Business Insider Ranks Top Store-Bought Barbecue Sauces for Grilling Season

A Business Insider review recently ranked four store-bought barbecue sauces, assessing their suitability for grilling season. The evaluation involved tasting each sauce independently and paired with chicken nuggets to gauge flavor, consistency, and overall appeal.

The review first examined Kraft's slow-simmered original barbecue sauce, available for $4.69 for an 18-ounce bottle at a Key Food supermarket in Brooklyn, New York. This sauce was noted for its watery, ketchup-like consistency and a light, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor with honey undertones, though it was considered to lack a strong enough barbecue flavor.

Next, KC Masterpiece's American Original barbecue sauce was tested. Priced at $3.29 for an 18-ounce bottle at the same Key Food location, it was the most affordable option. This sauce stood out for its thick, dark, and molasses-like consistency, delivering a robust, smoky, and very sweet flavor. However, it was noted to lack the tangy element that would provide a more dynamic profile.

The Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce with no added sugar was then reviewed. Costing $5.39 for an 18.5-ounce bottle, it was the most expensive. This sauce featured a balanced consistency that coated chicken nuggets effectively without being too thick or watery. It was highly praised for its flavor, offering a balance of sweetness without being overwhelming, coupled with a tangy taste and a smoky flavor free from an overpowering molasses presence.

Sweet Baby Ray's no-sugar-added barbecue sauce was ultimately ranked as the top choice among those tested, recognized for its ideal balance of tangy and sweet flavors and consistent texture.

According to Business Insider, the assessment aimed to help consumers find the tastiest store-bought barbecue sauce for summer grilling.