For the best McDonald’s BBQ Sauce, look no further and stop right here. Today, I am going to share how to make the beloved McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce at home with your usual everyday kitchen ingredients. Made with easy ingredients and no hassle, it will be your go-to sauce from now on.
It all started when I was looking for a barbeque sauce at my home to make a recipe. But alas, it was not there, and I was too lazy to go to the store to get it. This is when I looked up easy ways to make barbeque sauce at home, and the recipe for McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce popped up. Knowing my cooking skills, I still wanted to give this sauce a try because it looked easy and indeed it was.
This sauce recipe does not call for too many attempts, and you can easily make it right away. Although McDonald’s has endless sauces, this is one of those recipes that is close to my heart because it is the first condiment recipe I learned from McDonald’s.
McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce has a cult-like following because people like to drizzle this sauce over anything. I guess they are not wrong for doing that because it tastes good with everything. McDonald’s barbeque sauce is loved because it has a smoky flavor with hints of tangy and sweet profile to it. This flavor makes it stand out, emerging victorious amongst other regular barbeque sauces.
I know seeing the name “McDonald’s” can be a bit overwhelming, but if I can make it successfully at home, then you can do it too. This recipe will also save you money and time, and you can make this in bulk as it stores for up to 3 months in a freezer.
So, I am sure you are all pumped up to give your regular sauces a break and try this McDonald’s Barbeque sauce out. If yes, start by gathering these three pieces of equipment first.
Equipment Required
- Saucepan: Since this is a cooking recipe, I am using my trusty saucepan to make this McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce at home.
- Spatula: For a nice stir in the pan I am using a spatula.
- Bowl: To keep all the ingredients ready, I have arranged them in a bowl.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: I also keep my measuring cups and spoons with me to be precise with the measurements.
McDonald’s BBQ Sauce Ingredients & Substitutions
Note: The ingredients in this recipe can serve up to 4 people. You can increase or decrease the quantities as required for more or fewer portions.
- 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil: You can also use vegetable oil for this recipe.
- 2 Teaspoon Tomato Paste: I am using store-bought tomato paste, but you can also make one fresh at home.
- ½ Teaspoon Chili Flakes: You can also use chili powder, paprika, or cayenne powder to spice it up.
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup: You can also use regular honey instead of corn syrup to add a hint of sweetness to your sauce. Avoid granular sugars like white sugar or brown sugar as it takes a longer time to melt and sweeteners are a priority when making BBQ sauce at home.
- 1 Teaspoon White Vinegar
- ½ Teaspoon Soy Sauce: If you don’t have soy sauce, then you can also use Worcestershire sauce for this recipe.
- ½ Teaspoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Corn Flour
Preparation & Cooking Time
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Minutes | 10 Minutes | 20 Minutes |
How To Make McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce At Home
Step 1
Combine all the ingredients together in a pan and let it simmer until it gets bubbly and thick.
Step 2
Allow it to cool down. Serve it cold with your favorite dishes.
Expert Tips That I Recommend
- Adding vinegar gives it that distinct McDonald’s BBQ Sauce taste like the original one. But avoid using white vinegar at all costs since it can alter the flavor a bit too much which will not be a replication of the OG McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce.
- While cooking is not a big deal for this recipe, cooling is. After you have heated it you need to make sure that it is completely cooled down to get the best of the flavours. I also like to refrigerate it for 2 hours as sauce recipes taste the best after they have been chilled.
- While making McDonald’s BBQ Sauce at home, slow and low should be followed. As high heat can ruin the tastes of the sauce and make it overcooked leading to an imbalance of flavours.
- Every time I make McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce I observe that the sauces taste a bit spicy and smells quite vinegary. But mark my words, your sauce is completely fine. Following the resting time, the flavours will be mild and mellow so it is not something you need to worry about.
FAQs on McDonald’s BBQ Sauce
Nutritional Information Per Serving
McDonald’s BBQ Sauce is one of my go-to sauces because it is healthy to consume. Being low in calories and fats, it can be enjoyed on an everyday basis on a balanced diet.
To give you a deeper insight, here is a nutritional chart on McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce:
| Calories | 55 Kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.2 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1 g |
| Sodium | 660 mg |
| Potassium | 59 mg |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| IU Vitamin A | 121 IU |
| Vitamin C | 1 mg |
| Calcium | 18 mg |
| Iron | 0.3 mg |
Some other good things about this sauce is that it is completely vegan, vegetarian, gluten free,diary free and keto. It is also soy and nut free. Hence people following those diets can have it without any restriction.
Recipe Variations For Different Diets
- Sugar Free Diet: Traditional McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce can turn out to be quite sugary. To make it sugar free go for tomato paste which has low or no sugar in it . Additionally you can use sweeteners and brown sugar to control the sugar level in this sauce.
Storing & Reheating This recipe
Storing
- Countertop: Once my McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce is ready, it is safe to sit on the countertop for 2 hours. But after this I store it in the fridge for safety purposes.
- Refrigeration: Whenever I am making McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce I make it in bulk so that I can have it throughout the week. If you have leftovers, then transfer it to an air tight ketchup bottle and store it for 2 weeks in the fridge.
- Freezing: To store McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce for an even longer duration of time you can also freeze it. To do this, transfer the leftovers to an air-tight freezer-friendly bag and store it for up to 6 months. Before consumption, I like to thaw it overnight.
Reheating
- Stovetop: Before serving my McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce, I like to reheat it on the stovetop. I gently pour the sauce on a skillet, give it a nice stir on medium heat for 1-2 minutes and serve it hot.
- Microwave: To heat it quickly and with ease, you can pour the leftovers into a microwave-friendly bowl and heat it for 10-20 seconds on medium heat. If you want to heat it further, then follow it up with a 10-second burst.
- Oven: If you are feeding a crowd and need to reheat a big bowl of McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce, then you can use your oven. For this start by transferring the barbeque sauce to an oven-friendly dish. Then add it to a preheated oven at 400 degrees F and heat it for 5 minutes. Once done, give it a nice stir to spread the heat through after which you can serve it and enjoy.
What To Serve With This Recipe
I never run out of ideas when it comes to serving McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce. A classic way of enjoying McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce is with BBQ Ribs and BBQ Chicken. If you are vegetarian then you can also use this sauce to make baked beans and take the flavors up a notch.
Having them with Fries, burgers, taco and burrito fillings is nothing new but did you know that you can also add it to your Apple Pie Pudding? Yes, add it to your pudding to enjoy a smoky and spicy twist.
If you are a salad person, then you can also use this instead of regular dressing to enjoy the smoky flavors in your Salads.
Of course, for meat lovers, the options remain endless as you can have this sauce with pork tenderloins, glazed Chicken Wings, ribeye steak, pork ribs, and pulled chicken. Another delicious way is to use it in potpie or one-pot recipes to amp up the flavor like nothing else.
Printable Version
McDonald’s BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
- 2 Teaspoon Tomato Paste
- ½ Teaspoon Chili Flakes
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Cup Water
- 2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
- 1 Teaspoon White Vinegar
- ½ Teaspoon Soy Sauce
- ½ Teaspoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Corn Flour
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Spatula
- Bowl
- Measuring Cups And Spoons
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients together in a pan and let it simmer until it gets bubbly and thick.
- Allow it to cool down. Serve it cold with your favorite dishes.
Notes
- Adding vinegar gives it that distinct McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce taste like the original one. But avoid using white vinegar at all costs since it can alter the flavor a bit too much which will not be a replication of the OG McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce.
- While cooking is not a big deal for this recipe, cooling is. After you have heated it you need to make sure that it is completely cooled down to get the best of the flavours. I also like to refrigerate it for 2 hours as sauce recipes taste the best after they have been chilled.
- While making McDonald’s Barbeque sauce at home, slow and low should be followed. As high heat can ruin the tastes of the sauce and make it overcooked leading to an imbalance of flavours.
- Every time I make McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce I observe that the sauces taste a bit spicy and smells quite vinegary. But mark my words, your sauce is completely fine. Following the resting time, the flavours will be mild and mellow so it is not something you need to worry about.
- If you are a fan of spicy McDonald’s Barbeque Sauce then you can add chopped kimchi, paprika, jalapenos and even bacon bits to it.
- If your sauce tastes too acidic, then you can balance it with a pinch of baking soda.
- For extra flavour, you can replace part of the water with chicken or vegetable stock
- I like my McDonald’s Barbeque sauce to have a smooth texture and for that I like to strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer after it is cooked.
Nutrition
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Conclusion
Idle for dipping French fries or pouring it over steaks and burgers, this McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce is one that is a definite yes for everyone. Being slightly tangy, sweet, and spicy, this sauce has everything you can dream of.
This recipe is not only speedy but it is also a great way to personalize bland foods and enjoy them right away. It is spicy, comforting, tangy, and a big bowl of flavors that complements any dish.
While every household has their favorite tomato ketchup at their home, this McDonald’s Barbecue Sauce is ideal in my household. I can never get enough of it, and I can proudly say that I have never tasted anything bad whenever I add this sauce to it. So give it a try, and let me know in the comments how it turned out!
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