Charles Dickey Barker BBQ Sauce Recipe

This BBQ sauce comes straight from Uncle Charles Dickey Barker — a man who cooked the same way he lived: boldly, generously, and with zero measuring cups in sight. His original recipe was more of a conversation than a card, passed down exactly the way he said it: “Grab a bottle of Kraft, add honey, a squeeze of lemon, some onions and garlic… then just keep adding A1, Worcestershire, and beer until it tastes right.”

When we finally made it ourselves years later, we understood why everyone talked about Uncle Charles’s sauce. It’s sweet, tangy, smoky, and just a little wild — the kind of sauce that tastes like it’s been in the family forever. Whether you’re brushing it on smoked ribs, stirring it into pulled pork, or simmering cocktail sausages in it for a party, this recipe brings that same unmistakable Barker flavor every single time.

It’s simple, it’s flexible, and it’s pure family tradition — exactly the way Uncle Charles intended.

Charles Dickey Barker BBQ Sauce Recipe

Recipe by My Southern Spoon (MySouthernSpoon.com)
0.0 from 0 votes

Charles Dickey Barker BBQ Sauce Recipe is a rich, sweet, and tangy homemade sauce made with onions, jalapeños, honey, brown sugar, and a splash of beer—slow‑cooked to bold, smoky perfection for ribs, chicken, and pulled pork.

Course: BBQCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

14

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

1

hour 
Calories

130

kcal
Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes
Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

  • Mary’s version of Charles Dickey Barker BBQ Sauce
  • 1 (18‑oz) bottles Kraft Original BBQ Sauce (or any original/plain BBQ sauce)

  • 1 medium onions

  • 1 medium jalapeños, seeded and chopped

  • 1/4 cup honey

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 tablespoons A1 Steak Sauce

  • 1/8 cup beer (any kind you like)

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • Original Charles Dickey Barker BBQ Sauce (As Dictated)
  • 1 18-oz bottle Kraft BBQ Sauce

  • 1 cup honey

  • Lemon Juice

  • Diced Onions

  • Garlic

  • A1 Steak Sauce

  • Worcestershire sauce

  • Beer (a splash… or more, depending on the day)

Directions

  • Melt the butter
    In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
  • Cook the vegetables
    Add the chopped onions and jalapeños.
    Sauté until they are soft and translucent.
  • Blend the mixture
    Transfer the cooked onion and jalapeño mixture to a blender.
    Blend until smooth.
  • Move to saucepan
    Pour the blended mixture into a large saucepan.
  • Add remaining ingredients
    Over medium-low heat, add:
    BBQ sauce
    Honey
    Brown sugar
    Worcestershire sauce
    A1 steak sauce
    Beer
  • Mix thoroughly
    Stir until everything is well combined and fully incorporated.
  • Simmer the sauce
    Reduce heat to low and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
  • Taste and adjust
    Taste the sauce and adjust sweetness, heat, or tang to your preference.

Recipe Video

Thank you

  • Find more recipes at MySouthernSpoon.com Watch step-by-step videos on YouTube:
    @Southernspoon

Such a great barbecue sauce to cook up and store, a crowd pleaser.
Thank you for visiting,
Mary
@southernspoon

  • One 18 oz bottle of Kraft Original Slow-Simmered Barbecue Sauce & Dip
  • Kraft Original Slow-Simmered Barbecue Sauce & Dip is made with quality ingredients
  • Our original barbecue sauce has a bold, smoky flavor with a hint of sweetness