By using an oxynitride glass as a sintering additive, the effects of BN content on microstructure and mechanical properties of the hot-pressed and subsequently annealed SiC-BN composites were investigated. The microstructures developed were analyzed by image analysis. The morphology of SiC grains was strongly dependent on BN content in the starting composition. The aspect ratio of SiC decreases with increasing BN content and the average diameter of SiC shows a maximum at 5 wt% BN and decreases with increasing BN content in the starting powder. The fracture toughness increased with increasing BN content while the strength decreased with increasing BN content. The strength and fracture toughness of SiC or SiC-TiC composites were strongly dependent on the morphology of SiC grains, but the strength and fracture toughness of SiC-BN composites were strongly dependent on BN content rather than morphology of SiC grains. These results suggest that fracture toughness of SiC ceramics can be tailored by manipulating BN content in the starting composition. Typical fracture toughness and strength of SiC-10 wt% BN composites were 8 MPa$.$m$^$1/2/ and 445 MPa, respectively.