Memphis BBQ Mop Sauce Recipe

David Leite

• 2 cups ketchup
• 1/2 cup yellow mustard
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon natural hickory liquid smoke

1. In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients except the liquid smoke. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Stir constantly to ensure that the brown sugar fully dissolves, preventing it from sticking to the bottom and creating a smooth, integrated base for your sauce.
2. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to simmer. Continue stirring occasionally to prevent any scorching, especially around the edges. Let it simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced slightly and thickened to a desirable consistency. This crucial simmering period allows all the diverse flavors to meld together beautifully and deepen.
3. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Whisk in the natural hickory liquid smoke until it is thoroughly combined and distributed throughout the sauce. If you prefer a more subtle or mellow smoky presence, you may return the sauce to very low heat and simmer for an additional few minutes after adding the liquid smoke.
4. Allow the finished Memphis BBQ mop sauce to cool completely to room temperature. As it cools, the sauce will naturally thicken further, reaching its ideal texture. Once cooled, transfer it to an airtight jar or container. Store it in the refrigerator, where it will keep fresh for up to one month, ready for your next barbecue session.
5. When you’re ready to use the sauce, let it come to room temperature for easier application. Generously “mop” or brush it over any meat you are grilling or smoking—such as chicken, ribs, or brisket—during the final 10-15 minutes of cooking. This timing is essential to allow the sugars to caramelize and form a delicious glaze without the risk of burning or scorching.

   TESTER TIP: Due to the delightful, high sugar content in this BBQ sauce, exercise caution to prevent burning. We strongly recommend using a non-reactive saucepan and consistently stirring and scraping the sides of the pan with a heatproof spatula throughout the simmering process. This will help prevent the sauce from sticking and thickening too quickly on the hotter sides, ensuring an evenly cooked and perfectly textured sauce.

Adapted From

Award-Winning BBQ Sauces and How to Use Them

Buy On Amazon

Serving: 2 tablespoons

Calories: 29 kcal

Carbohydrates: 7 g

Protein: 1 g

Fat: 0.3 g

Saturated Fat: 0.03 g

Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1 g

Trans Fat: 0.001 g

Sodium: 371 mg

Fiber: 1 g

Sugar: 5 g

Lisa Bennett

Lisa enthusiastically praised the sauce for hitting “all the notes you want in a BBQ sauce,” highlighting its excellent and harmonious balance. She underscored the importance of patience during cooking, advising a slow simmer for the full 25 minutes to achieve a slightly thicker sauce with a complex, nuanced flavor profile. She described it as having a “tangy sweetness, a little spice, and just a hint of the smoky at the end,” concluding that the combination “balances it all.”

Initially, Lisa had reservations about the mustard’s prominence, feeling it “seemed to overpower.” However, she observed that as the sauce cooked down, the mustard flavor integrated beautifully into the overall blend. Her key advice includes carefully blending the liquid smoke and, for a mellower smoky presence, allowing the sauce to simmer for an additional 5 minutes after its addition. She also suggested that if one were to prepare the sauce without liquid smoke, reducing the amount of mustard by half might be beneficial, as the smoke plays a crucial role in harmonizing the mustard’s zest within the sauce.

Amanda S.

Amanda found this recipe to be both “easy” and incredibly convenient, appreciating that most of the required ingredients are readily available “pantry staples.” She particularly highlighted the “nice combo of sweet and heat thanks to the brown sugar and liquid fire,” which delivered a satisfying kick. She confirmed the sauce’s excellent versatility and delicious compatibility, stating unequivocally that “It paired perfectly with chicken,” making it a go-to for quick and flavorful meals.

Daisy Lewis

Daisy enthusiastically proclaimed this a “perfectly delicious BBQ sauce” and a “real crowd pleaser,” affirming that it “has it all: sweet, spicy, tangy, salty,” and “delivered exactly what it promised.” She even managed to win over her husband, a native Texan “very particular about his sauce,” who offered the rare compliment of “didn’t hate it”—a truly high endorsement from a discerning palate!

She validated the accuracy of the cooking time, noting that she achieved optimal thickening by simmering the sauce for 23 minutes. Daisy successfully utilized the sauce to glaze her baby back ribs on the grill, resulting in a phenomenal outcome where the ribs became “sticky and amazing!” Her experience underscores the sauce’s effectiveness in creating a perfect barbecue finish.

Lisa K.

Lisa K. characterized the sauce as delightfully “vinegar- and black pepper-forward” with a compelling “sweet heat and tang,” observing that “the pepper gets you in the back of the throat.” While she personally might use slightly less black pepper next time, she acknowledged its prominent role in the flavor profile. She noted that the sauce is “thinner than your typical store-bought bottled sauce,” making it particularly “delicious drizzled over pulled pork, adding flavor and moisture to the meat.” She also highlighted its potential for oven-baked BBQ chicken and confirmed its efficacy as a basting sauce during the final minutes of grilling.

Emphasizing a crucial point due to the sauce’s “good sugar content,” Lisa K. provided invaluable advice: “Be careful about it burning.” She strongly recommended using a non-reactive saucepan and consistently stirring and scraping the sides with a heatproof spatula throughout the simmering process. This diligent attention helps prevent the sauce from thickening unevenly or scorching on the hotter edges of the pan, ensuring a perfectly smooth and flavorful result.