It’s so easy to make your own barbecue sauce at home! This Bourbon Barbecue Sauce recipe is sweet, tangy, and a full of flavor. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make and only requires one pot!

stirring barbecue sauce in small silver pot with wooden spoon

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    Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

    Full disclosure that I am a major condiment lover. I love to dunk and dip everything in sauces. But I have never tried making a homemade version of one of my favorite condiments — barbecue sauce.

    Making your own barbecue sauce at home is super easy! It doesn’t require much effort, only needs one pot, calls for less than 20 minutes of cooking time, and you can customize it to your liking. Just throw all of the ingredients into a saucepan and let it simmer. This barbecue sauce is sweeter than it is spicy however you can always spice it up by adding some cayenne pepper and paprika.

    Best of all, you should have all of the ingredients for this sauce already in your pantry.

    Kelley Simmons Kelley’s Tips

    Before You Get Started

    • Adjust to your taste! The best thing about making your own sauces at home is you can control the sweetness and the spiciness. If you’re more of a fan of heat add in more chili powder, paprika or crushed red pepper flakes. You could even dice up a jalapeño and sauté it with the onion.
    • Make a double batch! This lasts in the fridge for up to a month. I like to make enough to use in recipes like my Crockpot BBQ Chicken or my BBQ Salmon Bowls!
    • Leave out the bourbon: If you’re not a fan of bourbon or simply don’t have it just omit!
    Kelley
    spooning out bourbon barbecue sauce out of mason jar

    Ingredients

    • Minced Onion and Garlic: I prefer fresh to the dried variety for this barbecue sauce because they brighten up the dish and add some texture, but you can use either.
    • Ketchup: This is the base of the homemade barbecue sauce. Use any kind you like, but if possible avoid ones with tons of sugar, as we’ll be adding some brown sugar to the sauce.
    • Worcestershire Sauce: This offers a smokey, umami flavor that makes this a true barbecue sauce.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar: You could also use white distilled vinegar, red wine vinegar, or lemon juice.
    • Bourbon: You can use your favorite bourbon in this barbecue sauce. I used Barterhouse Kentucky Bourbon. This bourbon is smooth and buttery with hints of brown sugar. It pairs perfectly with the sauce.
    • Brown Sugar: To sweeten the homemade barbecue sauce and offer molasses-y undertones. Light or dark will work.
    • Chili Powder: I like adding this for some heat, but you could leave it out, if preferred. Red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and paprika would also workHomemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce recipe

    How To Make Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

    • Heat oil in a medium saucepan. Add in onion and cook for 2-3 minute. Add in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
    sautéing onions and garlic in small pot
    1. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and bring to a simmer. Simmer on low for 15 minutes until slightly thickened. Store in the fridge for up to a month or freeze for up to 6 months.
    simmered barbecue sauce in small silver pot
    1. Make a large batch, and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 weeks or freeze any leftovers.
    2. Serve this sauce on wings, sandwiches, fries, or chicken tenders. This sauce makes excellent instant pot shredded barbecue chicken! Enjoy!

    What To Make with Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

    overheat shot of barbecue chicken shredded in the instant pot

    Storage, Freezing and Reheating Instructions

    • Store in an airtight container or secure mason jar the fridge for up to 1 month.
    • Freeze in an airtight, freezer-safe plastic bag or container for up to 6 months.
    • Reheat by allowing frozen barbecue sauce to thaw in the fridge overnight, then letting the chilled sauce come to room temperature on the counter. You can also warm in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through, but not boiling.
    scooping bourbon barbecue sauce out of glass mason jar

    More Sauces To Try

    Recipe

    Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

    4.41 from 5 votes
    Bourbon Barbecue Sauce. Sweet, tangy and a full of flavor. Incredibly easy to make and requires one pot!
    Author: Kelley Simmons
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Serves 4
    Rate Print

    Save this Recipe

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      Ingredients 

      Instructions

      • Heat oil in a medium saucepan. Add in onion and cook for 2-3 minute.
      • Add in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
      • Stir in the rest of the ingredients and bring to a simmer. Simmer on low for 15 minutes until slightly thickened. Store in the fridge for up to a month or freeze for up to 6 months.

      Notes

      Original recipe from chefsavvy.com. Please do not publish my recipe or pictures without linking back to the original post. Thank you!

      Nutrition Information

      Calories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 913mgPotassium: 315mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 480IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

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