Kraft Sweet Brown Sugar Slow-Simmered Barbecue Sauce
Classic barbecue sauce.
View on AmazonReviewed by Avery Wilson • October 15, 2025
Our Review
One 18 oz bottle of Kraft Sweet Brown Sugar Slow-Simmered Barbecue Sauce & Dip Add bold, sweet barbecue flavor to any of your favorite summer grilling foods Our BBQ sauce is a great addition to all your Memorial Day and Fourth of July events Kraft Sweet Brown Sugar Slow-Simmered Barbecue Sauce & Dip is made from quality ingredients Our classic barbecue sauce has a sweet brown sugar BBQ flavor that goes well with wings, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, burgers and more The Kraft Sweet Brown Sugar Slow-Simmered Barbecue Sauce comes in an 18 oz bottle and is marketed as a rich, sweet, and smoky BBQ sauce, with brown sugar as a prominent flavor note and a texture meant to cling to meats and veggies during grilling or baking. It aims to deliver a convenient all-in-one sauce for casual cooking and entertaining. To evaluate this barbecue sauce, the following tests were performed: Straight Spoon Taste Test A small sample was tasted directly from the bottle to assess the raw flavor profile: sweetness, tang, smoke, texture, and aftertaste. Grilled Chicken Thighs Application Marinated bone–in chicken thighs in the sauce for 30 minutes, then grilled on medium heat. Observed how the sauce caramelized, whether it burnt easily, and how the sweetness/smoke balance held up. Ribs Bake & Brush Method Bought baby back ribs, applied the sauce during the last 10 minutes of baking (after pre-cooking). Checked for glaze build-up, texture of sauce once heated, and depth of flavor. Vegetable & Tofu Brush Test For a non-meat context, used the sauce on grilled bell peppers and firm tofu cubes to see how it performed on lighter foods and whether its sweetness overwhelmed or complemented. Consistency & Storage Check Monitored how the sauce behaved when refrigerated after opening: separation, texture change, residual flavor after air exposure, longevity of usability. Results Summary: In the spoon test: the sauce delivers a strong initial sweetness (very brown-sugar pronounced), followed by mild... <truncated>
Pros
- •Easy to use — convenient bottle, ready straight out of the cap.
- •Strong brown-sugar sweet profile makes it very approachable for general audiences.
- •Smooth texture: easy to mix, doesn't feel gritty or massively chunky.
- •Consistent performance: caramelizes and glazes nicely on grilled/baked meats.
- •Good shelf stability once opened (with refrigeration).
- •Works well for casual BBQs, family meals, and as a "safe" option when you want broad appeal rather than bold/experimental flavor.
Cons
- •Sweetness dominates — if you prefer tangy, spicy, or deeply smoky BBQ sauces, this may feel too mild or one-dimensional.
- •Smoke/tang complexity is limited — the sauce lacks the deeper layers you find in premium or artisan BBQ sauces.
- •On lighter foods (vegetables/tofu/fish) the sweetness may overpower rather than complement.
Specifications
- Brand
- Kraft
- Size
- 18 oz bottle
- Primary Flavors
- Sweet brown sugar, smoky, mild tang
- Key Ingredients
- Tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, molasses, spices
- Gluten Free
- Yes
- Consistency
- Smooth and pourable
- Shelf Life
- 12 months unopened
Our Testing Process
To test this classic barbecue sauce, we ran several kitchen trials focusing on flavor, texture, and versatility. The first step was slow-grilling a batch of chicken thighs and pork ribs, brushing the sauce during the final 10 minutes of cooking to evaluate how it caramelized and adhered to the meat. We checked whether the brown sugar content caused burning or delivered a clean glaze. Next, we tested it in a non-grilled setup — as a dipping sauce for crispy chicken tenders and baked meatballs — to see if the sweetness overpowered the smoky flavor when used straight from the bottle. We also mixed a few tablespoons into shredded beef for barbecue sandwiches, gauging how well it blended with other condiments. During each test, tasters recorded notes on aroma, tanginess, sweetness balance, and mouthfeel. The sauce maintained a smooth, pourable consistency and a gentle smoky scent, with a sweet finish that appealed to both kids and adults. Overall, Kraft's Sweet Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce proved consistent, mild, and crowd-friendly, ideal for weeknight grilling or adding instant flavor to quick meals.
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