Vegan BBQ Sauce

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5 from 1 vote

The BEST Vegan BBQ Sauce: sweet, tomato-y, tangy, and smoky! Save yourself the hassle of finding a good bottled vegan sauce and make it yourself. This sauce is ready in a few simple steps and is perfect for topping, drizzling, and dipping!

Prep Time5

Cook Time26

Total Time31

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings (makes about 1 cup)

Author: Jenné Claiborne

Equipment

immersion blender or high-speed blender

Ingredients

1 tbsp avocado oil or other neutral oil
1 medium yellow or Vidalia onion chopped (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic minced
1 1/2 tbsp smooth Dijon mustard
1 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp liquid smoke
1 1/2 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp soy sauce or low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tsp apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar

Instructions

Heat oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.
Add the onion and garlic to the pan. Sauté for 4-6 minutes, or until the onions turn translucent.
Add the Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, molasses, soy sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, and apple cider vinegar. Stir well to combine.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and cook the sauce for 20 minutes, or until thickened and a dark red color.
Using an immersion blender, purée the mixture until it becomes a thick sauce. You can also add the mixture to a high-speed blender. Remove the steam vent from the lid (covering it with a towel) to prevent splattering.
Use the BBQ sauce immediately as directed, or cool it to room temperature before refrigerating it in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Video

Notes

Storage Directions

Freezing: You can also freeze the cooled BBQ sauce. Transfer it to a freezer-safe container or silicone tray and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost the sauce overnight in the refrigerator or on the stovetop over low heat.

Jenné's Recipe Pro-Tips

Keep an eye on the pan. Don't step away from it for too long while sauteing and simmering. Stir the onions and garlic periodically to prevent burning and check the sauce as it simmers to gauge its progress or adjust the heat if needed.
How to know the sauce is ready. It will be ready after simmering for 20 minutes or when it has thickened and turned a deep red.
Blending options: Ensure smooth vegan barbecue sauce by blending it in the saucepan with an immersion blender. Don't have one? Carefully transfer the sauce to a high-speed blender to blend and vent, and then drape the lid with a clean cloth before blending to prevent messy and dangerous hot splatters.

Nutrition