Dreamland Bar-B-Que Sauce
Slather it on ribs and sop it up with a thick slice of white bread. This Tuscaloosa tradition is thin, sweet and vinegary — just like North Carolina intended.
Sonny’s BBQ Sweet Barbecue Sauce
Sonny’s brown sugar-sweetened sauce is a Southern favorite. Who knew Floridians had their own style of barbecue?
The Palmetto Sauce Company Congaree Gold Mustard Barbecue Sauce
Carolina-style mustard sauce is what you get when German settlers and a deep barbecue tradition combine to make culinary magic. It’s got a real kick and just a hint of sweetness, and tastes just as great on smoked and grilled meats as it does on soft pretzels.
Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce
Since 1968, Stubb’s has been a barbecue staple. It’s a balanced sweet and tangy Texas bbq sauce that’s got notes of tomato and molasses. This one earns a few bonus points because it’s also Ina Garten’s favorite.
In search of more summer recipes? Giada De Laurentiis has plenty:
Watch: How to Make Watermelon Mango Salsa
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