Summer barbecue season brings the age-old question: which sauce will make your grilled meats sing? Not all BBQ sauces are created equal, and the difference between a brilliant banger and a disappointing dud can make or break your cookout.
From watery disappointments to rich, smoky delights, we've rounded up the worst offenders and champions you'll find on UK supermarket shelves.
1. Great Value-Style Own-Brand Watery Sauces
Thin and lacklustre, these budget-friendly options from Sainsbury's and Asda value lines promise much but deliver little. Food & Wine critics noted their disappointing consistency—more like coloured water than proper sauce.
The Sun's taste testers found them overly sweet with artificial flavouring that lingers unpleasantly. Food Republic experts compared them to 'sugary ketchup with smoke essence' rather than authentic BBQ sauce.
2. Kinder's Hickory Brown Sugar
Once promising on the label, this sauce betrays your taste buds with its watered-down flavour profile. Food Republic's expert panel unanimously panned it for lacking depth and complexity—one critic compared it to 'brown sugar water with artificial smoke'.
Reddit BBQ enthusiasts warn fellow grillers to avoid this disappointment. Great British Chefs highlighted its unbalanced sweetness that overwhelms rather than complements meat.
3. Overly Sweet Supermarket Variants
Cloying sweetness masks any hint of smoke or tang in these disappointing high-street offerings. Yahoo's consumer testing revealed these sauces contain up to twice the sugar of premium alternatives, earning them low marks for authenticity.
The Sun's BBQ special rated certain Tesco and Sainsbury's ranges a measly ⅖, with testers complaining of 'candy-like' flavours. One tester remarked it was 'like pouring melted jam on perfectly good meat'.
4. Kraft BBQ Sauce
A famous name doesn't guarantee quality, as proven by this underwhelming offering. UK forums consistently rank it among the bottom tier, with Reddit's r/BBQ community particularly vocal about its shortcomings.
Food & Wine compared it to 'sugary ketchup with liquid smoke' rather than authentic barbecue flavour. Trolley reviews echo this sentiment, with customers describing it as 'bland' and lacking the depth expected from proper BBQ sauce.
5. Generic No-Sugar-Added Or Sugar-Free Sauces
Health-conscious but flavour-deficient, these alternatives sacrifice taste for fewer calories. Great British Chefs' taste panel described the artificial sweetener aftertaste as 'lingering and chemical'.
Yahoo reviewers used words like 'gross' and 'medicinal' to describe one popular brand. The WoodSmoke Forum's BBQ enthusiasts agree these sauces miss the mark entirely, with one expert noting: 'They've removed sugar but forgotten to add flavour'.
6. Whole Foods 365 Original Barbecue Sauce
Premium price doesn't guarantee premium taste with this oddly spiced concoction. Chowhound reviewers highlighted its jarring 'bold citrus' notes and unusual spice blend featuring cumin and coriander—flavours that clash with traditional BBQ profiles.
Reddit's BBQ community described it as 'confused' and 'trying too hard to be different'. Serious Eats experts noted its thin consistency and lack of smoke depth fails to justify its higher price point.
7. Heinz Classic BBQ Sauce
Reliable excellence makes this a staple in British cupboards nationwide. Serious Eats praised its perfect balance of sweetness, tang and smoke - ideal for both dipping and glazing.
Trolley reviewers consistently rate it among their top choices, noting its 'authentic American flavour'. Sainsbury's customer reviews highlight its versatility, working brilliantly with everything from burgers to pulled pork sandwiches.
8. Heinz Sweet Sticky BBQ Sauce
Gloriously rich and clingy, this sauce grips to meat like it was made for it. Serious Eats' testing panel highlighted its perfect caramelization properties when used as a glaze during the final minutes of grilling.
Trolley's user reviews consistently award it top marks for its balanced molasses notes. Reddit's BBQ community praises its thick consistency that doesn't slide off food—perfect for chicken wings and ribs that need that sticky-finger experience.
9. Bull's-Eye Original BBQ Sauce
Authentic smokehouse flavour in a convenient bottle makes this sauce a champion. The Sun's BBQ special rated it among the 'most authentic American-style sauces' available in UK supermarkets.
Reddit's grilling community regularly recommends it to BBQ newcomers seeking reliable quality. Trolley reviews praise its thick, clingy texture that adheres beautifully to meat without burning too quickly on the grill.
10. Red's Kansas City BBQ Sauce
Kansas City style perfection bottled for British BBQ enthusiasts! Sainsbury's customers consistently award it five stars, praising its authentic American flavour profile.
Trolley ranked it in their top choices, with users describing it as 'the real deal'. The Sun's BBQ experts highlighted its perfect balance of sweetness, tang and smoke—hallmarks of proper Kansas City style sauce that transforms ordinary grilled meats into restaurant-quality fare.
11. Stokes Original Barbecue Sauce
Handcrafted excellence from a British brand that understands proper BBQ. Great British Chefs praised its thick, fruity profile with natural smoke notes that don't taste artificial or chemical.
WoodSmoke Forum members consider it among the few UK-made sauces that rival American classics. Reddit's BBQ community appreciates its versatility—excellent as both a marinade and finishing sauce, with one user noting: 'It's what I serve when I want to impress guests'.
12. Rufus Teague Honey Sweet BBQ Sauce
Served in a distinctive flask-shaped bottle, this sauce offers gourmet complexity in every drop. Great British Chefs crowned it their overall winner, praising its umami depth from unexpected ingredients like anchovy paste and raisin.
The unique flavour profile develops as you eat—starting sweet before revealing layers of complexity. Reddit's BBQ aficionados consider it worth the premium price, with many noting it transforms even basic supermarket meat into something special.
13. Bachan's Japanese BBQ Sauce
An exciting fusion option that's recently appeared in Aldi stores across the UK. This umami-rich sauce brings teriyaki-inspired complexity with a BBQ twist that works brilliantly on everything from chicken to aubergine.
Allrecipes experts noted its perfect balance of sweet, savoury and tangy notes—ideal for those seeking something beyond traditional American-style sauces. The small-batch quality is evident in every bottle, making it a surprising gourmet find at budget-friendly Aldi.
