Franklin Barbecue Sauces
Aaron Franklin was born on the 17th of December, 1977, in Bryan TX. He started learning his BBQ skills early on the family BBQ stand. He continued learning over the years as he established his professional life. Is Aaron Franklin married? He’s married to Stacey, his long-time girlfriend and they have a 9-year-old daughter, Vivia.
Ever since we spoke with Aaron Franklin on Episode 168 we've gotten many requests on how to make his world-famous traditional barbecue sauce, tender ribs recipe. Well, to be quite honest, Aaron Franklin's Texan BBQ sauce recipe isn't an actual secret! In fact, the Franklin BBQ Rub recipe and sauce recipe have been laid out for the world to use on his many YouTube videos and even has a free Masterclass page (Aaron Franklin masterclass free download) that outlines how to make the sauce from start to finish. Try this finishing sauce for brisket out for yourself on smoking ribs or spare ribs.
Aaron Franklin’s BBQ Rib Sauce Recipe
This recipe is taken from MasterClass and is the actual recipe used by Franklin Barbecue and is one of the stars of Aaron’s restaurant.
Aaron Franklin’s BBQ Rib Sauce Recipe Ingredients
2 tbsp fat (beef tallow, vegetable oil, lard, or bacon fat)
1/3 large yellow or white onion, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 cup light brown sugar (light brown sugar has a pleasant sweetness that's different from white sugar or dark brown sugar)
1 cup apple cider vinegar (This gives the sauce its tangy flavor)
2 cups organic or all-natural ketchup (all-natural ketchup
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp mustard powder
1 tsp fine sea salt
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
The Aaron Franklin Spicy BBQ Sauce Recipe Steps
Over medium heat, heat up a medium saucepan and then add the fat. Once the fat starts shimmering, add the onions and cook until they become soft and translucent. This usually takes about 8 minutes, but it may be more or less depending on how you chop them. Once the onions are translucent, add the garlic and then continue to cook until the garlic starts to crisp up. This is about an additional 3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the garlic, as it will turn bitter.
The next step is to create a glaze, add the brown sugar, and stir frequently for 2 to 3 minutes. Keep stirring so that you don't burn the sugars.
Add the remaining ingredients, keeping the Franklin BBQ salt and pepper ratio. Leave out the Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the barbecue sauce has thickened. Once the barbecue sauce has thickened, add the Worcestershire sauce and allow to simmer for another minute before taking off the heat.
Now the final step is the actual secret to the sauce, to prevent it from breaking and splitting, transfer the mixture to a blender and blend at high speed for about a minute. This makes the sauce into one thick emulsion. Just be very careful with this step since it's hot, and it may splatter and hurt you.
Allow sauce to cool and store in the fridge for up to one month.
Some notes on the homemade barbecue sauce that you may want to remember:
Use all natural ketchup (or make your own) to avoid high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup will cause your sauce recipe to burn quicker and turn bitter especially when exposed to heat.
Place your homemade BBQ sauce into a squeeze bottle for easier dispensing.
If you don't have fine sea salt, you can easily use kosher salt or any other type of salt, don't worry too much about it!
Don't be too tempted to use onion powder and garlic powder in place of fresh garlic and onion. Not only will garlic powder and onion powder taste different, but it lacks that textural component that gives a good barbecue sauce its velvety mouthfeel.
Don't be Afraid to Mix it Up!
Now don't be afraid to mix it up with a BBQ sauce comparison. As they say, great food is more of an art than an actual science. I mean, there's nothing wrong about following Aarons BBQ recipe to the letter. However, you can definitely add some of your own ingredients to the mix to make it truly your own homemade Texas barbecue sauce for baby back ribs for 3 hours or in Franklin BBQ pits, if you’re getting serious. Remember, it’s the art of barbecue! I call my own mix the Lone Star Barbeque Sauce or Lone Star BBQ Sauce, but that’s just me, and I have no intention of selling my sauce, I’m more than willing to share tips on how to make your own bbq sauce! You’ll never know, you might end up making the best barbecue sauce out there and rival even Mission BBQ copycat recipes. So, are Mission BBQ sauces for sale? They are, from any restaurant at $5 each, or 6 bottles for $25. If you want a change try Texas-style espresso BBQ sauce with the flavor of coffee to take the edge off the sweetness. Similarly, try out Kansas City BBQ sauce, which is sweeter than traditional BBQ sauces with the addition of molasses and sometimes liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce, or try either the Thyron Mop Sauce recipe or Craig’s BBQ sauce recipe Devalls Bluff.
Liquid smoke - prefer a smokier sauce/ a couple of drops of liquid smoke can add that pleasant smokey flavor to your homemade barbecue sauce!
Chili powder - if you want it to have a bit of a kick then go for it. Freshly chopped chili peppers can work as well, but if that's not an option then chili powder can work in a pinch! Personally, cayenne pepper works wonders for that extra spice.
Tomato sauce - if you don't have ketchup then tomato sauce or tomato paste can work, just adjust the sugar to taste as it won't be as sweet.
Soy sauce - Add an oriental kick to your bbq sauce by replacing salt with soy sauce.
Spice and Seasoning - As we said earlier, don't be afraid to mix it up! Add your favorite spice or seasoning to personalize the taste.
Why not experiment with fat free or gluten free ingredients? If you follow a certain diet, just adapt the recipe with what you think works best.
Don't be afraid to personalize it and experiment, you'll never know if you'll stumble upon the next great recipe! Try the 3 2 1 ribs pellet grill method, at the right 321 rib temp or the best Memphis rib rub recipe, which has extra cayenne pepper for bite. BBQ sauces vary a lot from state to state. Often sauces are tomato based but the best North Carolina BBQ sauce is made with a vinegar base and plenty of black pepper. Stars from Jimmy Kimmel to Justin Timberlake regularly experiment with their BBQ recipes.
How to Use your Homemade barbecue sauce
Now the sauce in itself is good for slathering on ribs or pulled pork once it's cooked. But according to Aaron’s BBQ Meat Smoking Manifesto, to use it while smoking that rack of ribs, you need to warm gently the sauce and combine with equal parts of apple cider vinegar in a squeeze bottle. Don't forget to shake it thoroughly so that it will be completely mixed.
Diluting the sauce with the cider vinegar does two things. It makes it thinner so that it will spread easier while it is cooking, and it reduced the overall amount of sugar that will become bitter and burn while you're still smoking your ribs.
To apply, spritz the ribs until it becomes wet (don't worry! the wetter, the better). Once that's done, squeeze the diluted sauce over the ribs and close the lid, allow the sauce to set on the ribs for about 10 minutes, and repeat the process on the other side, as the best sauce for brisket sandwich.
P.S. These sauces are also great not only on ribs but on barbecue brisket as well! Liven up those backyard cookouts with Goldies brisket rub or Black's BBQ rub!
Buying Aaron Franklin barbecue sauce online
If you thought that ribs were the best item on the Franklin barbecue menu for takeout, then you probably haven’t tried their bottled sauces. If you don't want to go through all of the efforts in cooking up your BBQ sauce for your pulled pork or ribs, then you can easily find their sauces online. You can go to any of Franklin's restaurants to get the sauces or click here for Franklin’s BBQ locations and delivery.
Did you miss the episode? Check out Aaron Franklin on the Art of Barbecue on the Lone Star Plate here.
Franklin BBQ Cookbook - A complete meat and brisket-cooking education from the country's most celebrated pitmaster
Interested in Making your own Mission BBQ Sauce? Check out their descriptions here.
Want to make other Aaron Franklin Recipes? Try these:
Aaron Franklin Smoked Turkey - Thanksgiving Part 1
Is Goldee’s BBQ sauce recipe more to your taste? A blend of tangy, sweet, and smoky flavors that are perfect for grilling and dipping or James River BBQ sauce near me, for that authentic 1950s recipe. Delicious as a BBQ sauce for roast beef sandwiches. Buy from your local Walmart.
KC Style BBQ Sauce (Kansas City) - tomato based, with molasses and a little chili heat
Swinehearts - Zero Carb BBQ Sauce
Alabama White Sauce recipe
Memphis Mop Sauce is tangy and thin from its tomato base and still has a loyal following. A rib mop sauce is applied at intervals as the meat cooks to build flavor.
Chud Rub Recipe Ingredients an all-purpose rub that’s simple but well-balanced.
Johnsons BBQ sauce recipe has a loyal following in Arizona and is still available in larger stores.
Franklin Smokers use all of Aaron’s experience and design - treat yourself!
Learn about the Rib Wrap Recipe technique with Aarron Franklin
Have you tried St. Louis Ribs? They are meatier ribs cut from the belly of the hog, which are flatter than baby back ribs, which makes them easier to brown.
If you fancy making your own recipe for Hot Links, try this recipe:
Have you ever tried the Franklin BBQ sausage recipe?
Had a long day? Treat yourself and head up I35 out of Fort Worth to Lone Star BBQ for all the good things from the grill.
If you visit Baltimore any time soon check out the Mission BBQ menu in Towson for celebrated BBQ dishes and classic sides.
