BBQ sauce

This sweet and spicy, bourbon BBQ sauce recipe using common pantry ingredients is quick, simple and delicious. Making your own homemade barbecue sauce is so much better than anything you’ll find at the store. Try this sauce on pulled pork or chicken wings!

For a bourbon BBQ sauce with a fruity twist, try my blueberry bourbon BBQ sauce.

I’ll give you variations and substitutions where I can. Read on for this info as well as the recipe. If you’d like to skip straight to the recipe, use the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.

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Whisky BBQ sauce

This homemade BBQ sauce with bourbon whiskey is made with common pantry items and requires nothing more than a pot and a spoon or whisk. I wanted something really easy that could be made with almost no effort.

My other BBQ sauces require a blender of some sort, and while that isn’t difficult, sometimes I’m lazy and don’t want to pull out another thing that I’ll have to wash. So, instead of using fresh onion and fresh garlic, I went with their dried versions to make it easy.

Ingredients

This super easy bourbon barbecue sauce recipe comes together in 20 minutes – just stir it all together and let it simmer until thickened.

I’ve given a list of ingredients and what they bring to the party. There are also a few helpful tips on substitutions, if needed.

• Tomato paste – Gives it sweetness and the familiar BBQ sauce taste.
• Dark brown sugar – Dark brown sugar has more molasses. If you only have light brown, add a tablespoon of molasses.
• Granulated garlic – To substitute with garlic powder, use half the amount.
• Granulated onion – Same as above.
• Kosher salt – I use Diamond Crystal. If you use Morton, cut the amount by almost half.
• Black pepper – Regular black pepper, nothing fancy.
• Mustard powder – I use Colman’s mustard powder, it has great flavor.
• Apple cider vinegar – Fruity vinegar gives the BBQ sauce a nice flavor.
• Bourbon – Use whatever you have, but not your most expensive bottle.
• Adobo sauce – The sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo gives this BBQ sauce a little smokiness.

Bourbon BBQ sauce recipe

This brown sugar bourbon BBQ sauce recipe is just a little sweet and a little smoky. It’s great on pulled pork and I really like it on chicken wings.

Variations and substitutions

If you don’t have mustard powder, you can use regular yellow mustard. Mustard powder has a bit of a kick to it, which is why I like it.

You can use maple syrup in place of brown sugar, but it will alter the taste of the sauce. If you’re a fan of maple, this might be a good swap for you.

No tomato paste, but you have tomato sauce? Use it. You may have to cook the sauce down a little longer, because of the water in tomato sauce.

How to make it

Making your own barbecue sauce is simple. Here’s how to make this easy bourbon BBQ sauce recipe –

Pour bourbon into a medium-sized saucepot over low heat. Add the tomato paste and whisk until smooth. As the tomato paste and bourbon warm, it will come together. Then add in all of the spices and whisk again until smooth.

Increase the heat to medium and let it simmer for 15 – 20 minutes, until thickened. That’s it!

Frequently asked questions

Here are a few answers to common questions when making homemade barbecue sauce.

And there you have it. A super simple, homemade bourbon BBQ sauce recipe in 20 minutes.

More BBQ sauce recipes

• Loquat BBQ sauce
• Pineapple mango BBQ sauce

Please share

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I hope you love this bourbon BBQ sauce recipe as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe (other than for personal use) without prior written permission. Thank you!

Up your grill game with this easy pineapple mango BBQ sauce recipe. Super simple and so dang delicious, this barbecue sauce will add amazing flavor to whatever you are cooking. This sweet and spicy sauce packs the perfect punch – a touch of sweet and just enough heat to make your lips tingle.

Just like my blueberry BBQ sauce recipe, this sauce goes really well with pork and chicken. It goes great with pulled pork, grilled chicken, chicken wings, and pork chops.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Pineapple mango BBQ sauce

I love BBQ sauce. I mean – I really love it. It’s one of my favorite things for dipping and it is my go-to sauce for anything that needs a little something.

And, this sauce will help you up your game in a big way. I gave some to my neighbor and he RAVED about it, as did his handful of house guests.

I use my neighbors as my testers, because I know I can get immediate feedback on a recipe. And, I’m happy to report that this one was met with a big thumbs up.

Ingredients

This barbecue sauce recipe uses common ingredients that you likely have in your pantry or fridge, to keep shopping to a minimum.

• Apple cider vinegar – My vinegar of choice for most things, ACV has a fruity acidity that brings flavor and not just a vinegary bite.
• Tomato sauce – This gives the BBQ sauce a bit of that familiar tomato base, without the sweetness of ketchup, which we’re getting from the honey and brown sugar.
• Dark brown sugar – You can substitute light brown if that is what you have. In that case, add a tablespoon of molasses to the mix as well.
• Green chiles – I used Hatch green chilies because they are in season and it’s what I have. You can use canned chilies or jalapeños.
• Onion – Yellow onion is the go-to choice. It is the best “cooking onion”, but use whatever you have.
• Ginger – This sauce gets some of it’s heat from the ginger. Just in case you didn’t know, ginger packs a punch. It can clear your sinuses, but it adds amazing flavor.
• Pineapple juice – Sweet, delicious and a bit of acidity. Pineapple juice is great in marinades and sauces.
• Mango – Use soft, ripe mangoes that are super sweet for this recipe. Unripe or green mangoes will not work.
• Oil – Choose a neutral oil like grapeseed or canola for this recipe.
• Garlic – In my humble opinion, garlic belongs in just about everything.
• Honey – Honey gives the sauce a floral sweetness that is different from the dark brown sugar.
• Salt & pepper – Because everything needs salt and pepper.

How to make mango BBQ sauce with pineapple

This mango BBQ sauce with pineapple is all about building layers of flavor. First, we sauté onions, ginger and garlic to mellow those flavors a bit. Then, the mango goes in with the rest of the ingredients.

Cook it all down for about 30 minutes to concentrate the flavors and to thicken the sauce. Use an immersion blender to purée the BBQ sauce until smooth and you’re done.

I used a recipe from serious eats as my jumping off point and then promptly started tweaking things. I’m really happy with the result and I hope you are too.

How can I use this BBQ sauce?

1. Fill a few glass bottles and give to friends and neighbors as a gift.
2. Shred some leftover roast chicken and toss with sauce for pulled chicken sandwiches.
3. Top pork burgers with pineapple mango BBQ sauce, a ring of pineapple and a slice of melty cheese.

Please share

If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting.

Your shares help this site to grow and I appreciate it so much. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!

This bourbon blueberry BBQ sauce will soon be your go-to for ribs. The sweetness of the blueberries, the smokiness of the bourbon and the heat from the peppers come together to make this barbecue sauce out of this world. Bourbon BBQ sauce with the sweetness of blueberries pairs well with any kind of pork, especially ribs. It also goes really well with chicken thighs. 

Blueberries and bourbon, like my blueberry bourbon jam recipe, are a match made in heaven.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

Blueberry BBQ sauce recipe

Making blueberry barbeque sauce from scratch is not at all difficult. The most difficult part of the entire operation is waiting for it to cook down so it can be blended and consumed.

This easy homemade BBQ sauce, just like my pineapple mango BBQ sauce, is unlike anything you’ll find in the aisles of the grocery store. For that reason, I like to give this to friends and neighbors as a hostess gift. Homemade gifts are always special and this sauce definitely qualifies.

I have made this recipe 4 times already. SO GOOD!

– Will

How to make Blueberry BBQ Sauce

This recipe is incredibly easy. It’s the wait that is not.  

First, heat a bit of canola or olive oil in a medium pot, then add the onions and garlic. Let them sweat a few minutes until fragrant and starting to turn translucent. Next, add in the remainder of the ingredients and let the BBQ sauce cook down for roughly 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. At this point, it should start looking thick and syrupy.

Remove the bay leaves and using an immersion blender (or regular blender), carefully blend until smooth.

I have a couple of friends who are not experienced cooks, by their own admission, and they’ve made this blueberry BBQ sauce at least 4 times.

It is something different than the usual store-bought sauce and it barely requires more than an occasional stir.

If you are a beginner cook or you just want something delicious and unique that will not take the entire afternoon, this is the recipe for you.

I love this homemade blueberry bbq sauce for ribs, but I’ve also put it on chicken thighs and a pork tenderloin and it was delicious.

Fattier meats tend to pair well with it, but a chicken breast or even chicken wings would be a fantastic pairing for this sauce.

Can I use frozen blueberries to make this BBQ sauce?

Yes! Frozen blueberries need to be thawed and drained before adding to the sauce.

They will make your sauce watery if they aren’t drained. Not the end of the world, but the sauce will require more time to cook down until it reaches that thick and syrupy stage before blending.

What can I serve with barbecue?

Here are a few options that will pair well with grilled meat and this sauce. This would make an easy and tasty summer menu!

• Nectarine blue cheese spinach salad – A delicious summer salad that pairs well with barbecue.
• Grilled lamb loin chops – Try this sauce on lamb too!
• Cajun grilled potato wedges – A quick and easy side dish.
• Strawberry Arnold Palmers – The most delicious blend of strawberries, tea and lemonade.
• Blueberry lemonade – Made from blueberries, sugar, lemons and water.

Please share!

Your shares help this site to grow. Do you know someone who would like this? I’d love it if you would share it on Facebook or pin it to your favorite recipe board.

I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! Please consider rating and/or commenting. I love hearing from you!

Did you make this blueberry BBQ sauce recipe? Tag me on Instagram @pookspantry or share it in the Fabulous Foodie Friends Facebook group! I can’t wait to see your version!

Used In This Recipe:

• Vitamix blender
• Dutch Oven

Thanks for stopping by! Have a delicious day 🙂

Questions? Send me an email, I’m happy to help. I’d love to send you weekly tips and recipes, so you can get updates about what’s happening in the kitchen!

Hello! All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my photos or recipe without prior written permission. Thank you!

Originally published 6/12/17, most recent update 6/3/20