Add all ingredient to a medium saucepan and whisk them until well combined.
Simmer sauce for 10 minutes over medium heat. Stir as needed to keep the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Turn to medium-low heat if it starts to burn.
Adjust spice and sweetness level to your personal preferences.
Notes
Since we're making a ketchup base, be sure to use a good-quality ketchup as the foundation for your homemade BBQ sauce. This will provide a tangy and slightly sweet flavor that forms the backbone of the sauce.
To give your BBQ sauce a smoky depth, add ingredients like liquid smoke, smoked paprika, or chipotle powder. These additions will help replicate the rich smoky taste typically associated with traditional BBQ sauces.
Ketchup is already slightly sweet, but you can enhance or adjust the sweetness to your liking. Add ingredients like brown sugar, molasses, honey, or maple syrup in small increments, tasting as you go, until you achieve the desired level of sweetness.
If you prefer a thicker sauce, allow it to simmer for longer until it reaches your desired thickness. Conversely, if you want a thinner consistency, you can add a bit of water or broth to thin it out.