Kansas City barbecue means a sweet, mild rub under a thick, glossy tomato-and-molasses sauce, used on ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends and chicken. Our Kansas City range covers sauces and rubs from Meat Mitch, Three Little Pigs BBQ, Loot N' Booty and Croix Valley, and nearly all of it is mild. Flat $10 shipping Australia-wide.
Which Kansas City sauce or rub should I buy?
| Product | Maker | Style / heat | Best on |
| WHOMP! Competition BBQ Sauce | Meat Mitch | Sweet-heat KC sauce / mild (3/11) | Ribs, pulled pork, brisket |
| WHOMP! Naked BBQ Sauce | Meat Mitch | All-natural, no HFCS / mild (2/11) | Pork, ribs, chicken |
| Char Bar Table Sauce | Meat Mitch | Smoky-sweet table sauce / mild (2/11) | Ribs, brisket, burgers |
| WHOMP! Competition Rub | Meat Mitch | Sweet competition rub / mild (2/11) | Ribs, brisket, chicken |
| Steer Season Beef Rub | Meat Mitch | Savoury beef rub / mild (2/11) | Brisket, steak, short ribs |
| KC Championship Rub | Three Little Pigs BBQ | Sweet and spicy rub / mild (2/11) | Ribs, pulled pork, chicken |
| Competition BBQ Sauce | Three Little Pigs BBQ | KC-style tomato sauce / mild (2/11) | Ribs, brisket, pulled pork |
| Apple Cherry BBQ Sauce | Loot N' Booty | Fruity KC-style sauce / cool as (0/11) | Ribs, pulled pork, chicken |
| Kansas City BBQ Dry Rub | Croix Valley | Brown sugar and paprika / cool as (0/11) | Pork ribs, burnt ends, pulled pork |
How to cook Kansas City style
- Rub first: coat ribs or pork shoulder in a sweet KC rub, then smoke low and slow.
- Sauce late: brush on sauce in the last 15 to 20 minutes so the sugar sets into a glaze instead of burning.
- Burnt ends: cube the fatty point of a smoked brisket, toss with rub and sauce, and return it to the smoker until sticky.
- Keep a bottle on the table for dipping.
- Every product page shows its Hub Heat rating out of 11.
Kansas City vs Texas vs Carolina BBQ
Kansas City is about thick, sweet tomato sauce on all kinds of smoked meat. Central Texas leans on salt-and-pepper beef with sauce on the side. Carolina barbecue is pork with thin vinegar or mustard sauces. See Texas BBQ for the beef side, or Lillie's Q for Carolina-style sauces.
Gluten free and vegan KC sauces
Meat Mitch's WHOMP! Competition, Naked and Char Bar sauces are tagged gluten free and vegan, and Croix Valley's Kansas City BBQ Dry Rub is tagged gluten free and vegan with no MSG. Croix Valley's rub is new to the shelf, so check the product page for stock. Check the ingredient list on each product page; recipes can change.
Keep going: sweet & smoky, BBQ sauce, ribs and pulled pork. KC brands: Meat Mitch and Three Little Pigs BBQ.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Kansas City BBQ sauce in Australia?
The Rub Hub stocks Kansas City-style sauces and rubs from Meat Mitch, Three Little Pigs BBQ, Loot N' Booty and Croix Valley, and ships Australia-wide for a flat $10.
What is Kansas City style BBQ sauce?
Kansas City BBQ sauce is thick, sweet and tomato-based, usually with molasses or brown sugar, vinegar and spices. It's made to cling to ribs, pulled pork, chicken and burnt ends.
What makes Kansas City BBQ different?
Kansas City barbecue smokes many kinds of meat, from ribs and pork to brisket and chicken, and finishes them with a thick, sweet sauce. Texas leans on salt-and-pepper beef, and the Carolinas on pork with vinegar or mustard sauce.
Is Kansas City BBQ sauce spicy?
Usually not. Meat Mitch's Naked and Char Bar sauces are mild (2/11), the WHOMP! Competition sauce is mild (3/11) with a sweet-heat kick, and Loot N' Booty's Apple Cherry has no chilli heat.
What are burnt ends?
Burnt ends are cubes cut from the fatty point of a smoked brisket, tossed in rub and sauce and smoked again until sticky and caramelised. They're a Kansas City barbecue classic.