Hot Tomato Based BBQ Sauce Recipe

This Hot Tomato BBQ Sauce recipe combines rich tomato flavour, tangy cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, fresh lemon juice, apple sauce, dark brown sugar and hot sauce for a bold homemade barbecue sauce with plenty of character. Featured on License to Grill with Rob Rainford, this easy sauce is the perfect finishing touch for pulled pork, ribs, chicken, burgers and all your favourite grilled dishes.

The Inspiration

A great barbecue sauce is more than just a condiment—it is an important part of the grilling experience. For Rob Rainford and License to Grill, barbecue is about building layers of flavour and creating food that feels right at home around the grill. This Hot Tomato Based BBQ Sauce brings together several classic barbecue elements, balancing sweet, sour, savoury, smoky and spicy flavours in one versatile sauce.

The addition of hot sauce gives this BBQ sauce its signature kick, while a small amount of liquid smoke adds another layer of smoky flavour. The result is a sauce that tastes complex without requiring complicated preparation. Everything comes together in one saucepan, making it an easy homemade barbecue sauce for both casual weeknight meals and backyard grilling.

This recipe is especially fitting for the Baseball & Pulled Pork episode of License to Grill, where barbecue and outdoor entertaining come together. Whether it is spooned over tender pulled pork or brushed onto meat as it cooks, this sauce is designed to bring extra excitement to the grill.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons of vegetable oil – (45ml)
1 medium minced onion
4 cloves of minced garlic
½ cup of ketchup – (125nl)
½ cup of tomato sauce – (125ml)
1 cup of water – (250ml)
3 tablespoons of cider vinegar – (45ml)
3 tablespoons of Worcester sauce – (45ml)
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice – (30ml)
1 teaspoon of your favourite hot sauce – (5ml)
½ teaspoon of liquid smoke – (2.5ml)
½ cup of apple sauce – (125ml)
3 tablespoons of firmly packed dark brown sugar – (45ml)
3 teaspoons of dry mustard – (15ml)
½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper (2.5ml)
Salt – to taste

Method

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add onions, and garlic and sauté over low heat until soft and translucent.
Stir in ketchup, tomato sauce, water, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, hot sauce, liquid smoke, sugar, dry mustard, and black pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and low and simmer uncovered for approximately 15 minutes or until the sauce as thickened.
If the sauce becomes too thick add a tablespoon of water.
Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper, sugar and a splash of vinegar to taste. This sauce will keep for several weeks when covered tightly and stored in the refrigerator.

Serving Suggestions

For a backyard barbecue or game-day gathering, place the sauce in a serving bowl or squeeze bottle so guests can add as much as they like to their meal. It can also be served alongside grilled sausages, steak sandwiches or crispy fries for an easy and satisfying spread.

For pulled pork specifically, the sauce can be served either as a finishing sauce or alongside the meat at the table. This allows everyone to control how much BBQ flavour they want. Its tomato base and balanced acidity also make it a great choice for sandwiches, especially when paired with crunchy slaw for contrast.

The sauce is equally useful beyond traditional barbecue plates. Use it as a dipping sauce for grilled foods, spread it onto burgers and sandwiches, or serve it alongside roasted or grilled vegetables. Its combination of tomato, apple, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar and smoky flavour gives it enough versatility to work across a wide range of casual meals.

Final Thoughts

This Hot Tomato BBQ Sauce recipe is a bold celebration of everything that makes backyard barbecue so enjoyable. Its rich tomato base, tangy vinegar, savoury Worcestershire sauce, sweet apple sauce and dark brown sugar create a balanced foundation, while hot sauce and liquid smoke bring the heat and smoky character that make a great BBQ sauce stand out.

Find more recipes from License to Grill here!