I know I was just talking about the Smokin’ Stampede BBQ sauce I bought at Loblaws after being brainwashed by a Top Chef Canada episode, but did you know it is so easy to make your own barbecue sauce at home? I didn’t, until I saw my old friend Christine Cushing make some coffee barbecue sauce on her show way back in the early ’00s. 

I’ve moved on to this recipe from Barefoot Contessa (via Smitten Kitchen), and I’ve been making it for the past few summers. You can do so much with it too! I put a few packages of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in my slowcooker, poured on a bunch of the sauce, and let it cook for about 4 hours. Then I shredded the chicken and piled it on slider buns (more PC brainwashing), and in tacos with cheddar and caramelized balsamic red onions.

I brushed it on more chicken and stuck it under the broiler until it was bubbly and sticky for a few more guests at my new dining room table. This is the way you barbecue when you live in a condo 🙂 

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Source: Smitten Kitchen via Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup tomato paste (1 little can)

1/2 cup cidar vinegar

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup dijon mustard

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1 tbsp chili powder

1/2 tbsp cumin

pinch or two crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan on low heat, saute the onions and garlic in the vegetable oil for 10 to 15 minutes until softened. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer uncovered on low heat for 30 minutes. Store in the fridge. Makes about 3 cups.