Top 10 Best BBQ Sauces, According to Pro Taste Testers

Regarding barbecue, the sauce can make or break your dish. With a myriad of options ranging from sweet and tangy to spicy and smoky, finding the perfect BBQ sauce can be a daunting task.

However, professional taste testers have weighed in, and we’ve compiled a list of the top BBQ sauces that promise to elevate your grilling game. Here’s what the pros recommend.

Sweet Baby Ray’s Original

A Crowd Favorite

Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce is a staple in many households for a reason. Its thick consistency clings well to meat, and its sweet, tangy flavor profile with a hint of smokiness makes it versatile for various dishes. It’s especially favored for its balance of sweetness and vinegar tang, making it a hit among those who prefer a classic BBQ taste.

Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce

Texas Tradition

Hailing from Texas, Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce brings a piece of Texan BBQ tradition to your table. Its thinner consistency is paired with a robust blend of tomato, vinegar, molasses, and black pepper, offering a tangy and slightly spicy flavor. It’s an excellent choice for those looking to add a genuine smoky flavor without overwhelming sweetness.

Kansas City’s Cowtown BBQ Sauce

The Flavor of Kansas City

Kansas City is renowned for its BBQ, and Cowtown BBQ Sauce captures the essence of the city’s rich BBQ culture. This sauce combines a perfect mix of sweet and tangy with a subtle smoky flavor, embodying the heart and soul of Kansas City BBQ. Its smooth, rich texture makes it an excellent choice for basting or serving as a dipping sauce.

Bone Suckin’ Sauce

A Unique Blend

Bone Suckin’ Sauce stands out for its unique blend of honey, molasses, and mustard, creating a distinct flavor that’s sweet and tangy with a slight heat finish. Its thin consistency makes it perfect for marinating or glazing, and it’s trendy among those who enjoy a natural, preservative-free option.

Jack Daniel’s Original No. 7 Recipe

Whiskey-Infused Flavor

Infused with the iconic flavor of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, this sauce adds a distinctive, rich flavor to your BBQ. The blend of sweet and spicy, complemented by the subtle whiskey notes, offers a gourmet experience for those looking to elevate their BBQ dishes with a sophisticated touch.

Bull’s-Eye Original BBQ Sauce

Bold and Robust

Bull’s-Eye Original BBQ Sauce is known for its bold, robust flavor, thanks to a hearty blend of spices and a balanced sweetness and acidity. It’s particularly favored by those who enjoy a thicker, more flavorful sauce that stands up well to grilling and smoking.

Sweet N Spicy Barbecue Sauce

Best of Both Worlds

This sauce offers the perfect compromise for those who need help deciding between sweet or spicy. It starts with a sweet, molasses-based flavor that gradually gives way to a spicy kick, making it ideal for anyone looking to add excitement to their BBQ dishes.

The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint Spicy Mustard

Southern Charm

Adding a dash of Southern flair to your barbecue, the spicy mustard-based sauce from The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint delivers a zesty, fiery taste which sets it apart from traditional BBQ sauces. Perfect for those who favor the tanginess of vinegar and mustard rather than sweetness, this sauce brings a unique twist to your BBQ experience.

Trader Joe’s Carolina Gold Barbecue Sauce

A Golden Choice

Inspired by South Carolina’s mustard-based BBQ tradition, Trader Joe’s Carolina Gold Barbecue Sauce shines with its tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor. Its golden hue and unique taste make it a favorite among those seeking something different from the traditional tomato-based sauces.

Lillie’s Q Smoky BBQ Sauce

Artisanal Appeal

For an artisanal BBQ experience, Lillie’s Q Smoky BBQ Sauce offers a complex blend of sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors designed to mimic the taste of Chicago-style BBQ. Made with all-natural ingredients, this sauce appeals to those looking for a gourmet, handcrafted option to complement their dishes.

These BBQ sauces bring something unique, catering to various tastes and preferences. Whether you prefer your sauce sweet, spicy, tangy, or smoky, something on this list will surely enhance your next BBQ experience. Remember, the best BBQ sauce is the one that suits your taste, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find your perfect match.