You can make copycat A1 Steak Sauce with junk-free ingredients at home in no time! Homemade steak sauce that is delicious and easy!
Do you like A1 Steak Sauce? If you are anything like me, you probably have a love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, you love the taste and probably grew up with it as a staple in your house but on the other hand, you hate the low-quality ingredients that they choose to use to make it.
What if I told you your favorite steak sauce could be at your fingertips any time you want, without having to send even a penny on that pricey little bottle we all grew up loving?
All of that is about to come true with this amazing copycat A1 steak sauce recipe that has all the flavor with none of the processed and foreign ingredients.
Once you try this homemade recipe, you’ll never even think about reaching for the premade sauce ever again. Trust me!
How To Make Homemade Steak Sauce?
In a saucepan, combine all ingredients except for the orange. Squeeze the juice from the orange into the saucepan and then add in the juiced orange segments. Bring to a boil, lower light to a simmer. After a few minutes, remove orange segments and discard.
Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer (make sure to strain into a measuring cup or other container!).Use a spoon or spatula to push all the liquid out of the chunky bits.
Lastly, return sauce to the pan and bring back to a simmer. Reduce, stirring occasionally, until level of thickness is reached and enjoy!
What Are the Ingredients in Store-Bought A1 Sauce?
We all know that store-bought foods can be riddled with all kinds of concerning ingredients we’ve never heard of, much less want to put into our body. Store-bought A1 sauce, is unfortunately no different, with the third ingredient being corn syrup, followed by things like Potassium Sorbate, and Xanthan Gum.
Here’s the full list of ingredients: (From the Kraft Website)
Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Raisin Paste, Crushed Orange Puree, Spices and Herbs, Dried Garlic and Onion, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum
Doesn’t sound too appealing? Right? That’s why I was so excited to share this copycat recipe full of ingredients that won’t leave you scratching your head searching for the definition.
If you really want to avoid those unknown ingredients and want to upgrade the flavor of your steak sauce, then it’s worth the extra time to make this copycat A1 steak sauce recipe.
I searched the internet and found many A1 copycat recipes. After trying a bunch, this homemade A1 steak sauce recipe from Two Dogs In The Kitchen caught my eye and I had to try it. After trying it out, and tweaking the recipe just a bit, I feel like it’s pretty darn close to the old original!
Not only can it be prepped in 5 minutes or under, but it also takes only 20 minutes or less to cook. That’s less time than you would spend staring at the steak sauce shelf trying to decide which one to go with. So, clearly, the time spent prepping and making this homemade steak sauce is SO worth it.
Tips and Tricks For copycat A1 Steak Sauce
- If you’re having trouble finding gluten-free Worcestershire Sauce, there are two specific brands I recommend trying out: The Wizard Sauces, Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce, or WAN JA SHAN Organic Worcestershire Sauce. You can also feel free to use regular Worcestershire sauce if you aren’t worried about finding one that’s gluten-free.
- When straining, don’t forget your catcher bowl/cup! You don’t want to lose all of your sauce down the drain while separating it from the no longer needed ingredients.
- You’ll want to wait for the sauce to completely cool, to really get the full flavor. The flavors will change as it cools, so, even though it might be tough, try to refrain from taking those initial taste tests.
Love Steak Sauce? Try Paring it With These Recipes!
Get out of your traditional steak sauce pairings and try your homemade sauce on some of these unique pairings!
Homemade 5-Ingredient Steak Rub
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
You can make copycat A1 Steak Sauce with junk-free ingredients at home in no time! Homemade steak sauce that is delicious and easy!
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup gluten free Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup organic ketchup
- 1/4 cup dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup organic raisins
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 cloves garlic smashed
- 1/8 large yellow onion cut into chunks
- 1 small navel orange or 1/2 large orange, cut in half
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In a saucepan, combine all ingredients except for the orange.
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Squeeze the juice from the orange into the saucepan and then add in the juiced orange segments.
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Bring to a boil, lower light to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. At 5 minutes, remove orange segments and discard.
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Continue simmering, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer (make sure to strain into a measuring cup or other container!).
Use a spoon or spatula to push all the liquid out of the chunky bits.
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Return sauce to pan and bring back to a simmer. Reduce, stirring occasionally, for an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until level of thickness is reached.
Note that sauce tastes different when warm so let cool completely before adjusting spices. Enjoy!
Recipe Makes 1.5 Cups Steak Sauce or Approximately 24 Tablespoons. Serving Size is 2 Tablespoons (12 Servings)
- If you're having trouble finding gluten free Worcestershire Sauce, there are two specific brands I recommend trying out: The Wizard Sauces, Gluten-Free Worcestershire Sauce, or WAN JA SHAN Organic Worcestershire Sauce. You can also feel free to use regular Worcestershire sauce if you aren't worried about finding one that's gluten-free.
- When straining, don't forget your catcher bowl/cup! You don't want to lose all of your sauce down the drain while separating it from the no longer needed ingredients.
- You'll want to wait for the sauce to completely cool, to really get the full flavor. The flavors will change as it cools, so, even though it might be tough, try to refrain from taking those initial taste tests.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
UPDATE NOTES: This post was originally published in October 2013 and updated in June 2019 with new photos, better instructions and more helpful information.
Adapted From: Homemade A1 Steak Sauce From Two Dogs In The Kitchen
When I made this (delicious btw) I got distracted and it boiled down pretty thick, should i be concerned about the vinegar evaporating? I didn’t try to store it or anything but I’m new to cooking due to new food allergies and am constantly concerned about botulism 🙁 my mistake would still be safe due to it being in a pot with no lid right?
Hi Eli, I am not sure about botulism or how overcooking would impact the storage. I would suggest making it again to the directions and storing in the fridge after cooling. Hope that helps!
When kept refridgerated, what’s the expected shelf life? Can anything be added to it as a natural preservative to help it go a little further?
Hi Marcus! I have kept mine in the fridge (in a tightly covered mason jar) for up to a month with success and haven’t tried adding any preservatives. Hope that helps!
I made this and it tastes really good! I was somewhat skeptical but it tastes close enough to the original A1 sauce and I can use it for other recipes too. Thanks so much for this.
So happy to hear it Holly!! Thanks for taking the time to comment and let me know 🙂
Pretty darn close but not exact. I guess the flavor of Ketchup or Dijon mustard varies by brand and that will determine if it is close or not. I think the orange flavor is definitely a must to try and replicate the A1 but the raisins or dates will make a difference too. Definitely a recommendation and keeper. Thanks
Yes! I do think the raisins have a more authentic taste and the brand of ketchup really impacts! Glad you liked it Tom and thanks so much for the feedback 🙂
This sounds like a great recipe. And plan on making, however, do the raisins make a huge difference? Not planning on going essential grocery shopping soon, but definitely making some steak.
Hey Danette! Do you have dates or figs by any chance? Those could be subbed for the raisins!
Hi Alyssa,
I love A1 sauce and am so excited to find this recipe!
Do I need to use the orange, or can I use a bit of pure extract for flavor? I’m diabetic, and this homemade sauce is still high for me in carbs, even for such a delicious condiment.
Hey Laurel!
I have never tried it with just orange extract but it *should* work. If you experiment, would you come back and let us all know how it turns out?
How long does it stay fresh in the fridge?
I have kept it in the fridge for up to a month (in a glass jar with a tight seal)!
I love when I find recipes like this that allow me to make my own homemade versions of favorite store bought items! Thank you for an excellent recipe!
You’re so welcome!
WOW! What a great recipe! I’ll be making it again and again!
Awesome Christina! Thanks for commenting and letting me know!
loved it! I made it without the orange only because I didn’t have one on hand but it stilled turned out super good. I did add a little arrowroot to thicken it up more. Thank you for sharing!
LOVE the idea of arrowroot to thicken! Thanks for the feedback and rating Ashley!
I’ve been on paleo for about a month and am slowly weening my husband into it. I cannot use A-1 due to allergies, but my husband uses tons of it on steak, meatloaf, and sometimes even mashed potatoes. I made this recipe (with homemade worcesthershire and homemade ketchup) this afternoon and this evening I served him a big juicy steak with one small glass bowl filled with A-1 and an identical bowl filled with this sauce. He tasted the A-1 first and said, “this is A-1.” He tasted this sauce and said, “this isn’t A-1 but it’s really good.” After his meal, his final conclusion was that it was close, but tasted too cinnamon-y. That was my error in making the ketchup, which I hoped wouldn’t make a real difference. He’s agreed that for now we can mix this (25%) with A-1 (75%), and slowly ween him off of it, or when I make a new batch of this with a fresh batch of ketchup, he’ll try the blind taste test again. Thank you for a great recipe!
Hi Tracy! That is so AWESOME!!! This made my day 🙂
Tracy try this simple ketchup. Very close to Heinz etc. No cinnoman or cloves etc. I’ve made them all and simple wins. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12578-tomato-ketchup
white distilled vinegar and balsamic both contain corn so if you buy organic ketchup or make your own and use white vinegar you have added corn- dijon mustard would use it as well.
Delicious steak ingredient post here i love it thank you for the guide!!!
The best way for all the flavors to mix is to have those ingredients ferment for a day or two before straining it….
Is this sauce whole 30 compliant?
Hi Steve – nope, the ketchup has sugar in it!
I am planning on making this sauce for use on the whole30, but I’m going to make my own ketchup.
Nice! Hope you love it 🙂
Worcestershire has molasses(sugar) in it.
No most Ketchup has High Fructose Corn Syrup and Sugar
Not if you make your own.
The recipe calls for 1/8 large yellow onion, but the first picture clearly shows 1/4 of an onion. Can you clarify?
Hi Roger – it’s 1/8 large onion for sure – I think it’s a weird angle for the photo. Thanks!
Lover of A1 steak sauce.
Made it the proscribed way per the recipe the first time. Killed me to toss the little bits of flavor goodies after straining.
Second time, I ran everything through my food processor until it was a puree except the orange skins. I still discarded those.
Now, it is easier to make and I don’t need to do the strainer step. I hated discarding all those little bits of goodness after straining!
Great idea! I was just thinking about that. Thanks.
I do the same. The texture comes out right like A1 with the micro it’s.
Just made this yesterday and followed instructions to the letter. It made a lovely sauce and I will put it to good use; however, it is definitely not an A1 reproduction, the only reminiscent taste element in it being the Worcestershire sauce. Thanks for a nice sauce recipe, just the same.
Do you have to use Gluten free Worcestershire sauce?
Only if you are Gluten Free! Just a word of caution though, get a natural brand of Worcestershire sauce if you can – the ingredients in the “traditional” brand are not that great!
i don’t understand the gluten free thing, they have already proven that its psychosomatic several times over.
this sauce turned out really good, thanks for the recipe! not quite a-1 but it improves on the flavor, sort of like a no-name bbq sauce you find in the co-op that turns out to be better than anything you’ve had before.
I don’t know who “they” are but in my case “they” are welcome to stay with my niece after she has been “glutened”. Not a pretty site. And there are absolutely physical differences in me when I have been off gluten for awhile and then eat it. It is not psychosomatic. The difference in the way I feel off of gluten (and now grains most of the time) is amazing. Go off it for a month and come to your own conclusions but if you aren’t willing to conduct your own experiment then please don’t downplay what is very real to so many.
My wife has Celiac. She does not have the good fortune of an IBS reaction to tell when she gets it. Instead gluten is like a silent poison in her body, detroying her GI and other ailments. Bc it went untreated since she was in 6 th grade, she has now developed another Auto-Immune desease. This is not in her head! Eating GF and Paleo she has gotten off the super terrible drugs prescribed. And u think that food additives are bad…. The funny thing abt Auto-Immune desease sister that once u get them, u have them for life. Her diet changes have helped her manage things better w/o expensive chemicals that shorten her life
You sir are a loving Husband. It was an honor to read your post. I wish you and your family great health and intense happiness.
Wow..i have changed my diet as well and because of the AIP diet I have come off 15 years of autoimmune drugs. Thank you for your post..i am in the same predicament as your wife and constantly looking for tasty additions to my strict diet.
And yet when I had blood tests a few years ago and my Doctor went through the results he said to me “you have started showing for autoimmune disease but that’s OK lots of people have that!” And you wonder why you can not get medical treatment on the NHS!!!!!!!!!
It amazes me how in this country people are proud of having cancer or knowing someone that does, dying their hair pink, wearing pink I have had people tell me they have it as if they have purchased a car or been on a holiday, it really is a marketing genius on behalf of the charities that they can get people who have made themselves ill through diet to brag that they have done that! I mean you never see obese people going around proclaiming look at me I have eaten my way to being barely able to move around and a massive list of weight related deseases do you?
this gluten thing is all about what the government has done with flour messing with it and adding in synthetic vitamins and minerals etc etc. Celiac I believe there is a problem with it. Ancient grains people. Find wheat that the government has not tainted and you might find out why people survived on these grains for millennia and suddenly all of America has a gluten intolerance. So I agree with gluten free based on what’s coming out of production, but not as far a an original species. Too many people suddenly with issues like this beyond celiacs or your normal amount of people allergic to something. Seriously, big manufacturer supplied everything for 30 plus years has caused all of this. Try growing your own vegetables, grains, and what a body needs and guess what?
oh, and the reason for being here, the sauce is great! Have made it many times off this site and many others with the same recipe. This site though has made the effort of helping get rid of all the gunk ingredients. Good Job!!
We end up with a pretty spicy version using home grown chilies we’ve grown and dried and ground into essentially cayenne powder. Hotter works well with this recipe. Nice website, nice pics of your recipe. Thanks.
There is a medical test that proves you have Celiac disease… so I guess it’s all in the doctors head when he reads the test results, the lab technician when he runs the test, me when the doctor explains to me the damage it will do to my child’s intestines and my child’s mind when they feel the effects of their reactions to gluten? Please educate you’re self before you tell people that the medical disease you have isn’t real. Do you go around to people in wheelchairs and tell them to stand up it’s all in their head?
This recipe is currently simmering on my stove! It smells great! Can’t wait until it’s finished and the steaks are done!! Thanks for this recipe!!
Yum! I am jealous. We had burgers for dinner and wish it was steak. Hope you liked it!
How long would this be good for ?
A couple of weeks to a month!
I do have the Worcestershire posted: http://www.bluekaleroad.com/2012/09/a-worcestershire-sauce-to-love.html I just ran out so it’s time for a new batch – just in time to make homemade steak sauce. 🙂
Ohhhh, going to check that out now – thanks Hannah! xoxo
aha … The steak seasoning! .. made up with the idea to create a new menu at home.. thanks for sharing!
Don’t use much A1 sauce, but if I do need some this is the recipe I will using for sure.
It lasts for a long time in the fridge as well Norma 🙂
Homemade steak sauce is GENIUS!
I am pretty happy with it Ashley – now all I want is steak and burgers to put it on though lol!
Alyssa,
In addition to the idea of homemade steak sauce (now that I’ve got some steak in the freezer that’s a cool thing)
I’m excited to see the inclusion of an orange. It’s nearing Band Fruit Fundraiser time and I’m on the lookout for recipes using citrus.
Thanks!
I am making a batch of this soon, Alyssa! It sounds divine and I can’t wait. As we keep saying…homemade condiments are the best! I know my family will happily slather it on their steaks. I make homemade Worcestershire sauce and we love it – no crazy ingredients.
Do you have your homemade Worcestershire sauce posted?!?
Good stuff! A-1 isn’t a regular in our house, but occasionally we do want a steak sauce. Now I know what to make! Thanks so mluch.
Thank you for this recipe!!!! A-1 was a staple growing up in my South Texas kitchen and I love it on my hamburger patty as well as steak! Now if you could come up with something to match my Pick-A-Peppa sauce that would be wonderful!
You’re welcome!! 🙂
I admit, I love A-1…and so does my oldest son. I’ve always wanted to try a copycat recipe, but figured no way could they actually have the special A-1 taste. Now that I know the source, I will give it a go. Thanks Alyssa! 🙂