Stubb’s BBQ Sauce Flavors Ranked From Worst To Best
The Image Party/Shutterstock By Vedran Maslovara/May 5, 2022 10:16 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Summer is quickly approaching, which signifies one important thing for all meat lovers — barbecue season. The next time you’re in a supermarket, chances are you’re heading to the barbecue sauce section in hopes of finding the one to rule them all by adding flavor and an extra kick to your meat. Luckily, there is a wide array to choose from. Some like the organic, mild, and sweet sauces, while others will opt for smoky and tangy barbecue sauces. There are also other flavors, such as the classic, balanced blends that don’t overpower the flavor of the meat.
One brand that offers a bit of all the aforementioned varieties is Stubb’s, a barbecue sauce company named after C.B. Stubblefield, affectionately called Stubb, who founded a small restaurant called Stubb’s Bar-B-Que in 1968. It was here that he first served his famous sauce, but it wasn’t until he later moved to Austin, Texas that he started to bottle the condiment “in old jam jars and Jack Daniel’s bottles with the labels scraped off, corking them with a jalapeno” (via Southern Living). In 1992, Stubb’s Original and Spicy sauces began appearing in grocery stores, and now, can easily be found throughout the U.S., as the company was bought by McCormick in 2015 for an astounding $100 million (per The Baltimore Sun). With a variety of flavors to choose from, here’s our list of Stubb’s flavors ranked from worst to best to help you choose a barbecue sauce for all your grilling needs.
- Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce
The original is always the best, right? Well, perhaps not always. This classic barbecue sauce might not be the best brand according to 48% of people, but a smaller percentage do consider it a favorite.
Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q sauce has a tomato and vinegar base, with aromas reminiscent of sweet molasses and chipotle. There’s also a strong vinegary note that brings all the flavors together. Per The MeatWave, however, “there isn’t much sweetness going on, instead you get the bite of vinegar followed by a wallop of heat, tasting mostly of sharp black pepper and smoky chipotle.” The texture is described as very thin and “grainy and gritty,” which might work well when cooking with it, but enjoying it as a dip might ruin the experience. Once cooked, the flavor of tomatoes becomes really pronounced, and there is not much caramelization on the meat to be excited about. The folks at BBQ Sauce Reviews also didn’t find many reasons to purchase the sauce, noting that it doesn’t provide any heat, chunks, or smokiness. They also found it to be thin and stated that it doesn’t stick to the meat as a good barbecue sauce should. Still, the sauce received a 3/5 score, with the redeeming qualities being that it doesn’t contain gluten or artificial ingredients.
Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q sauce ranks in at number nine.
- Stubb’s Spicy Bar-B-Q Sauce
There are days when regular barbecue sauce just won’t do the trick and we’d like something spicy with an extra kick that will potentially leave us slightly sweaty and give us that much-needed jolt of energy. Stubb’s Spicy Bar-B-Q Sauce, the hottest of Stubb’s line of sauces, promises to deliver the heat. This condiment actually starts with Stubb’s Original Sauce, while habaneros, cayenne, and black pepper are added for spiciness (per Hot Sauce). But does it also deserve to be in the list of spicy foods you need to try before you die?
The MeatWave reports that it has a basic aroma of tomatoes and vinegar, with a “faint smokiness, along with notes of garlic and onion.” The texture is described as smooth, not too thin, and not too thick. Once consumed, the sauce has a mild burn, but only after some time, and the flavor can’t really be described as hot, which makes it deserve a slightly above average rating. Some reviewers on Influenster find that the condiment has a “big kick to it,” while others expected “more of a kick from the spice.” All things said, we’ve found this one to be somewhat better than average and we’re ranking it in at number four.
Stubb’s BBQ Sauce Flavors Ranked From Worst To Best
The Image Party/Shutterstock
By Vedran Maslovara/May 5, 2022 10:16 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Summer is quickly approaching, which signifies one important thing for all meat lovers — barbecue season. The next time you’re in a supermarket, chances are you’re heading to the barbecue sauce section in hopes of finding the one to rule them all by adding flavor and an extra kick to your meat. Luckily, there is a wide array to choose from. Some like the organic, mild, and sweet sauces, while others will opt for smoky and tangy barbecue sauces. There are also other flavors, such as the classic, balanced blends that don’t overpower the flavor of the meat.
One brand that offers a bit of all the aforementioned varieties is Stubb’s, a barbecue sauce company named after C.B. Stubblefield, affectionately called Stubb, who founded a small restaurant called Stubb’s Bar-B-Que in 1968. It was here that he first served his famous sauce, but it wasn’t until he later moved to Austin, Texas that he started to bottle the condiment “in old jam jars and Jack Daniel’s bottles with the labels scraped off, corking them with a jalapeno” (via Southern Living). In 1992, Stubb’s Original and Spicy sauces began appearing in grocery stores, and now, can easily be found throughout the U.S., as the company was bought by McCormick in 2015 for an astounding $100 million (per The Baltimore Sun). With a variety of flavors to choose from, here’s our list of Stubb’s flavors ranked from worst to best to help you choose a barbecue sauce for all your grilling needs.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
One brand that offers a bit of all the aforementioned varieties is Stubb’s, a barbecue sauce company named after C.B. Stubblefield, affectionately called Stubb, who founded a small restaurant called Stubb’s Bar-B-Que in 1968. It was here that he first served his famous sauce, but it wasn’t until he later moved to Austin, Texas that he started to bottle the condiment “in old jam jars and Jack Daniel’s bottles with the labels scraped off, corking them with a jalapeno” (via Southern Living).
In 1992, Stubb’s Original and Spicy sauces began appearing in grocery stores, and now, can easily be found throughout the U.S., as the company was bought by McCormick in 2015 for an astounding $100 million (per The Baltimore Sun). With a variety of flavors to choose from, here’s our list of Stubb’s flavors ranked from worst to best to help you choose a barbecue sauce for all your grilling needs.
10. Stubb’s Dr Pepper Bar-B-Q Sauce
9. Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce
The original is always the best, right? Well, perhaps not always. This classic barbecue sauce might not be the best brand according to 48% of people, but a smaller percentage do consider it a favorite.
Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q sauce has a tomato and vinegar base, with aromas reminiscent of sweet molasses and chipotle. There’s also a strong vinegary note that brings all the flavors together. Per The MeatWave, however, “there isn’t much sweetness going on, instead you get the bite of vinegar followed by a wallop of heat, tasting mostly of sharp black pepper and smoky chipotle.” The texture is described as very thin and “grainy and gritty,” which might work well when cooking with it, but enjoying it as a dip might ruin the experience. Once cooked, the flavor of tomatoes becomes really pronounced, and there is not much caramelization on the meat to be excited about. The folks at BBQ Sauce Reviews also didn’t find many reasons to purchase the sauce, noting that it doesn’t provide any heat, chunks, or smokiness. They also found it to be thin and stated that it doesn’t stick to the meat as a good barbecue sauce should. Still, the sauce received a 3/5 score, with the redeeming qualities being that it doesn’t contain gluten or artificial ingredients.
Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q sauce ranks in at number nine.
Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q sauce has a tomato and vinegar base, with aromas reminiscent of sweet molasses and chipotle. There’s also a strong vinegary note that brings all the flavors together. Per The MeatWave, however, “there isn’t much sweetness going on, instead you get the bite of vinegar followed by a wallop of heat, tasting mostly of sharp black pepper and smoky chipotle.” The texture is described as very thin and “grainy and gritty,” which might work well when cooking with it, but enjoying it as a dip might ruin the experience. Once cooked, the flavor of tomatoes becomes really pronounced, and there is not much caramelization on the meat to be excited about.
The folks at BBQ Sauce Reviews also didn’t find many reasons to purchase the sauce, noting that it doesn’t provide any heat, chunks, or smokiness. They also found it to be thin and stated that it doesn’t stick to the meat as a good barbecue sauce should. Still, the sauce received a 3/5 score, with the redeeming qualities being that it doesn’t contain gluten or artificial ingredients.
Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q sauce ranks in at number nine.
8. Stubb’s Sweet Honey & Spice Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce
Taste of Home reports that they’ve tested this one on pork chops, chicken, and burgers, and the results are not that great. The sauce came up short due to its “thin texture, lack of sweetness, and strong vinegar flavor.”
We’re ranking this one in at number eight.
7. Stubb’s Sweet Heat Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce
All in all, Stubb’s Sweet Heat Bar-B-Q Sauce comes in at number seven.
6. Stubb’s Hickory Bourbon Legendary Bar-B-Q Sauce
This smoky, sweet, and tangy sauce is definitely not the best, but it’s also not the worst so we’re ranking it in at number six.
5. Stubb’s Sticky Sweet Bar-B-Q Sauce
Although very good, it’s not the absolute best that Stubb’s has to offer, but the middle place in the ranking is still a sweet spot to be in.
4. Stubb’s Spicy Bar-B-Q Sauce
There are days when regular barbecue sauce just won’t do the trick and we’d like something spicy with an extra kick that will potentially leave us slightly sweaty and give us that much-needed jolt of energy. Stubb’s Spicy Bar-B-Q Sauce, the hottest of Stubb’s line of sauces, promises to deliver the heat. This condiment actually starts with Stubb’s Original Sauce, while habaneros, cayenne, and black pepper are added for spiciness (per Hot Sauce). But does it also deserve to be in the list of spicy foods you need to try before you die?
The MeatWave reports that it has a basic aroma of tomatoes and vinegar, with a “faint smokiness, along with notes of garlic and onion.” The texture is described as smooth, not too thin, and not too thick. Once consumed, the sauce has a mild burn, but only after some time, and the flavor can’t really be described as hot, which makes it deserve a slightly above average rating. Some reviewers on Influenster find that the condiment has a “big kick to it,” while others expected “more of a kick from the spice.” All things said, we’ve found this one to be somewhat better than average and we’re ranking it in at number four.
The MeatWave reports that it has a basic aroma of tomatoes and vinegar, with a “faint smokiness, along with notes of garlic and onion.” The texture is described as smooth, not too thin, and not too thick. Once consumed, the sauce has a mild burn, but only after some time, and the flavor can’t really be described as hot, which makes it deserve a slightly above average rating. Some reviewers on Influenster find that the condiment has a “big kick to it,” while others expected “more of a kick from the spice.”
All things said, we’ve found this one to be somewhat better than average and we’re ranking it in at number four.
3. Stubb’s Simply Sweet Reduced Sugar Bar-B-Q Sauce
This one comes highly recommended and deserves a spot near the top, so we’re ranking it in at number three.
2. Stubb’s Smokey Mesquite Bar-B-Q Sauce
stubbsbbqsauce/Instagram
1. Stubb’s Smokey Brown Sugar Bar-B-Q Sauce
Wickidfunphotos/Instagram
What’s best, the condiment doesn’t contain the notoriously unhealthy high-fructose corn syrup, so people don’t have to worry about serving it to their families. Over at Walmart, reviewers noted that the sauce has “just the right balance of sweet and spicy.” We’ve found this thick sauce to be the best of the bunch.
