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Sliced medium-rare steak on a plate with green lettuce, topped with brown homemade steak sauce being spooned over the meat.
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Homemade A1 Steak Sauce Recipe

Yeah, we put sauce on steak. Even the perfectly cooked ones. This homemade A1 is tangy, savory, and thick - 20 minutes, pantry ingredients, no apologies. Adjust the tang and sweetness until it tastes exactly how you want it. Keeps for two weeks in the fridge... if it lasts that long.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: condiment, Sauce
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 51kcal
Author: Brittany Lauren

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Blender
  • Rubber spatula or spoon
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Glass jar with lid

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup water
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 Tbsp orange juice
  • ¼ tsp brown sugar or to taste
  • 1 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1 tsp Onion powder
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, add raisins and water. Bring to a simmer for 5–7 minutes until softened.
  • Carefully, transfer raisins and liquid to a blender with the ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire, soy sauce, mustard, orange juice, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, clove, and black pepper.
  • Blend until smooth, but with a slightly gritty texture.
  • Return mixture to the saucepan. Simmer gently for 15–20 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce has thickened slightly and can coat the back of a spoon.
    A wooden spoon holding thick a1 steak sauce above a glass jar filled with more sauce, placed on a brown surface.
  • Taste and Adjust: Add more vinegar for tang, more sugar for sweetness, or more orange juice for a brighter flavor.
  • Let the sauce cool completely, then store it in a glass jar in the fridge. Good for about 2 weeks.
    A glass Ball jar filled with brown homemade steak sauce, with a metal spoon inside, placed on a wooden coaster.

Notes

  • Raisins are essential. They provide both sweetness and natural thickness — sugar alone won’t give the same body.
  • Clove is strong. Measure carefully; too much will overpower the sauce quickly.
  • Stop cooking slightly early. The sauce thickens more as it cools.
  • Adjust acidity at the end. Always taste after simmering before adding more vinegar or citrus.
  • Blend to preference. Slight texture mimics classic A1; fully smooth gives a more polished finish.
  • Flavor improves overnight. Make it a day ahead for deeper balance.
  • Storage: Refrigerate in a sealed glass jar up to 2 weeks. Stir before using.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 544mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg