Add your butter to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Let it melt slowly and start to bubble just a little before moving on. This gives the whole sauce a richer base right from the start.

Pour in the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce and give everything a good stir. The kitchen already starts smelling amazing at this point, I promise you.

Add the brown sugar and yellow mustard right into the pan and mix until the sugar dissolves completely. Don’t rush this step because you want it all blended evenly before the spices go in.

Sprinkle in the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, and salt. Stir everything together and take a little sniff because that smoky smell is just wonderful.

Reduce your heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes. It will thicken up beautifully, and the flavors will come together in the best way.

Before you pull it off the heat, grab a spoon and taste it. Want it sweeter? Add a little more brown sugar. Want more tang? A splash more vinegar does the trick.

Take the pan off the heat and let the sauce cool for about 10 minutes before pouring it into a jar. It thickens a bit more as it cools, so don’t panic if it looks a little thin right off the stove.