Homemade Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce is the secret ingredient that adds depth, tang and umami to everything from burgers to Bloody Marys. This easy homemade Worcestershire sauce recipe comes together in just 10 minutes and tastes even better than store-bought.

What is Worcestershire Sauce?

Worcestershire sauce is a widely used condiment with a distinctive and complex flavor profile. This thin sauce is known for its ability to add depth, umami richness, and a savory kick to a variety of dishes. Its origins trace back to Worcester, England, where it was first created.

Although the exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, Worcestershire sauce typically contains ingredients such as anchovies, vinegar (often malt vinegar), molasses, tamarind, garlic, onions, salt, sugar, and a blend of spices and seasonings. These components are carefully fermented, aged, and then strained to create the flavorful sauce used in many global cuisines.

The sauce’s popularity stems from its ability to balance sweet, sour, savory, and spicy elements, making it a versatile ingredient. This popular sauce adds a distinctive and robust flavor that elevates the overall taste of many dishes.

Use it as a marinade, a seasoning in sauces, or a flavor enhancer in cocktails and soups.

What You’ll Need

You only need a handful of pantry ingredients to make this homemade Worcestershire sauce. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

• Tamarind paste or liquid aminos– These are both naturally gluten-free, and tamarind is used in the original, but soy sauce can be used.

Ways to Use It

One of the funniest memes I’ve ever seen was a picture of a Worcestershire bottle and someone saying they only buy one every decade. Well, foodie friends, I use mine a lot and probably buy a bottle once per month!

1. Marinades: Combine Worcestershire sauce with other ingredients like olive oil, garlic, herbs, and spices to create flavorful marinades for meats, chicken, seafood, or tofu. It is also acidic, so it digs deep into fibers and helps to tenderize.
2. Steak Sauce: Drizzle Worcestershire sauce over cooked steaks or mix it with melted butter for a classic steak sauce. Or even top it was a Red Wine Mushroom Sauce that is amped with Worcestershire.
3. Bloody Mary: Add a dash or two to your Bloody Marys for an extra layer of umami flavor and richness.
4. Caesar Salad Dressing: Incorporate Worcestershire sauce into your Caesar salad dressing recipe to enhance the depth of flavor. Some even use it instead of anchovies.
5. Barbecue Sauce: Use it as an ingredient in homemade barbecue sauces to give them a tangy and savory kick.
6. Soups and Stews: Add a few dashes to soups and stews, such as beef stew or chili recipes, for a deeper, richer flavor in a flash.
7. Burgers: Mix Worcestershire sauce into your ground meat when making burgers for added juiciness and flavor.
8. Glazes: Create glazes for baked or grilled meats, such as ham or chicken, by combining Worcestershire sauce with other ingredients like honey, brown sugar, or Dijon mustard.
9. Seafood: Use Worcestershire sauce as a dipping sauce for seafood, such as oysters or shrimp cocktail.
10. Beef Jerky: Include Worcestershire sauce in your homemade beef jerky marinade for a unique flavor profile.

How to Make Worcestershire Sauce (Step-by-Step)

Once you make your own, you’ll never go back to buying it in the grocery store!

1. Combine ingredients. Combine the vinegar, water, tamarind (or liquid aminos), brown sugar, ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and hot sauce in a small saucepan. Bring to a low simmer.
2. Simmer on low and whisk for 5 minutes.
3. Cool and use immediately or store.

Recipes that Use Worcestershire Sauce

There are many recipes that use Worcestershire sauce across our sites; here are a few, but click the link above for a full list. 

We love to use Worcestershire sauce to boost the flavor in crab cake egg rolls, Skyline chili, and sloppy Joe sliders. It’s also a great addition to homemade turkey injection seasoning, skirt steak marinade, meatloaf glaze and remoulade sauce. 

Your Questions, Answered

Homemade Worcestershire Sauce Recipe

Make your own homemade Worcestershire Sauce with simple ingredients so that you can have the popular sauce handy all the time!

5 from 11 votes

Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: homemade worcestershire sauce

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 8kcal

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons tamarind or liquid aminos
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 1-3 dabs hot sauce

Instructions

• Combine the vinegar, water, tamarind (or liquid aminos), brown sugar, ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and hot sauce in a small saucepan. Bring to a low simmer.
• Simmer on low and whisk for 5 minutes.
• Cool and use or immediately.
• If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how you liked it in the comments or star ratings.

Video

Notes

Storage: While the jury is out on whether it’s necessary to refrigerate Worcestershire sauce, it will most definitely last far longer in the fridge in an airtight container or mason jar — up to a couple of years. 

Freezing: You can freeze Worcestershire sauce, but since it keeps well in the refrigerator, there’s little need to do so.

Nutrition

Calories: 8kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.004g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g, Sodium: 100mg, Potassium: 8mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 0.2IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 0.05mg

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