The rich smell of smoky meat blends with the sweet aroma of your favorite grilled veggies at your neighborhood barbecue. You see the grilled meats’ vibrant colors, hear them sizzle on the grill, and feel the soothing warmth from the grill surrounding you. Now, you’re ready to finally tantalize your tongue.
Not so fast, though. Your grilled meats could use a kick. Fortunately, all you need to add sizzle to your barbecue can be summed up in two words: hot sauces.
Research shows that 45% of barbecue sauce consumers view spiciness as an essential factor in what sauces they choose for grilling, with most preferring spicy sauce. That’s because a spicy sauce’s flavor can easily complement barbecued meat’s smokiness, leading to a more satisfying and complex taste experience.
A wide variety of hot and spicy sauces can be used to bring even more heat to your next cookout. Let’s explore the top ways to unleash the fire on barbecue nights with hot sauces.
1. Bold Barbecue
You can’t go wrong with hot barbecue sauces to bring zest to your grilled meats by adding a tangy and sweet flavor. A classic barbecue sauce with a spicy twist is simple to create using the following:
- A small minced onion
- Three minced garlic cloves
- Two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
- One-fourth cup of molasses
- Half a cup of brown sugar
- Half a cup of vinegar
- One cup of tomato paste
- Salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and paprika to taste (the more cayenne pepper, the better for spicy sauce lovers)
For an even edgier barbecue experience, try unconventional barbeque sauces featuring flavors like pineapple mixed with papaya or coffee combined with traditional barbecue sauce. Choose chipotle barbecue sauce for an especially fiery experience that will awaken your taste buds at the next family barbecue. These sauces can easily be brushed on grilling ribs, pork chops, or chicken breasts during the final 15 minutes.
2. Tantalizing Teriyaki
The right hot teriyaki sauce has everything you need to add a blaze to your barbecue. To create a hot teriyaki sauce, mix the following together with red pepper flakes or finely chopped jalapeño or habanero peppers to introduce some heat:
- Three minced garlic cloves
- Two tablespoons of grated ginger
- One-fourth cup of sugar
- One-fourth cup of rice wine
- One-half cup of soy sauce
If you’re a fish lover, consider marinating salmon in your hot teriyaki sauce for half an hour, then grilling it until it’s flaky. Chicken lovers can also thread chunks of chicken onto skewers and marinate them in the sauce before grilling them for the perfect kick.
3. Sriracha Sensation
Hot sauce lovers, unite! Creating a hot and spicy sriracha mayo is a simple way to enjoy the heat while still enjoying a hint of creaminess, the perfect balance. Homemade sriracha mayo can be made with the following ingredients:
- One teaspoon of garlic powder
- One tablespoon of lime juice
- Two tablespoons of sriracha sauce
- Half a cup of mayonnaise
Cover your favorite chicken wings in your spicy sriracha sauce and grill them until they’re crispy. Sriracha mayo can also become the star of grilled beef burgers.
4. Choice Chimichurri
Grill your favorite meats to perfection with the perfect hot chimichurri sauce. Mix the following to create this herb-based sauce, and include some red chili for heat:
- Two tablespoons of fresh or dried oregano
- Half a cup of olive oil
- One-fourth cup of red wine vinegar
- Four minced garlic cloves
- Half a cup of chopped cilantro
- A cup of chopped parsley
Elevate grilled steak by drizzling your chimichurri sauce over it, or apply the sauce to chicken breasts to add a garlicky, fragrant taste to your barbecue spread.
Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay
5. Hot Honey Peppercorn
Infuse heat into your grilling party with a sauce combining pepper with honey. It’s simple to create by mixing the following:
- A teaspoon of garlic powder
- A teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
- Two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
- Two tablespoons of Dijon mustard
- Half a cup of honey
Brush chicken with the sauce or marinate steaks in it for a spicy, sweet, and sticky sensation.
6. Crazy-Hot Chipotle
Try chipotle glaze for a matchless hot sauce for your next barbecue. Just a few ingredients are all you need to create this fiery sauce:
- A tablespoon of brown sugar
- Two tablespoons of honey
- Two tablespoons of adobo sauce with chipotle peppers
Chipotle sauce is perfect for upgrading your family’s grilled ribs. Brush the sauce on the ribs during the final half hour of grilling for an irresistible caramelized look.
7. Kickin’ Cajun
Cajun sauce is another perfect way to heat up your upcoming barbecue. This spicy sauce can be whipped up with the following ingredients:
- Cajun spices, including oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper, and paprika
- A small minced onion
- Two cloves of minced garlic
- One-fourth cup of olive oil
- One-fourth cup of hot sauce
Seafood fans can toss fish or shrimp in the sauce for the perfect marinade, then grill the meat (high heat) for a delectably spicy experience.
Make Your Grill Sizzle With Hot Sauces
Making your backyard the neighborhood hot spot during the barbecue season is easy with the right hot sauces for grilling. From spicy barbecue sauce to hot chipotle and chimichurri with a kick, vibrant sauces can easily add an unforgettable heat level and flavor profile to your signature grilled dishes. Consider all the above-listed hot sauces to set your loved ones’ taste buds ablaze this summer.
