With summer's arrival and the grill fired up for backyard barbecues, we crave what's fast, flavorful, and unfussy. But we don't have to settle for bottled barbecue sauce when a delicious homemade sauce is just a stir away—and surprisingly simple to make.

Barbecue sauce can be made in advance, and in large batches (these recipes can be doubled or tripled). Once prepared, place the sauce in a glass jar or heat-proof plastic container; cover and refrigerate for up to a month. Or freeze in small batches for up to a year, defrosting as needed in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop. In addition to offering make-ahead convenience, preparing your own sauce allows you to customize the flavor. Also, homemade sauces tend to be much lower in sodium than commercial ones.

The best sauces have enough body to stand up to direct cooking and just enough sugar to caramelize into a glaze, which means they can cook for perhaps 10 minutes, but not much longer. Rather than dousing food with the sauce before it hits the heat, slather it on during the last few minutes of cooking.

Whip up two or three sauces, and then let your guests and family choose their favorites at your next backyard gathering.

BBQ Sauce Beyond the Grill
A good barbecue sauce can serve a host of functions in the kitchen.

• Pour over scrambled eggs for a morning pick-me-up.

• Thin with vegetable broth, and use as a salad dressing.

• Use as a dip for crudités.

• Spread like mayonnaise in a wrap or on a sandwich.

• Ladle on a bare pizza crust.

• Toss with hot noodles and sliced vegetables for a twist on pasta salad.

• Use in a stir-fry as part of the sauce.

• Brush on oven roasts during the last 20 minutes of cooking.