The Best Store-Brand BBQ Sauce Makes Grilled Meats Taste Unforgettable For Under $5 A Bottle

Many home grillmasters swear by homemade barbecue sauce, but it's really easy to purchase store-bought versions that are pretty darn good. There are plenty of popular name-brands out there that make excellent barbecue sauce (like Sweet Baby Ray's and its many flavors), but surprisingly a lot of store-brands make decent barbecue sauce as well.

When we ranked 12 store-brand BBQ sauces from worst to best we tasted plenty of great options, but the version that came out on top was Kroger's Private Selection Southern Smokehouse BBQ Sauce. Private Selection is billed as Kroger's upscale store-brand, and in terms of its Southern Smokehouse BBQ Sauce it doesn't disappoint. It's a simple sauce that's much less sugary than other brands, which allows a smoky, savory flavor to shine through and make this sauce distinct.

One unique aspect of this sauce is that it features notes of burnt brisket ends; resulting in a decadent sauce that includes flavors of hickory, brown sugar, tomato, and beef broth. The Southern Smokehouse BBQ Sauce isn't overly thick, either, which makes it perfect for basting a rotisserie chicken, brisket, or bone-in pork chop. You can find it exclusively at Kroger for $4.49 for a 19-ounce bottle (price may vary depending on location). That's slightly pricier than some other options (Sweet Baby Ray's 18-ounce bottle sells for $2.59 at Kroger), but the quality and taste of Private Selection Southern Smokehouse BBQ Sauce is totally worth the extra two dollars. It's not a huge surprise because, as the oldest grocery store chain in the country, Kroger has had plenty of success since the first store opened in 1883.

We loved Kroger's Private Selection Southern Smokehouse BBQ Sauce, and we're not the only ones. Kroger customers give it 4.4 out of 5 stars in their reviews. "This BBQ sauce is sooooooo delicious!" one customer says. "I tasted a bit out of the bottle and immediately made BBQ chicken that very night!" Another customer added that the barbecue sauce is perfect for pulled pork.

Another standout in our taste test was the Organic Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce from Trader Joe's. This sauce has an oaky, sweet flavor that includes chipotle, tomato, onion, and garlic. At only $2.99, it's a great deal as well. In terms of the worst sauce we tried, the Honey Sweet BBQ Sauce — also from Kroger — was a hard pass. It smells sweet and tastes even sweeter, to the point of being unpleasant.

If you're not up for making your own barbecue sauce, you've got plenty of options out there. You don't even have to go for the big brands because there are plenty of great grocery store brands that make a perfectly good sauce for chicken, pork, or dipping. Among these options, Kroger's Private Selection Southern Smokehouse BBQ Sauce tops the list.