Western BBQ Sauce Sampler: Kansas City, Memphis & Texas

True Made Foods was founded by Abe Kamarck in 2015 and is based in Alexandria, Virginia, and Raleigh, North Carolina. Father-and-son pitmasters Ed and Ryan Mitchell joined as co-founders in 2018 to develop the barbecue range. The company uses fruits and vegetables in its condiments to reduce reliance on added sugar. Its Pitmaster recipes bring that approach together with the Mitchell family's barbecue traditions and an interest in food shared around the family table.

This Western BBQ sauce sampler brings three regional styles together in one three-bottle pack: Original Kansas City, Memphis Sweet and Texas Bold. It is a convenient way to compare a sweet, thick sauce with a fruit-and-tamarind recipe and a savory, beef-broth-based blend. Each bottle has a different role at the grill or dinner table, from finishing ribs to adding flavor to brisket.

Compare three regional barbecue styles

Original Kansas City combines a tomato base with butternut squash, carrot, brown sugar and smoky flavor. Its thicker, sweeter profile works as a finishing sauce for ribs, chicken and burgers. It is the bottle to choose when you want a familiar sweet barbecue finish.

Memphis Sweet brings together dates, apple, tomato and tamarind. Mustard, cayenne, allspice and black pepper give it a different balance from Original. Try it on ribs, pulled pork or chicken, or serve it alongside grilled vegetables so everyone can add their own amount.

Texas Bold uses apple cider vinegar, dates, vegetables, beef broth, ancho chili and cumin. The supplier presents it as a bold, spicy sauce for brisket, burnt ends and other beef dishes. Its beef broth is an important distinction when choosing sauces for a mixed group of eaters.

The complete assortment is not vegan because Texas Bold contains beef broth. It is also not an entirely no-added-sugar or Paleo assortment: Original Kansas City contains brown sugar. Memphis Sweet and Texas Bold are described by the supplier as having no added sugar, but naturally occurring sugars remain. The supplier identifies all three as gluten-free and cautions that BBQ sauces are not produced in an allergen-free facility.

For help reading the distinction, see the FDA guide to added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label.

What is included

• Pack quantity: 3 bottles.
• One bottle of each included flavor: Original Kansas City, Memphis Sweet, Texas Bold.
• Format: bottled barbecue sauces; individual recipes vary.
• Made in North Carolina, United States.

Browse more BBQ sauces at BuyAmerican or explore gifts and essentials for the grill master to build a barbecue spread.

Ingredients by sauce

Original Kansas City: Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Vegetable Puree (Butternut Squash, Carrot), Brown Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Garlic Powder, Allspice, Onion Powder, Natural Liquid Smoke (Water, Natural Smoke).

Memphis Sweet: Dates, Carrot, Apple, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Tamarind, Butternut Squash, Salt, Distilled Vinegar, Mustard (Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric), Paprika, Allspice, Onion Powder, Nutmeg, Garlic Powder, Cayenne, Black Pepper.

Texas Bold: Apple Cider Vinegar, Dates, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Butternut Squash, Carrots, Salt, Paprika, Chili Pepper, Ancho Chili Pepper, Onion Powder, Beef Broth, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, Allspice, Cumin, Natural Liquid Smoke (Water, Natural Smoke).

These ingredient lists follow the supplier’s individual sauce descriptions. Review the current bottle label for the final ingredient and nutrition information before use, especially when choosing food for someone with an allergy or dietary restriction.

Serving and bottle care

For a side-by-side tasting, cook one batch of ribs, chicken or brisket and serve small portions of each sauce separately. This lets guests compare the sweeter Kansas City finish with Memphis tamarind and Texas spices. You can also keep a bottle at the table for sandwiches or leftovers instead of committing the entire meal to one sauce.

Follow the storage and handling directions printed on each bottle, including its instructions after opening. Check the date and seal before serving, and use the product-specific label when comparing serving sizes. Individual recipes have different nutrition profiles, so one bottle’s panel should not be applied to the entire assortment.