Buying over the counter bbq sauces adds a lot of taste to your barbecue if you go for the right one. Unfortunately, not every bbq sauce brand offers quality. The fact is, some do not taste nice at all. And even if you are lucky to find a good sauce for your barbecue, the flavor may not suit your taste.
The challenge you are now faced with is how to find a food bbq sauce brand that offers you a great taste and good quality. If you are having trouble deciding which bbq sauce brand to buy from among the wide range of brands available, you need help. Fortunately for you, we have arranged a loaded review of bbq sauces you will enjoy.
Best BBQ Sauce Brands
| Image | Best BBQ Sauce Brands | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Original BBQ Sauce | 99% |
 | 2. Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce | 96% |
 | 3. Gates Original Classic Bar-B-Q Sauce | 92% |
 | 4. G Hughes Original Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce | 89% |
 | 5. Blue Hog Original BBQ Sauce | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our reviews of the bbq sauce brands.
1. Jack Daniel’s Old No.7 Original BBQ Sauce
Jack Daniel’s bbq sauce is one of the best bbq sauce brands in the market with an amazing reputation for quality. Jack Daniel’s is free of preservatives found in other bbq sauces as every ingredient is sourced from natural ingredients. This sauce tastes great and adds tremendous value to your barbecue. Besides lacking in preservatives, it is also fructose-free as it does not contain corn syrup or high fructose corn.
If you go for this bbq sauce, you are guaranteed a great and authentic mixture of flavors synonymous with the age-long kettle cooking process. With an excellent blend of whiskey and spice, Jack Daniel’s is not only great for barbecue but your loaded mac and cheese or sandwiches too.
The only downside we could find with this bbq sauce brand is the price, which is slightly higher than what other sauces are sold for, but beyond that, this sauce is a great taste enhancer.
Why do we like it?
- Available in a variety of sweet and spicy flavors
- The glass bottle projects the sauce
- The texture is great
2. Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce
You will rarely find someone who shops for barbecue regularly who will claim not to have heard of Sweet Baby Rays or used it before. This award-winning sauce has found its way into the homes of many because of its quality and quantity. Buying a pack of Baby Rays guarantees your long-term use because each pack comes with 2 or 3 bottles depending on the one you order.
Rays boast a mouthwatering recipe that adds value to your brisket, chicken, or ribs. It is also great for burgers and hot dogs. You can never go wrong with this bbq sauce brand.
Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue is made with a blend of ingredients that enhances your cooking or additional condiments. The quantity of the contents also makes it a brand that represents value for money.
Just like all very good barbecue sauces, this sauce has a long staying power. If you are looking for a sauce that will not lose its taste despite remaining in your cupboard for months, you have Sweet Baby Rays at your service. Just make sure that you keep the bottle tightly closed and stored in your fridge under mid to low temperature or in your cupboard.
Why do we like it?
- The twin pack offers great value for money
- A blend of amazing flavors for all food types
- The oil content is of the right proportion
3. Gates Original Classic Bar-B-Q Sauce
Since the 60s and 70s, Gates has brought smiles into many a home and continues to do so. This legendary bbq sauce brand blended in Kansas City style is one of the best barbecue sauces you will ever taste in case you haven’t tried it yet.
Each pack contains two 18 ounce bottles of combined spices, all mixed to form a tomato-based sauce for excellent seasoning. Gates is a taste enhancer because it considerably improves the flavor of your dips, dressings, veggies, and meat.
Many will argue that the best use of this bbq sauce is on beef ribs and pork, and they won’t be wrong as the final taste you get suggests that. Some of the essential ingredients used include high fructose corn syrup, tomato concentration, salt, onion, pepper, garlic powder, potassium, among other ingredients.
We are sure you will love Gates Original Classic sauce like many others have because rather than change the taste of your food, it improves it to make it better. Moreover, the flavor is not overpowering as it blends well with the pre-existing taste. For the value it offers, this bbq sauce brand is indeed value for money.
- Beautifully packaged
- A perfect mix of spicy and flavored ingredients
- Only a little quantity is required to transform your food
4. G Hughes Original Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce
We know that not everyone likes too much sugar in their sauce. Having too much sugar in barbecues is a turn off for many. That is why we added G Hughes to our list to provide you with a reliable sugar-free option. G Hughes is one hell of a barbecue sauce in a pack of 3. It has a great flavor and a rich texture consistency that will add value to your barbecue.
For those looking to reduce their cholesterol intake, G Hughes is the ideal sauce for them. It is Keto friendly and is suitable for those battling diabetes and obesity. Just a little paste on your chicken is enough to bring the taste to life.
G Hughes’ cooking process is of normal standard, but the secret ingredient that makes this bbq sauce brand what it remains unknown is how it should be. G Hughes, the brain behind this sauce, sure knows how to cook up tasty sauces, and this sauce is in a class of its own.
Why do we like it?
- Contains low cholesterol
- Very affordable
- Natural flavoring
5. Blue Hog Original BBQ Sauce
If you have a large household, you will need a sauce that can cater to every single member’s needs. Nothing is as frustrating as having no sauce left in the house when everyone is seated and waiting to munch on tasty barbecues. If you have ever canceled a barbecue feast in the past simply because you had no bbq sauce left in your cupboard, then Blue Hog is the perfect long-term bbq sauce brand for you.
Blue hog sauce comes in an extra-large 4-pound bottle of thick gourmet sauce. This all-natural ingredients sauce is one that will last for a very long time because of its abundant content.
It has a very rich texture that will stick to your meat and chicken even after facing intense heat from your grill. Blue hog is excellent for hot wings, fish, beef, ribs, veggies, and even wild game. With this sauce, there is no smoked food you cannot improve.
Considering the concentration and quality of this sauce, we suffice to say that the ½ gallon of homemade sauce is definitely value for money.
Why do we like it?
- It retains its thickness even after it is removed from the fridge
- An economical choice for large families and parties
- Multiple ingredients combined to create a perfect flavor
BBQ Sauce Brand Buyer’s Guide
With so many bbq sauce brands available today, making a choice on which to go for is a tricky business. What do you look out for when shopping for bbq sauce? Is it the taste, the packaging, how much it is sold for, or a combination of all these and more?
Find out more about what to look out for before you spend a dime on another bottle of BBQ sauce.
Texture
The texture of the sauce is very important. Buy a watery sauce, and you end up ruining your barbecue. However, the thickness of a sauce is not a guarantee that it will taste nice on your meat. Some sauces have a thin texture but taste better than thick sauces, but we can say for sure that a thick texture is advantageous because thick sauces stretch better and lasts longer.
Aroma
Aroma excites our taste buds and makes us eager to feed. If aroma didn’t matter, chefs won’t place so much emphasis on it. The sauce’s aroma determines the smell of your barbecue. You can have a perfectly grilled pork or rib, but if it smells bad and uninviting, no one will want even to touch it. To add value to your barbecue, make sure you go for bbq sauce brands that have mesmerizing aromas. Reading reviews will help you identify the right ones.
Flavor
The flavor and aroma of your barbecue go hand in hand. While the aroma elicits interest, the barbecue’s flavor is what stimulates a feeling of satisfaction after the first bite. No single barbecue sauce brand tastes better than the rest as there are several tasty sauces sold on the open market. But what we do know is that Kansas City sauces are thicker and sweeter than other style sauces.
All-natural ingredient sauces are also great. The flavor you buy should be the one you are comfortable with.
Ingredient Mix
Barbecue sauces are a blend of different ingredients, all mixed to form a paste. State and Government agencies’ laws demand that sauce producers display their ingredients for the customer to see. For most bbq sauce brands, the first ingredient you will see is water, followed by the others.
Take your time to read through the list. If you find an ingredient that you are allergic to or an ingredient you don’t like, please pick a different brand.
Sugar Content
Most bbq sauce brands contain sugar (except for sugar-free sauces). Being an essential ingredient, the FDA requires producers to let their customers know just how much sugar their sauce contains. But if you are not good with dietary calculations, here is a simple way to categorize bbq sauces based on their sugar volume.
- Bbq sauces from the North-Western region in the US contain a high sugar volume
- Southern State sauces contain less sugar
Determining a sauce’s sugar content by simply looking at the display that shows “low-sugar” might be misleading because what I consider low sugar may be too much sugar for you if you are dealing with diabetes or some other related condition. The best way to determine sugar content is to look for the term “Serving Size.” Also, consider what the sauce is used for. Lastly, consider how much sugar will be burned off when the sauce is exposed to heat. If a significant percentage of the sugar is eliminated during the cooking process, it doesn’t matter how much sugar the sauce contains.
Fat Content
Contrary to popular perception, barbecue sauces are not rich in fat like many think. What matters is how much fat is contained in the ingredients used in preparing the sauce. When shopping for bbq sauce brands, don’t waste your time looking for the fat content. Rather, focus on the level of saturation. Is fat saturated or not? Good companies disclose this information to the public. Good products have a combination of olive and other combinations.
Shelf Life
A good bbq sauce brand should have a shelf life of at least one year. But pay close attention to the opening and usage duration. Even though the shelf life states 12 months, the ingredients may only last 3-5 months after the can is opened. A good sauce should last at least 12 months or more. If the bottle does not provide sufficient information about its shelf life, you can visit the bbq sauce brand’s website to know more or send them an email.
- Kitchen Accessory Buying Guides
- Kitchen Appliance Buying Guides
- Kitchen Cookbook Buying Guides
- Kitchen Cookware Buying Guides
- Kitchen Pantry Food Buying Guides
- Does Food Go Bad Articles
- Food Comparison Articles
- Foods That Start With Letter Articles
- How Long Can Food Sit Out Articles
- How To Defrost Food Articles
- How To Reheat Food Articles
- How To Soak Food Articles
- Popular Foods Articles
- What Does It Taste Like Articles
