It’s time to do your best Santa Claus impression and check this list twice, because here are
the 10 Best Barbecue Sauces In The Grocery Store.
Stubbs Original Bar-B-Q Sauce
Chances are, you've probably seen a row or two of Stubbs barbecue sauce lining the shelves
of your local grocery store. And you might have also noticed that the row has gotten
wider over the years as Stubbs has continuously added new variations and flavors to their
sauce family. But for the sake of this list, we are going back to the original Stubbs Bar-B-Q
sauce. The one that started it all. And this one makes the top 10 for a few reasons. The
first is obviously, the taste. If you find that bottled sauces are usually a little too
much on the sweet side, this is definitely the bottle you should grab. They avoid the
sweetness and instead opt for a more tomato and vinegar flavor profile which hits your
palette right off the bat. And for those of you sensitive to heat, this original flavor
is not spicy. And while the taste is important, Stubbs also gains a few extra points for its
ingredients. They are able to achieve this good flavor without using any high fructose
corn syrup or any artificial ingredients in general. As people are becoming more conscious
of what they put in their bodies, with Stubbs Original Bar-B-Q sauce, you can feel good
about the ingredients used as you marinate that mouth-watering piece of meat. And if
you still want Stubbs but prefer your BBQ flavors in a sauceless form, the company also
produces some good dry rubs.
Rufus Teague Blazin’ Hot Sauce
While some of us are proud wimps when it comes to spicy foods, there are others who take
great pride in their love for the hot stuff. You know who they are. Those people who actually
do “put that stuff on everything.” For those folks, may we suggest Rufus Teague Blazin’
Hot Sauce? Getting its heat from chipotles and chili peppers, this Rufus Teague offering
provides a very nice balance of both heat and flavor. One frequent problem with many
hot sauces is that they forgo the flavor in order to smack you with the spicy. But not
here. In fact, while there is definitely a heat kick, it isn’t as hot as the “Blazin
hot” name might suggest. Meaning, even some of us who avoid spicy foods might enjoy this
sauce. Don't get us wrong, it is spicy, just not so much so that it'll melt your taste
buds. It's just the right amount. Rufus Teague’s sauces are typically well-balanced and non-destructive
to your health, so you should be good to go with this one! This is another company that
doesn’t use any artificial ingredients in the production of its product, which is something
everyone can feel good about. And if you want to try it but don’t want to get off your
couch and go to the store, you can find bottles of the stuff on Amazon and have them delivered
right to your door (maybe order a few steaks online as well).
Kingsford Original
If you’re thinking to yourself: "isn’t Kingsford the company that makes charcoal
for the BBQ?" Well, yes, they are. Not only do they make charcoal briquettes, but they
are the largest producer of the product in the country. So, while they may not be your
typical food producer, they definitely understand the world of barbecue. And while they’ve
been around for over 100 years, they didn’t decide to produce a BBQ sauce until just a
few years back, coming out with Kingsford Original in 2017. As you might have guessed,
given the history behind the company, they decided to go with a pretty traditional flavor
with their first BBQ sauce release - a classic smoked hickory sauce that works great as a
marinade as well. However, while they aren’t reinventing the wheel here, they are doing
classic flavors and doing them well. It’s nice to see such a big company also using
good ingredients. They use real hickory smoke and brown sugar to get the flavor they want
- whereas many other brands in the same price range use artificial flavors. That’s a big
difference and one that allows Kingsford Original BBQ sauce to stand out from the crowded mid-tier
range of sauces that fill grocery store shelves.
KC Masterpiece Original
As many of you know, BBQ is a very regional thing in the United States. From California
to Texas to Tenessee, every region has its own taste profile, style, and sauce type.
And one of the most popular around is the one from Kansas City. Known for its thicker
sauce, it's usually a tomato-based variety with a little sweetness to it. And it is in
that tradition that the KC Masterpiece Original lives. This is a mass-produced sauce that
you can probably find anywhere throughout the country. And while “mass-produced”
can often mean a lesser-quality, that sure isn’t the case here. The folks at KC Masterpiece
Original use quality ingredients and a kettle-cooking technique to produce a flavorful product.
It isn’t hard to see why this one is so popular with everyone who tries it. Baked,
broiled, or grilled, KC Masterpiece Original is a great choice for all of your meat cooking
needs. And it won’t break the bank either. That is one of the benefits of mass-production
- being able to offer the product at a lower cost to consumers. A good sauce at a good
price - what more could you ask for? So, if you haven’t yet tried this iconic brand…
What are you waiting for?
King’s Hawaiian Smoked Bacon BBQ Sauce
When it comes to the flavor of barbecue sauces, we usually discuss things in terms of sweetness
and/or the prevalence of vinegar. Those are two of the main aspects that tend to differentiate
one sauce from another. But with King’s Hawaiian Smoked Bacon BBQ Sauce, it's the
bacon that makes it stand out from the crowd. Yes, bacon. They say everything is better
with bacon and King’s Hawaiian took that to mean BBQ sauce as well. And who are we
to argue with that? Given how popular bacon is, it's more surprising to see how more BBQ
sauces haven't gone down this path yet, but nevertheless, we're more than happy that
King’s Hawaiian did. The strong pork flavor is definitely an original take and might catch
a few people off guard at first, but rest assured, it all ties together. Unless you
don’t like pork. Then maybe steer clear of this one. Otherwise, you definitely need
to give this sauce a try. When it comes to food, the term “Hawaiian” can be a little
controversial - as in Hawaiian Pizza and the belief, by some, that pineapple should never
be put on a pizza. And there might be some folks who feel that way about bacon in a BBQ
sauce. But if using bacon on, or in, anything is breaking the rules, then those are the
rules we want to break!
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Sensuous Slathering Sauce
While this one is a little harder to find in your everyday grocery store than many
of the others on this list, that doesn’t mean that - like the dinosaurs themselves
- it's gone extinct. You don’t need to go on an archeological dig to find it either,
just a search through the shelves of a few local grocery stores. And when you do come
across it, it is worth grabbing and putting in your cart because this is a yummy sauce
that is well worth the price. Plus, more good news: it's one of the least expensive bottles
of quality BBQ sauce out there. As for the flavor profile, this sauce is rocking some
of the lowest sugar of any other bottle on the list, and yet it still brings the perfect
amount of sweetness to the table - mostly from the use of ingredients such as bell peppers.
Add a little tangy and smokey, and your taste buds are going to be very happy. And so will
your meat as this sauce comes with a nice consistency that makes it ready to baste right
out of the bottle - no additives needed. And speaking of additives, the full list of ingredients
is a very natural friendly one - which, unlike many actual dinosaur names, you can actually
pronounce and recognize every ingredient! I mean, what is a Piatnitzkysaurus anyway?
Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce
This is another classic sauce that you should probably have no trouble finding at your local
grocery store. And while it may not be gourmet or produced in small batches in a hipster
smokehouse, there’s a reason that Sweet Baby Ray’s is so popular… Because it is
really good! It has a nice smokiness, great flavor, and the texture is just right for
all your BBQ needs. And the price point is great as well - whether you get it at the
grocery store, or on Amazon, at Walmart, etc., this sauce has a lot of fans. A quick online
search will get you multiple hits for homemade sauce recipes that claim to be “copycats”
and “just like” Sweet Baby Ray’s. You know something is good when people are trying
to come up with ways to make a knock-off. Show of hands, who here has tried at least
once to find a knock-off Big Mac Sauce recipe online? Exactly. And while Sweet Baby Ray's
original sauce is probably the most popular, the company has a whole line of sauces you
can try. Flavors like teriyaki, honey mustard dipping sauce, and even Buffalo Wing sauce
- which sounds like the perfect option for your next Super Bowl party. The stuff comes
in a squeeze bottle, and the packaging isn’t anything that stands out, so it could easily
get lost in the shuffle if you hadn’t tried it before. But don’t ignore it. Grab a bottle
on your next grocery run. You won’t be disappointed. And also, it's kinda fun to say “Sweet Baby
Ray’s.”
Bone Suckin’ Sauce
Not only is it a great BBQ sauce, but Bone Suckin’ Sauce is also a great name - albeit
ripe with double-entendre potential. We’ll keep things PG, though, as we tell you about
this yummy jar of awesome sauce. The sweetness level of a BBQ sauce is one of the most important
flavor factors that people consider. While some like a sweet sauce, there are others
who rail against it. It really depends on what region you are from and where your BBQ-allegiance
lies. We say all this because this Bone Suckin’ Sauce has definitely got a stronger sweetness
to it than most of the others on this list. In fact, we’ve seen it described as leaning
more towards a sweet and sour sauce in terms of its taste. And is that a bad thing? Let's
face it, Sweet and Sour sauce is pretty great! Now, take that sweet and sour profile and
throw in some nice hickory smoke, and you’ve got something kind of awesome - Bone Suckin’
goodness. For those used to a thicker, Kansas City-style sauce, this one might be a bit
on the liquid-y side, as far as its rib-sticking ability is concerned. But, if you're willing
to do a little cooking, a few minutes on the stove will be plenty enough to thicken it
right up and make it ready to slather all over your evening meal.
Jayone Korean Bulgogi & Kalbi
While the rest of the list focuses its attention on classic American BBQ, we couldn’t leave
out this delicious Korean style barbecue sauce. If you’ve never experienced a Korean BBQ,
then you need to get yourself to the closest restaurant and order up a few of their signature
dishes because it is a cuisine that you need to try. For those of you who have had the
pleasure and want to bring some of that flavor back home to your kitchen, a great option
is Jayone Korean Bulgogi & Kalbi. The sauce brings together a wonderful list of ingredients,
including the likes of brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, pepper, Asian pear, and sesame
oil. The sauce is a perfect combination of salty and sweet, and the thickness is perfect
for marinades or to brush it right onto your meat. This bottle is a must-have in your fridge
for those times you want to change things up and experience a different flavor profile.
It's the perfect way to bring the Korean restaurant experience to your dining room
table. Whether it's on beef or pork, this sauce is a tasty choice, but the real deal
would be to use it in some traditional Korean recipes, like bulgogi or kalbi, to get the
full experience. You could even throw it on some veggies if you’re feeling really
adventurous. BBQ sauce, of all kinds, isn’t just for meat anymore.
Drunk Fruit BBQ Sauce
Looking for something a little different from your regular BBQ sauce? Well, then you will
definitely want to get your hands on a bottle of Drunk Fruit BBQ Sauce. Instead of getting
sweetness from more typical ingredients like sugar, molasses, or honey, the Drunk Fruit
sauce uses, you guessed it, fruit! It might sound a little out of the ordinary, but, oh,
how it works. And in case you were wondering about the “drunk” part of the name…
each of the sauces also throws in a little bit of booze to complete the flavor profile.
The company produces three sauces: Bourbon Cherry, Blueberry Rum, and Peach Tequila.
All very distinct and all very delicious. You can taste each part of them - the fruit,
the liquor, and the BBQ sauce are all prominent and present. There are even tiny bits of pieces
of fruit that add a little something and are neither too sweet nor too savory - they're
just right. Trying all three is highly recommended. And while we know that this list is about “grocery
store” sauces, these bottles are currently only available online at UncommonGoods. But
we thought these were extra special to deserve mentioning anyway.
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