Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 35 minutes
Memphis-Style Smoky Barbecue Sauce
A Legendary Sauce with a Tangy Kick
The Sauce Everyone Raves About
This Memphis-Style Smoky Barbecue Sauce is the kind of recipe that disappears fast—mostly because you’ll be sneaking spoonfuls straight from the pot. It hits all the right notes: sweet, tangy, smoky, and just enough cayenne punch to wake up your taste buds without knocking them out. It’s thinner than your typical Kansas City sauce, which makes it perfect for pouring over pulled pork, ribs, or chicken after they’ve been smoked to perfection.
What Makes It Memphis?
Unlike its sticky-sweet Kansas City cousin, Memphis-style barbecue sauce is all about balance. It’s bold without being overpowering—less sugary, a bit more vinegar-forward, and with a touch more heat. You’ll find it served on the side or drizzled on the meat after cooking, never as a heavy glaze. It’s the flavor of the backroads, of paper trays stacked with napkins, and of pitmasters who know that the meat should shine—but a great sauce should sing backup.
Roadside Icons and Sauce-Laden Memories
If you’ve ever taken a bite of ribs at a roadside joint in Memphis, you know the experience: the aroma of hickory smoke, the hum of blues guitar, and that unmistakable tang from a secret house sauce. Places like Payne’s, Cozy Corner, and Leonard’s Pit Barbecue have turned this humble condiment into legend. This sauce captures that same spirit—no-frills, deeply flavorful, and unapologetically Southern.
Serving Suggestions
This sauce was made to pair with smoky, tender meat. Pour it over ETL Pulled Pork, brush it on ribs in the final minutes of grilling, or drizzle it over crispy chicken wings. It’s also a standout dipping sauce for anything from fries to fried green tomatoes.
The Final Word
Make a double batch—trust me. One for the table and one for the spoon in your hand. This Memphis-Style Smoky Barbecue Sauce doesn’t just complement your barbecue. It elevates it.
Ingredients:
3 cups ketchup
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup yellow mustard
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons liquid smoke
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a large non-reactive saucepan over medium heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.