From Carolina To Kansas City, 11 Barbecue Sauces You Need to Try if You Call Yourself a Pitmaster

Whether you prefer St. Louis, KC, NC or Texas-style, we’ve got you covered.

For barbecue lovers, there’s never a bad time to cookout. Sure, the winter might make it harder to break out the grill, but that’s just a challenge to be overcome. These wonderful events are a time when food enthusiasts can show off everything they know, delivering barbecue dishes (complemented by some of the best barbecue sauce) to rival those of the best pitmasters around the country. 

When it comes to barbecue success, one of the grill master’s most important decisions is definitely the barbecue sauce. With hundreds of options available, picking the right one can be a difficult choice. Choose the right barbecue sauce and all the grilling glory will be yours. Pick the wrong one and you’ll lose your reputation as local pitmaster.

Any enthusiast who knows even a little about barbecue sauces is sure to know that different regions of the USA do BBQ differently. Whether you like spicy, sweet, or tangy, you’ll need to hone in on your desired flavors and choice of meat to pick the best barbecue sauce for you. Once you’ve selected your go-to jar of the good stuff, put it to work on ribs, pulled pork, hamburgers and more.

Below, you’ll find 11 of the best barbecue sauces available on Amazon. Each option is well-loved by users and comes highly recommended. You’ll also find barbecue sauce sets which make great gifts for the griller in your life. Take a scroll through the list and find the right sauce to elevate your BBQ game.

1. Daddy Sam’s BBQ Sauce

BEST OVERALL

With over 90% of Amazon users awarding Daddy Sam’s BBQ Sauce a five-star review, you know it’s got to be good. The all-natural, gluten and dairy-free sauce uses the original Daddy Sam’s recipe with a molasses and vinegar base to deliver a sweet and tangy flavor you’re sure to love. You’ll also find a little kick at the end to ensure your taste buds are awake throughout the entire eating experience. To use this barbecue sauce, “Just slop it on,” as it says on the jar.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Daddy Sam's BBQ Sauce $16.99

2. Bone Suckin’ Sauce Original BBQ Sauce

BEST BUDGET

It may be our budget-friendly pick, but that doesn’t mean the Bone Suckin’ Sauce Original BBQ Sauce is any less crammed full of flavor. Customers love the unique sweet and sour combination, and it’s an especially good choice for chicken and ribs. Furthermore, thinner-than-usual consistency makes it easy to apply the sauce to your food. Plus, it’s GMO-free, kosher, and made in the USA.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Bone Suckin' Sauce Original BBQ Sauce $9.38

3. Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce

BEST BARBECUE SAUCE FOR A SWEET TOOTH

This Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce is a well-balanced option which delivers a mouth-watering flavor to all of your BBQ food. However, its smoky flavor is especially suited to pulled pork. If you love sweet barbecue sauces, then this is the perfect flavor for you. Sweet Baby Ray’s has received numerous awards to back up its great taste. It also comes in a handy, squeezable container for easy distribution and application to your food.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce $6.96

4. True Made Foods Vegetable BBQ Sauce

BEST ALL-NATURAL RECIPE

By removing corn syrup from the recipe, True Made Foods Vegetable BBQ Sauce is able to offer a healthier flavor for your food without losing any of the delicious taste. You’ll also find 50% less sugar in the sauce when compared to many competing brands, and spinach, carrots, and butternut squash have been included in the recipe. All of these elements give the True Made Foods BBQ Sauce the self-proclaimed title of “The Healthiest BBQ Sauce” on the market.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: True Made Foods Vegetable BBQ Sauce $6.10

5. Sonny’s Authentic Sweet Bar-B-Q Sauce

BEST FOR LARGE GATHERINGS

If you’re looking for enough BBQ sauce to cover all your chicken and pork at a large gettogether, then it’s worth checking out this Sonny’s Authentic Sweet Bar-B-Q Sauce. The sweet flavor is a crowd-pleaser, while the large five-pound container size ensures you’ll have enough sauce to last for some time. In addition, the container sports an easy-pour handle for fast and precise application.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Sonny's Authentic Sweet Bar-B-Q Sauce $10.69

6. Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce

MOST ROBUST FLAVOR

Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce uses high-quality ingredients, including black pepper, molasses, vinegar and tomato, to deliver a strong and robust flavor. Whether you’re having a plate of ribs or a roasted chicken, a few tablespoons of this delicious sauce is the taste elevation you’ve been searching for. Furthermore, it’s available in a range of flavors and is also kosher, gluten-free and GMO-free.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Stubb's Original Bar-B-Q Sauce $11.28

7. KC Masterpiece Private Stock Reserve BBQ Sauce

BEST SPECIAL EDITION

The KC Masterpiece Private Stock Reserve BBQ Sauce takes a supermarket classic to the next level. If you’re a fan of the KC Masterpiece original, you definitely need to try this special edition. It’s a versatile option that can be used to marinate your meat or used as a post-cooking drizzling and dipping sauce. The recipe includes real sugar which gives the sauce a thick consistency as well as a rich and smokey flavor. It also comes in a two-pack, so you get plenty to last you through the season or share this delicious sauce with a friend.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: KC Masterpiece Private Stock Reserve BBQ Sauce $11.50

8. Rufus Teague: Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce

BEST SUGAR-FREE

If you’re looking for a healthier, sugar-free option, the Rufus Teague: Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce was made for you. This thick and rich sauce comes in two flavor options, namely Slim N’ Sweet and Smoke N’ Chipotle. It has also received several awards, confirming its outstanding flavor. The sauce is made from a range of natural ingredients and even comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Rufus Teague: Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce $17.99

9. Guy Fieri Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce

BEST CELEB CHEF CREATED

For those at-home chefs who love to feel like they’re doing what the pros do, give this Guy Fieri Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce a go. Not only is this sauce multi-awarding winning, it was also created by the instantly recognizable TV chef Guy Fieri. The sauce comes with his personal seal of approval and offers a more complex flavor than many competing sauces with its mix of molasses, apple cider, and a little black pepper heat. This is a great go-to BBQ sauce option that will give your chicken wings, brisket, and ribs a whole new level of flavor.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Guy Fieri Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce $12.05

10. Smokey J’s BBQ Sauce Gift Set

BEST GIFT IDEA

The Kansas City BBQ Sauce Variety Sampler pack contains four different bottles of BBQ deliciousness. For those who love Kansas City-style barbecue, this gift pack contains four sample-size bottles of delicious BBQ sauces. “Get a taste of Kansas” with four unique flavors packed with a variety of spices and peppers. Spread them on seafood, chicken, beef, or pork and decide which flavor best suits your grilling style. This sample pack works especially well as a gift.

Courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Smokey J's BBQ Sauce Gift Set

11. Stonewall Kitchen Sweet Grille Sauce Collection

BEST SET

The Stonewall Kitchen 4-Piece Sweet Grille Sauce Collection is an ideal choice for grill masters who love a little variety in their lives. The set comes with four different sauces, including honey barbecue, garlic teriyaki, and roasted apple grille sauce. Each of the included products is made from high-quality ingredients and can be used to marinade your food or as part of an impressive dipping sauce arrangement.

Image courtesy of Amazon

Buy: Stonewall Kitchen Sweet Grille Sauce Collection $32.95

The Trick to Better Barbecue is Using One of These Grill Presses