Start by heating 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil is warm, add the finely chopped yellow onion.

Cook the onions for about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until they’re soft and see-through.

Next, add 2 teaspoons of minced garlic and cook it for about 30 seconds, just until you can smell that lovely garlic aroma.

Now, pour in the 8-ounce can of tomato sauce along with 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. Stir everything together well.

To balance the flavours, add 2 and a half tablespoons of light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of molasses, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce. Give it another good stir.

Then, add 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, half a teaspoon each of onion powder, black pepper, and liquid smoke. Don’t forget to season with salt to your liking. If you want the sauce to have a richer BBQ flavour, toss in 2 teaspoons of your favourite BBQ sauce.

Turn the heat down to low and let the sauce simmer gently for about 20 minutes. Stir it occasionally so it doesn’t stick. This simmering helps all the flavours come together and thickens the sauce just right.

Before serving, give the sauce a taste and adjust the seasoning if you feel it needs a little more salt, pepper, or vinegar. Once it’s just right, take it off the heat and let it cool down a bit before using.