BBQ Sauce: Types, Origins & Why I Prefer Chipotle

In short: BBQ sauce is a seasoned sauce for grilling and barbecue, from thin and sour to thick and sweet. I usually don't like classic BBQ sauces because they are too sweet for me and the smoke often tastes artificial. My solution: chipotle, smoked jalapeños with natural smoke flavour.

A good sauce belongs with grilling, that much is clear. The problem: what sits on the supermarket shelf as BBQ sauce is often ketchup-sweet with smoke flavouring. Here you learn which types exist, when you need which consistency and why I prefer chipotle for smoke.

Contents

Types of BBQ sauce

In the USA the sauce differs from region to region:

  • East Carolina: thin, vinegar-forward, usually without tomato. Good for marinating and basting.
  • Kansas City: sweet, thick, with plenty of tomato. Fits ribs, chicken and pulled pork.
  • South Carolina: mustard sauce. The tradition goes back to German immigrants.
  • Texas: often sharpened with chili, which I like.

Thin or thick: when to use which?

Thin sauces with acidity (vinegar or fruit) are good for marinating and brushing on while cooking. Thick sauces with tomato or molasses belong at the end: a thick layer applied early keeps smoke away from the meat and burns more easily. Applied toward the end, it gives the meat its sticky gloss.

What barbecue actually is

Barbecue is neither classic grilling nor smoking. It sits in between: low heat, long time, indirect, with smoke. At its core the term means pork, though in everyday use it is applied more loosely.

My view: chipotle instead of sweet smoke sauce

I don't like BBQ sauce that is mostly sweet, and the smoke is often too artificial for me. Chipotles are smoked jalapeños. The smoke comes straight from the chili, completely natural, and the smoky taste is simply great for me. That's why chipotle sauces are the better BBQ sauces for me, even if I am probably not entirely objective here, hehe. More on our page about chipotle sauce.

FAQ

When do I apply BBQ sauce?

Thin sauces early, thick and sweet ones only at the end.

How hot is a chipotle sauce?

Usually moderate, roughly in jalapeño territory. It depends on the brand.

Is there BBQ sauce without a lot of sugar?

Yes, for example vinegar-based sauces or chipotle sauces. Check the ingredient list.

About the author

Fabian Rueda, the Pikantista

Fabian Rueda has long experience in the spicy world. Sweet BBQ sauces with artificial smoke are not his thing, smoked jalapeños all the more. Follow him on Instagram.