Barney McBee Texas Barbecue Goat Sauce Recipe

I had a 20-some-odd-year judging the World Championship BBQ Goat Cook Off out in Brady, Texas. The shootout started back in 1974 with a handful of men trying to raise money for the Jaycees of McCulloch County.

Brady lies right in the heart of the Edwards Plateau region, which has historically been the epicenter of the American sheep and goat (especially Angora/mohair) industries.

If you want a heavy dose of real Texas this is where the conversation begins. Everybody wears cowboy hats, there are hitching posts for horses in front of the saloons and you better believe they still wave Old Glory down by the courthouse.

My long run as judge ended when I moved to New Orleans but I always get a little teary-eyed when Labor Day approaches as that’s when they have the cook off. Thousands of people will converge on Richard’s Park near downtown and over 200 cook teams will be on hand turning out the best hardwood fire smoked goat you ever put in your mouth.

One of the old legendary champs of the shootout was Barney McBee. He took home the title of Grand Champion in only the second year of the event. Herb Stroeker won that first year if you’re keeping score at home.

  • .5 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, mashed
  • 1 32-ounce bottle ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 2 cups black coffee
  • 1 cup distilled vinegar
  • 1 lemon, cut in half
  • 6 tablespoons chili powder
  • 3 good taps Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste

    Method

    Heat oil over medium-low in a large saucepan.

    Add onions and garlic and saute until tender but not brown.

    Whisk together ketchup and mustard in a large bowl and add to ingredients in saucepan.

    Add remaining ingredients. Simmer over low heat for 1 hour.

    Refrigerate unused sauce up to several weeks.

    Editor notes

    I doubt you heard the news but Yahoo Notepad is shutting down. This recipe was in my old Notepad archive. I have no idea as to its provenance but it’s a darn good one

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