6 Homemade Sauce Recipes

If there is any sauce you must know how to make at home, it’s these 6 homemade sauce recipes!

These 6 Homemade sauce recipes are made with simple ingredients that cost a fraction of the price of store-bought versions, plus they have no unwanted preservatives or added salt!

There are so many ways to use these six sauces. You can serve it over meatballs, with pork chops or chicken drumsticks, drizzled on mashed potatoes or over pasta noodles, or dunk pizza or breadsticks in them!

These are super easy to make and take very little time to prepare. These versatile homemade sauces will go with almost anything and can even be used as an appetizer dip. Below you'll find all six easy sauce recipes plus instructions and ways you can use them.

1. Sweet and Sour Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cup pineapple juice - or orange juice
• ½ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

• Add all sauce ingredients to a saucepan over medium-high heat: 1 ¼ cup pineapple juice, ½ cup ketchup, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 2 Tbsp cornstarch.
• Mix together and stir slowly until the sauce begins to thicken, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and serve or store in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

What To Serve With

Any type of chicken, pork or beef stir fry would taste great! Drizzle this over our sweet and sour meatballs recipe (it's soo good!), or try it with our sweet and sour chicken bites, as a sauce on meatloaf, or brush over baked salmon. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for french fries, chicken tenders, breadsticks or pizza slices!

2. Honey Mustard Sauce

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup dijon mustard
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• ¼ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ⅛ tsp paprika

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl: ⅓ cup dijon mustard, ¼ cup honey, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp white vinegar, ¼ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp garlic powder, and ⅛ tsp paprika. Serve and enjoy (no stove is needed for this recipe) or store in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

What To Serve With

This makes a great salad dressing or marinade! Honey mustard sauce can also be served over baked chicken breasts, drizzled on mashed potatoes, rice or pasta noodles. Brush it over baked salmon, or grilled steak. Or use it as a dipping sauce for chicken wings, potato wedges, breadsticks or pizza.

3. Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups ketchup
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 2 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ ground black pepper
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients: 1 ½ cups ketchup, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup white vinegar, 2 Tbsp worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp ground black pepper, ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp salt in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often until all ingredients are fully mixed. Remove from heat and serve or store in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

What To Serve With

You can use this barbecue sauce the same way you would normally use a store-bought version. Brush it onto grilled steak, chicken or pork chops. Bake chicken in the oven with it. Toss it with pasta or rice. Or use as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets, french fries or breadsticks.

4. Garlic Parmesan Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 garlic cloves - minced
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ¾ cup vegetable broth
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• 8 oz grated parmesan cheese
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

• Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 2 Tbsp of butter and 4 minced garlic cloves. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
• Sprinkle in 2 Tbsp of all-purpose flour and 1 tsp Italian seasoning into the pan and stir with the butter.
• Add the ¾ cup vegetable broth and cook for 1 minute until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Add in the 1 ½ cups heavy cream, 8 oz grated parmesan cheese, and ¼ tsp ground black pepper. Stir slowly until all ingredients come together, the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Remove from heat and serve or store in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

What To Serve With

This garlic parmesan sauce is so rich and creamy. You can serve with like our garlic parmesan pork chops, or swap out for chicken breasts. Toss it with spaghetti pasta noodles to create a rich creamy pasta dish. Drizzle it on top of mashed potatoes, or roasted turkey as an alternative to gravy sauce.

5. Cheese Sauce

Ingredients

Cheese Sauce

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper - optional

Instructions

• Melt the 2 Tbsp unsalted butter in a saucepan. Add in other ingredients: 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup milk, 1 Tbsp cornstarch, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, and ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper over medium-high heat.
• Stir slowly while the sauce ingredients melt and the desired consistency is created. Remove from heat and serve or store in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

What To Serve With

This simple cheese sauce can be tossed with cooked pasta for an easy homemade mac and cheese. Pour it over roasted broccoli, cauliflower, green beans or brussels sprouts. Drizzle on top of baked potatoes or rice. Use as a dipping sauce for raw veggies or breadsticks.

6. Gravy Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp salt - more or less depending on your taste.

Instructions

• Melt 2 Tbsp unsalted butter over low heat in a saucepan. Stir in 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour and continue stirring for 1-2 minutes until well mixed and it begins to brown.
• Whisk in ¼ cup beef broth until combined evenly. Whisk in another ¼ cup and mix again. Then whisk in the rest of the beef broth.
• Now add 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp ground black pepper and ¼ tsp salt. Mix everything together.
• Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce and simmer. Cook for 2-3 more minutes. Remove from heat and serve immediately or store in a mason jar in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

What To Serve With

This simple gravy sauce recipe will pair nicely with any chicken, beef or pork dish. Serve with roasted turkey, roast beef, biscuits, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, or baked tenderloin. Gravy is a classic, and for good reason! It's nice to have a versatile recipe that doesn't require drippings, like this one.

How To Store Leftovers

Most of these sauces can be made in advance. They will freeze well and thaw quickly so you can serve it at a moment’s notice. Any sauce with milk or cheese may not freeze as nicely. The texture will change slightly once these ones thaw out.

• Refrigerate – Store the sauce in a mason jar or airtight container with a lid for up to one week.
• To Freeze – You can freeze most of these sauces for up to 5 months in an airtight bag. Lay it flat while freezing for easy storage. This helps to thaw it fast too!
• To Reheat – Thaw on the counter or in a hot water bath. Reheat back in the saucepan on the stove until it reaches the desired temperature.

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