Garlic is a very common ingredient in many barbecue sauces, providing a distinct flavor. However, some people may wish to avoid garlic due to allergies or personal preference. The good news is that there are quite a few popular barbecue sauce brands and recipes that do not contain garlic.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the most well-known prepared barbecue sauces that do not contain garlic. We will also highlight some recipes for homemade barbecue sauces without garlic. Whether you need to avoid garlic or just want to try a sauce with a different flavor profile, read on to find some great garlic-free BBQ sauce options.
Prepared Barbecue Sauces Without Garlic
When it comes to prepared barbecue sauces that you can buy in the grocery store, there are several major brands that offer garlic-free options:
KC Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce
KC Masterpiece is one of the most popular and widely available barbecue sauce brands. Their original sauce contains tomato puree, brown sugar, molasses, vinegar, spices, and natural flavorings. Garlic is not listed among the ingredients. This is a sweet, tangy, and thick sauce that works well on ribs, chicken, pulled pork, and more.
Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce
Another very common prepared barbecue sauce brand is Sweet Baby Ray’s. Their original sauce is garlic-free, made with tomatoes, vinegar, corn syrup, and spices. It strikes a nice balance between sweet and tangy. This versatile sauce goes well with a variety of meats.
Stubbs Original Barbecue Sauce
Stubbs is another classic barbecue brand that offers a garlic-free original sauce. It’s made with a ketchup base along with vinegar, sugar, spices, onion, and natural flavors. This is an all-purpose sauce with a smooth, not too spicy or sweet flavor.
Annie’s Original Organic Barbecue Sauce
For an organic and more natural prepared barbecue sauce without garlic, try Annie’s original sauce. It contains organic tomato puree, organic white vinegar, organic molasses, sea salt, organic onion powder, and spices. There’s just a touch of sweetness and nice tanginess.
Bull’s Eye Original Barbecue Sauce
Bull’s Eye is a supermarket staple barbecue sauce that has an original, garlic-free variety. It’s made with tomatoes, vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, molasses, spices, and natural flavor. This sauce has a bold tomato taste with a good balance of sweet and tangy.
Heinz Classic Barbecue Sauce
The classic Heinz ketchup brand also makes a line of barbecue sauces, including their original that does not contain garlic. The ingredients are tomato concentrate, corn syrup, vinegar, sugar, salt, spices, onion powder, and natural flavor. Expect a nice blend of tomato flavor with sweetness and acidity.
Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipes Without Garlic
In addition to prepared bottled barbecue sauces, it’s also easy to make your own homemade sauces without garlic. Here are some recipes to try:
Basic Barbecue Sauce
| 1 cup ketchup |
| 1/4 cup brown sugar |
| 3 tablespoons honey |
| 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar |
| 2 tablespoons molasses |
| 1 teaspoon onion powder |
| 1 teaspoon chili powder |
| 1 teaspoon smoked paprika |
| 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder |
This easy recipe only requires mixing all the ingredients in a saucepan and bringing to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes to meld the flavors. You’ll end up with a nicely balanced sweet and tangy sauce. Feel free to adjust honey or brown sugar to taste.
Carolina-Style Barbecue Sauce
| 1 1/2 cups cider vinegar |
| 1 cup ketchup |
| 1/4 cup brown sugar |
| 1 tablespoon sweet paprika |
| 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce |
| 1 teaspoon hot sauce |
| 1 teaspoon black pepper |
| 1 teaspoon salt |
Whisk together all the ingredients for this sauce in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes. The vinegar provides a tangy barbecue flavor that works great with pulled pork.
Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce
| 1 cup ketchup |
| 1/2 cup molasses |
| 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar |
| 1/4 cup water |
| 2 tablespoons brown sugar |
| 1 teaspoon onion powder |
| 1 teaspoon garlic powder |
| 1 teaspoon black pepper |
| 1/2 teaspoon chili powder |
| 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper |
Kansas City barbecue sauce has a distinctive sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor. Whisk together the ingredients and simmer for 10-15 minutes. The molasses gives it a nice richness. This sauce pairs especially well with pork ribs.
Memphis-Style Barbecue Sauce
| 1 cup tomato sauce |
| 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar |
| 1/4 cup brown sugar |
| 3 tablespoons honey |
| 2 tablespoons vegetable oil |
| 1 tablespoon yellow mustard |
| 1 teaspoon onion powder |
| 1 teaspoon smoked paprika |
| 1/2 teaspoon chili powder |
| 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce |
Memphis barbecue sauce has a slightly sweet, tangy taste with background spice flavors. Mix everything together in a saucepan and simmer for 10-15 minutes. The touch of mustard gives this sauce a distinctive flavor. It’s fantastic with pulled pork, ribs, or chicken.
Choosing the Best Garlic-Free Barbecue Sauce
When selecting a prepared garlic-free barbecue sauce or making your own homemade sauce, keep these tips in mind:
- Consider the main flavors you want – the sweetness, tanginess, spice level, etc. This can help you pick a sauce variety best suited to your tastes.
- Look at the overall ingredients – you may wish to avoid corn syrup, go for more natural options, or watch the sugar content.
- Think about what meats you’ll use the sauce with. Some sauces pair better with beef while others go great with chicken or pork.
- Make sure to read labels carefully on prepared sauces to verify no garlic is included.
- Be aware that some seasoning blends used in homemade recipes contain garlic, so read blend ingredients.
- Start with small batches when making your own sauce so you can adjust flavors as needed.
Testing out a few different commercial or homemade garlic-free barbecue sauce options is the best way to find your new go-to sauce. Consider the flavor profile and ingredients that appeal most to you.
Serving Tips and Substitution Ideas
Once you’ve chosen a great garlic-free barbecue sauce, here are some tips for serving and substituting:
- Use the sauce as a marinade, baste, or dip – the possibilities are endless!
- Brush or mop sauce on meats the last 5-10 minutes of grilling only to avoid burning.
- Mix a bit of sauce into hamburger patties before grilling for extra flavor.
- If a recipe calls for garlic, try substituting onion powder, chives, shallots, or scallions.
- For added depth of flavor without garlic, use spices like paprika, chili powder, cumin, mustard, or pepper.
- Mix the garlic-free sauce with mayo or sour cream for a quick veggie dip.
- Toss wings or chicken pieces in sauce before baking or grilling.
- Use as a sauce for meatballs, meatloaf, or chili.
With so many ways to use garlic-free barbecue sauce, you’re sure to find new favorite recipes. The sauce possibilities are endless once you have a good sauce base without garlic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about barbecue sauces without garlic:
Why do so many barbecue sauces contain garlic?
Garlic is a very common ingredient in barbecue sauces because it provides a ton of flavor. The garlic adds a richness and depth that complements the other sauce ingredients like tomatoes, sugar, and vinegar. Garlic also enhances savory, smoky, and sweet flavors.
What’s the best substitute for garlic in barbecue sauce?
Some good garlic substitutes to try are onion powder, onion flakes, shallots, chives, scallions, garlic infused oil, or a combination of savory spices like paprika, cumin, mustard, black pepper, and chili powder. Minced onions can also work.
Do you need to refrigerate homemade barbecue sauce?
Yes, it’s important to refrigerate homemade barbecue sauce, especially those without preservatives. The sauce can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The acidity from ingredients like vinegar helps prevent bacterial growth.
What meats pair best with garlic-free barbecue sauce?
Garlic-free barbecue sauce can be used on all types of meat. It’s fantastic on pork ribs, pulled pork, chicken, beef brisket, tri-tip, burgers, meatballs, and more. Consider the flavor profile of the sauce and what meats it will complement.
Is garlic-free barbecue sauce healthy?
It can be, depending on the specific ingredients. Some store-bought sauces have a lot of sugar. But homemade sauces and natural prepared brands without corn syrup or preservatives can provide a healthier option. Look for tomato-based sauces without too much sugar.
Conclusion
Finding a great tasting barbecue sauce without garlic is easy thanks to many prepared sauce options and delicious homemade recipes. Brands like KC Masterpiece, Sweet Baby Ray’s, Stubbs, Annie’s, Bull’s Eye, and Heinz all offer original garlic-free sauces with nice blend of flavors. You can also mix up your own sauce using ingredients like ketchup, vinegar, spices, molasses, honey, and tomato sauce.
With the right garlic-free barbecue sauce, you can add tangy sweet flavor to pork, beef, chicken, veggies, and more. Brush sauce on meats when grilling, use as a marinade or dip, mix into burgers, or toss with wings. A good sauce can really make your barbecue stand out. Be adventurous and try some new garlic-free sauce recipes to find your perfect match.