Sweet Baby Ray's Original Barbecue Sauce

Sweet Baby Ray's Original Barbecue Sauce is America's most popular barbecue sauce, and for under $4 for an 18-ounce bottle—roughly $0.19 per ounce—it delivers unmatched value and crowd-pleasing flavor. Rooted in Kansas City tradition, this thick, sweet, and smoky sauce combines high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, tomato puree, vinegar, and hickory smoke flavoring for a glossy, clingy texture that adheres perfectly to ribs, wings, and pulled pork. With 35 calories and 8 grams of sugar per tablespoon, the sugar load creates a mahogany caramelization ideal for a final five- to ten-minute glaze over direct heat. Its mild, sweet-forward profile, balanced by vinegar tang and smoke, makes it the gold standard among store-bought options for casual grilling. Best for: pork ribs glaze, chicken wing sauce, pulled pork stir-in, burger condiment, and dipping sauce. Available nationwide. A no-sugar-added version with 1 gram of sugar is also an option. If you stock only one bottle for summer grilling, this is it.