Barbecue sauce is a grilling basic. There are plenty of good barbecue sauces that you can buy, but they are easy to make at home in large enough amounts to last for a couple of weeks of grilling.
You can double or triple any of our favorite recipes, like Classic, Jack Black, or Carolina Mustard, to make batches in the size you require. That way, you’ll have plenty to both baste the food and to pass on the side at the table. (Never serve the sauce you used to baste foods, especially potentially hazardous foods like poultry, meats, or fish.)
When you are ready to grill, measure out the amount you need and heat it right on the grill, if you have room, or on a burner. It should come to a simmer and stay there for 3 minutes. This step gives you a chance to check the barbecue sauce for flavor and consistency. Add more seasonings to the barbecue sauce now. One obvious adjustment is salt and pepper. Instead of black pepper, you might want to add some finely minced chiles, a few drops (or more) of your favorite hot sauce, a little cayenne, or red pepper flakes. Citrus juices, vinegars, brewed coffee, and mustard are all good options as basic seasoning adjustments.
The sauce should be thick enough to cling, but not so thick that it covers the food in a heavy layer. As barbecue sauces sit in the refrigerator they can become thicker, so if you need to thin the sauce, use either plain water (add it just a spoonful at a time to the simmering sauce), a broth, beer, or other flavorful liquid until the sauce has a good consistency.
Keep the sauce warm and have a brush at the ready. A 2-inch wide brush with a long handle is the best choice. You can keep the barbecue sauce right on the grill but pulled to the edge, if there is enough room.
Remember that several light coats produce a richer glaze. Not only that, but brushing on just enough to cling means you are less likely to scorch the food you are grilling.
Finally, once you are done grilling, discard any of the sauce you used for glazing. If you want to pass sauce on the side, measure out some more and warm it up.