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Home » Recipes » Gluten Free Spreads, Sauces, and Salsas

Homemade Orange BBQ Sauce

Published: Jun 19, 2024 · Modified: Oct 3, 2024 by Kim · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

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Once you try it, you'll wanna drink my homemade orange bbq sauce! The combination of orange juice, mustard, and vinegar is so addictive.

dee's bbq sauce dripping from spoon

Orange BBQ Sauce was originally posted on August 26, 2019 and has been updated with a new name, new pictures, and plenty of tips and tricks for making the most of this bbq sauce.

Some of the items linked in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission.

I'm not sure what the name of this barbecue sauce used to be, but since I've known it I've always called it "Dee's BBQ Sauce" because a woman named Dee, whom I worked with years ago, is the one who gave it to me. I was blown away when I made this sauce for the very first time. The OJ is the most unusual thing I've ever seen in a bbq sauce, but I'm telling ya it's AMAZING!! My mom and I constantly say how we could literally drink this sauce. Inevitably, every time we make it (which is often) we "sample" it many times, you know, just to make sure it's good enough to serve.

dee's bbq sauce and ribs

what's in orange bbq sauce?

ingredients for orange bbq sauce measured out and labeled on white marble.
  • Orange juice -- sounds pretty strange to have orange juice in bbq sauce, but I'm telling ya, once you try it you'll never want another sauce.
  • Butter - anything with butter is better and this sauce proves that theory.
  • Vinegar - white distilled vinegar adds a little tang
  • Mustard - the mustard gives the sauce a nice tang and a lighter color.
  • Ketchup - a usual candidate in Kansas City style bbq sauces

making homemade bbq sauce

This is a two-step sauce, but it takes really no time to come together. About 30 minutes of cooking and you're done!

simmering orange juice with sugar and mustard on stovetop.

Bring the orange juice, butter, sugar, vinegar, and mustard to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

ketchup added to bbq sauce simmering in saucepan.

Add the ketchup and Worcestershire and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. If desired, add hot sauce to taste.

bbq sauce in jar

Bbq Sauce Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really worth it to make barbeque sauce from scratch?

They do have some fantastic barbeque sauces at the stores nowadays, but homemade is so good you'll never want the store bought stuff again.

What type of barbeque sauce is this one?

There are different types of barbeque sauces and this one falls into 3 of the 4 categories: vinegar-based, mustard-based, and ketchup-based.

Can I make bbq sauce vegan or dairy free?

Yes! Simply swap out the butter with dairy-free butter, such as Earth Balance sticks.

serving ideas

  • Baby back ribs - slather a rack of my Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs with this bbq sauce.
  • Chicken - grill chicken and brush with bbq sauce during the last part of the grilling. Serve with sauce on the side.
  • Pulled pork - serve with store bought pulled pork or on my Pulled Pork Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls.

more recipes for the grill

  • Chili butter flank steak
  • Easy gluten free chicken souvlaki
  • Gluten free honey coriander wings (a Disney copycat recipe)
  • Amazing grilled lemon butter shrimp
  • Stuffed gluten free cheesy bread
  • Pulled pork sliders on Hawaiian buns
baby back ribs and sauce

Whether you serve it with baby back ribs, chicken, or pulled pork, everyone will want the recipe for this orange bbq sauce!

dee's bbq sauce dripping from spoon

Orange BBQ Sauce

Kim
Once you try this homemade bbq sauce, you're gonna wanna drink it! The sweetness of the orange juice combined with the tanginess of the mustard and vinegar make for one amazing bbq sauce to douse all over these tender baby back ribs.
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course, sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 2 cups of sauce

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (240g) orange juice
  • 1 stick (113g) butter (a dairy-free butter may be substituted)
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (60g) white vinegar
  • 2 tbsp (30g) yellow mustard
  • 1 cup (240g) ketchup
  • 2 tbsp (34g) Worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perrins is gluten free)
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • hot sauce to taste (if desired)
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, add orange juice, butter, sugar, vinegar, and yellow mustard and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, as well as salt and pepper and hot sauce (if using). Continue simmering for another 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and pour into a jar. Bbq sauce will keep in the refrigerator for a week or two. It can also be frozen. When thawed, whisk over low heat until smooth again.
Keyword bbq, Gluten Free, sauce
Tried this recipe?Tag @letthemeatglutenfreecake on Instagram so we can see!

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Comments

  1. Amy says

    July 11, 2024 at 2:00 pm

    So good! Definitely a keeper.

    Reply
    • Kim says

      July 22, 2024 at 8:10 am

      It is our favorite!

      Reply
  2. Linda Davies says

    January 19, 2023 at 1:09 pm

    I followed this recipe to a T, made half of the recipe as there are only the two of us. It was so delicious
    And I will certainly make it again. Love the hint of orange flavour on my ribs. Ribs with this sauce were outstanding.

    Reply
  3. Heidi Biedebach says

    June 09, 2021 at 9:22 pm

    Oh wow - this is now my fiancé’s favorite rib treatment. Soooo good - I’m spreading the word! I think this is my seventh batch😃😃

    Reply
  4. roberta young says

    August 23, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    Absolutely delicious! My new "go-to" for baby back ribs! Thank you so much

    Reply
    • Kim says

      August 24, 2020 at 7:08 am

      Yay!! So glad to have someone finally try this sauce! It's our favorite 🙂

      Reply
  5. LadyJ1225 says

    August 27, 2019 at 8:06 am

    You are speaking my language! I love all things BBQ and I think BBQ sauce is a side dish, not a condiment. This is AMAZING!!! My new favorite BBQ sauce, so easy and amazing flavors. Just the right amount of sweet and tanga = WOW!!! I am heading out for my OJ so I can make another batch, I've already used up the first batch I made. Thank you = )

    Reply
    • Kim says

      August 27, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      Haha! Did you drink the first batch? Lol! I find it hard not to keep sticking my finger in it or sneaking a spoonful 🙂

      Reply

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Hey there, I'm Kim!

I won't let a celiac diagnosis stop me from enjoying my passion for baking and cooking, so stick with me and I'll show you how to make the BEST EVER gluten-free renditions of the food we used to know and love 🤗

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