So, you are probably wondering how to thicken BBQ sauce. Well, it is one of the most renowned cooking sauces currently used today. Which I think is strongly down to the great taste it has. It adds a certain kick to any meat, vegetables and even soups!
There are a number of different flavors and types available, but the base of the flavor always remains the same. When it becomes too thin it can ruin the taste and will just slide right off your beautifully cooked steak. That’s why you want a thicker BBQ sauce that will stay put and increase your flavor hugely.
So of course, we hear you and that’s how you like your sauce.
That’s why below I have put together some simple and easy methods on how to thicken bbq sauce in no time!
PS: All the methods mentioned within this article are for BBQ sauce, but some of the methods can be used to thicken up similar sauces.
Contents
The Simplest Way On How To Thicken BBQ Sauce
We will start with one of the easiest ways of how to thicken bbq sauce.
With this first method being one of the quickest and simplest within this article.
Whether you have purchased your BBQ sauce from the store or you have made it at home.
Sometimes, it is simply above removing ingredients rather than adding in a thickening agent or further ingredients.
So what is this method you must be thinking? Well it is by simply removing an excess water and liquid from the sauce, which has been added in the creation of it. This will help to make the sauce less runny.
The best way to do this is to pour in the desired amount in a pan. Simmer the sauce on a low heat until you can see that the liquids are beginning to evaporate. This becomes almost magic as the sauce thickens without you really being required to do much. Also, no need for ingredients, mess or fuss.
Quickest Way On How To Thicken BBQ Sauce
We all know that sometimes you just don’t have the time to wait for your sauce to simmer, then this method is definitely for you.
This method will take you no time and will help you get your BBQ sauce thickened fast! It also helps to keep the flavor of your sauce consistent even after thickening. It will definitely be your favorite method. So what is this thickening agent? You can either use flour or corn starch.
Using Flour To Thicken Your Barbecue Sauce
Below you will find the necessary ingredients and steps in order to use flour to thicken your sauce:
You Will Need
Flour-Based Thickening (Used To Thicken bbq sauce [1 Cup])
- 2 TBSP Of Flour
- Quarter Cup Of Water
When using flour as your thickening agent, it is important to make sure that you have the correct ratio. First mix your flour and water together, making sure that you have no lumps. Then simply add this to your barbecue sauce mixture.
Make sure that you are using the ratio of 1 cup of sauce per the amounts mentioned above.
Using Corn Starch To Increase The Thickness Of Your BBQ Sauce
When it comes to corn starch being used to thicken, it is almost similar to the method of using flour. In essence the preparation process is exactly the same but the ingredients are different.
You Will Need
Corn starch thickener (Use with 1 cup of topping BBQ Sauce)
- 1 TBSP Corn Starch
- 1 TBSP Water
Mixing the corn starch with the water is the same as the method before. Ensuring that you mix well to make sure there are no lumps in the mixture. Once you have made sure that there isn’t any lumps add it into your sauce mixture.
All of the above methods are considered for beginners and they are easy to use, with great results! They are great to give those sauces with great flavor, a nice thick feel without ruining the flavor.
If you looking for methods that will improve the base flavor as well as increase the thickness of your sauce then the below methods will be more up your alley.
How To Thicken BBQ Sauce With Tastier Methods
There are plenty of options out there to thicken and increase the taste of your barbecue sauce.
Tasty thickeners are definitely one way to add a ton of flavor whilst increase the overall thickness of your topping sauce. This doesn’t mean that are going to change the overall taste hugely of the BBQ sauce recipes. But the thickening ingredients listed are some of the most delicious and creamy texture to add into your sauce.
Tasty Tasty Thickeners
Butter
Butter is always a great addition to any meal. Margarine is not a great choice, as it doesn’t have the same integrity as butter. With a balance of water and fat to create a creamy consistency, butter really is in a league of its own. You can always use a mixture of butter and flour to give added thickness to your sauce.
Heavy Cream
Heavy cream is a thick and creamy addition to your sauce. Whether you have it made from cow’s milk, natural sources or goat’s milk. You can be sure that you sauce will have a great richness and will definitely help to thicken bbq sauce. Simply add it into your sauce mixture and allow to simmer, this will thicken the sauce. Then remove from the heat once the desired thickness has been achieved.
Coconut Cream Or Oil
An unlikely choice, Coconut cream or oil can be a great ingredient to add into your barbecue sauce. Just make sure to add a little at a time to get the right consistency and flavor. You don’t want to ruin the base flavor of your barbecue sauce by adding too much all at once.
These ingredients are some of the best and most delicious thickeners that you can add into your sauce to make it thicker. But, ensuring that your BBQ sauce has the greatest flavor is always the best.
Adding any type of oil or cream does increase the overall calories to the sauce. It is important to make sure that you know this if you are following a particular diet.
How To Thicken BBQ Sauce With Fiber
Everyone knows that adding fiber to anything bulks it up. It is great at adding bulk into your barbecue sauce.
Now I am not talking about the grain type fiber, I am talking about pureed.
Adding in your selected vegetables, fruits to your mixture is definitely down to preference. You can choose your favorite and place it in. Not only do they help to thicken up bbq sauce, but it also adds in extra nutrition.
Some Options To Consider
- Red potatoes can add a creamy texture to your sauce, whether you puree them or mash them up.
- Fresh tomatoes will have a great taste as well as being a great thickening agent. Puree your tomatoes to give the best smooth barbecue mixture.
- If you want to use potatoes, I recommend going with baking potatoes which will help to thicken and give a grainy texture.
- Both eggplant and peppers once pureed together will give an unbelievable taste. Be careful when adding these in as you don’t want to make your sauce too bitter. A little of these is better than a lot.
Nearly every vegetable can be pureed to increase your sauces thickness. If you think that the vegetable puree is too thick, then you can always add small amounts of water to decrease the thickness before adding into your mixture.
All of the above can be added into your BBQ sauce to thicken it. Always make sure to add in small amounts first as you can always put more in if necessary.
If you’ve used all the methods above and are still not happy with the outcome. Then I can highly recommend creating your sauce from scratch with the recipe down below.
Required Ingredients
- 1 Can Tomato Paste
- 1 Can Beef Broth
- Half A Cup Of Molasses
- Quarter Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- Quarter Cup Mustard
- 1 TBSP Liquid Smoke
- 1 TBSP Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 TBSP Soy Sauce
- 2 TBSP Sugar
- 1 Beef Bouillon Cube
- 2 TSP Garlic Powder
- 1 TSP Thyme
- 1 TSP Sage
- 1 TSP Salt
- Half TSP Black Pepper
- Half TSP Ground Red Pepper
- 2 TBSP Minced Dried Onion
- 1 TSP Paprika
- 1 TSP Parsley
- 1 TSP Seasoning Salt
- 1 Bay Leaf
Directions
Place all of the ingredients listed above into the pot in the order they appear. Make sure you stir with a whisk to blend them together. Slowly bring to a simmer and allow it to do so for around an hour and a half. Keep a close eye on it so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. A slow cooker would be ideal as it would allow for a slow cooking process. I would suggest serving the sauce warm as it is a really thick sauce.
Tasting can take place at any time but I wouldn’t suggest making any adjustments until at least an hour of simmering has happened. This will have allowed for all the flavors to blend together, which will allow for a more precise flavor than after 5 minutes.
If the sauce isn’t sweet enough then consider adding in some more sugar. If the sauce is too thick, then you can add in some more broth, water or beer. If you don’t want small chunks of onion, then you can exchange the onion out for a teaspoon of onion powder.
The recipe can be doubled or even tripled if you are wanting a bigger batch. It can last a long time if kept in the fridge too.
Recipe By Chipfo from Genius Kitchen.
To Conclude
This article is all about how to thicken bbq sauce and it is definitely a great guide for anyone looking to do so.
I think once you have tried out some of the methods above, you won’t see BBQ sauce in any other light again. You will master the art of thickening any kind of barbecue sauce.
You can try to mess around with your own ingredients and I would be excited to hear about your results.
I wish you the best of luck in thickening your sauces, and I look forward to hearing how you get on.
If you want to see more How To’s check out our other posts.
