This wonderful homemade barbeque sauce is perfect for baked or grilled chicken. It’s super simple to make and perfect for those quick family dinners or summer grill outs. The flavor is perfect for those looking for that classic bbq sauce taste.
This is my go to homemade BBQ sauce recipe whenever I’m grilling for a large group of people. It has a flavor that appeals to most so it’s a great choice when cooking for get togethers or family gatherings.
And even though I have other absolutely amazing tasting sauces that I love to make, no other recipe is as universally praised like this one.
It’s not only simple and tasty, it’s super affordable to make and doesn’t require a lot of time to prepare. So if you are looking for a classic flavored BBQ sauce perfect for chicken, then this is the recipe for you.
Don’t forget to save or bookmark this recipe so you can make it the next time you are grilling up chicken.
How to Make Homemade Barbeque Sauce from Scratch

My family and grill out for family and friends multiple times throughout the summer. And I still remember how difficult it was finding a BBQ sauce that everyone could enjoy.
But I will never forget the first time I whipped up a large batch of this sauce for a group of about twenty family members. I never before saw the chicken get eaten so quickly. Even my picky eater niece absolutely loved this sauce, and she is quite the food critic!
Since that cookout, I always prepare a batch of chicken with this homemade sauce. It’s always a winner and I love how simple it is to make.
All you need is four ingredients and a saucepan. Prep time is just minutes and cleanup is super easy too!
For an incredibly juicy grilled chicken, mix a brine of 4 cups of water with 1/4 cup of salt and soak your chicken in the brine for thirty minutes. Then add your BBQ sauce and grill on high heat. Your chicken will be moist and bursting with flavor!
Chicken Tip
Recipe Ingredients

There are so many great types of BBQ sauce out there, and I love making different styles (you can find some of my favorites here on Mesa 21). But sometimes you need a simple and easy to make sauce.
And that’s where this great chicken bbq sauce fits the bill! With just four common ingredients, this recipe is super cheap and quick to whip together.
That means, it’s a great all-around sauce that can be used with grilled or baked chicken. I use it on chicken breast, drum stick, and wings. It’s just an amazing tasting sauce that is incredibly versatile.
Ingredients List
- 1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
- 1/4 cup Ketchup
- 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
When grilling chicken, always preheat your grill to 400 degrees before adding your chicken. This will ensure your chicken is thoroughly cooked with that delicious, seared skin.
Grilled Chicken Tip
Easy to Follow Prep Steps

If you’re like me, then you make chicken for a lot of family dinners. And one of the most common complaints I hear from readers is that their chicken tastes too bland. That’s when I steer them toward a recipe like this one.
It’s one of the easiest ways to make a super tasty chicken dinner that is sure to please the entire family. By simply brining your chicken and then adding this BBQ sauce, you will have a flavor packed and juicy chicken dinner perfect for any time of year.
Step 1: Add your oil, ketchup, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce to your saucepan.
Step 2: Bring to medium high heat and continue to stir until sauce comes to a boil.
Step 3: Continue on heat until desired thickness is achieved (don’t stop stirring). Then remove from heat.
Step 4: Brush or drizzle over chicken and then grill or bake until fully cooked.
BBQ Chicken Side Dish Ideas

One of the best things about homemade barbeque chicken is that it goes with so many side dishes. There are so many sides you can use to keep your chicken dinner fresh and interesting.
Here are some of my favorite sides to serve with this BBQ chicken recipe, but it’s by no means an exhaustive list.
- Baked Beans
- Grilled Asparagus
- Green Bean Casserole
- Broccoli Casserole with Mushroom Soup
- Creamy Cole Slaw
- Homemade Rolls
- Grilled Squash

Homemade BBQ Sauce For Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Medium Saucepan
Ingredients
- ¼ Cup Vegetable Oil
- ¼ Cup Ketchup
- ¼ Cup Lemon Juice
- 2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- In your saucepan add your Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, ketchup, and oil
- Bring to medium high heat and stir until sauce comes to a boil
- Continue stirring until sauce is desired thickness. Remove from heat
- Immediately brush over chicken and cook chicken
Nutrition
Recipe Notes
- Brine your chicken for at least 30 minutes in a mixture of four cups of water and a quarter cup of salt.
- This recipe yields enough sauce for a 2.5-3lb fryer chicken. For larger amounts of chicken you can simply double the recipe.
- You can store leftover sauce in the refrigerator for up to one week.