Grillin' season is almost upon us so it's time to get planning. Here's how to make barbecue sauce that will tantalize your taste buds!
11 Things You Never Knew to Add to BBQ Sauce
Updated Aug. 22, 2024
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With summer here, barbecue season is in full swing! But when you’re grilling, don’t settle for plain bottled BBQ sauce! Instead, add a few extras to your favorite bottled sauce to take them to the next level. Want to start from scratch? Try these recipes.
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Add some apricot jam
Fancy adding a little tangy sweetness to your BBQ sauce? A little-known trick is to add some apricot jam into the mixture when heating. When it comes to how much you dare to put in, the key here is to start small. The flavor can be overly sweet for some palettes so be sure to taste as you go. Grab a jar at the store or try to make it yourself!
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Smoke it up with chipotle
Close your eyes and imagine the perfect BBQ taste. It’s not just rich and tangy—it’s daringly smoky too. When it comes to how to make barbecue sauce, there’s one thing you can’t forget. Chipotle peppers. Of course, you want to be sparing with how you use these as they can be strong for some people’s taste. Including them in the sauce replicates the strong flavor of smoked food. Like things hot? These spicy recipes will blow your top.
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Make it extra sticky
When you coat your meat with tasty BBQ sauce, it should be too sticky to handle. But how can you make sure you get that unmistakable texture to your sauce? One trick is to add some teriyaki sauce to the base of your barbecue. The traditional Japanese sauce will add a richness of flavor and make it gooey enough to stick to your favorite chicken and ribs, too.
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Raid your liquor cabinet
Want your BBQ sauce to have an extra kick? Get out of the kitchen and head to your liquor cabinet. Adding whiskey to the mix is a classic way to take your sauce to new levels. Be sure to opt for a well-aged, peated whiskey that packs loads of taste. That way it will give the sauce that super smoky flavor.
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Or keep things alcohol-free
Looking for an alcohol-free way to give your BBQ sauce some pizazz? Cola might be the answer. The sweet yet sharp taste of this drink gives the sauce a uniquely syrupy taste. What’s more, as the sugars melt, they give the sauce an extra sticky consistency too. Don’t have cola on hand? Try root beer or Dr. Pepper!
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Try a rum and chilies combo
When you think of rum, chilies aren’t likely to be the first thing that spring to your mind. But if you’re wondering how to make barbecue sauce that blows people’s socks off, you have to try this one. Use a tomato puree base, some fresh green chilies, and a generous helping of golden (or even spiced) rum. There are even more ways to cook with rum.
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Cherrypick the best flavors
Want to add a little fruity zing to your BBQ sauce? We might have just the idea for you. Including either some fresh or frozen cherries into the mixture could be the way to go. Make sure that the fruit is dark, sweet, and (of course) pitted for the best results.
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Indulge a chocolate and coffee mix
Sweet and savory come together in this next BBQ sauce trick. Create a standard sauce base—using tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and onions—and then add in the extras. Include some melted down semisweet chocolate, cocoa powder, freshly brewed coffee and chili powder. This will give your barbecue sauce a mole twist.
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Get tangy with some rhubarb
And now for a real curveball? Who’d have thought that rhubarb would work so deliciously well in barbecue sauce? Before you set about making the base of your sauce, chop and boil up some fresh and peeled rhubarb to make a puree. Add this to any style for BBQ sauce you favor for an unexpected hit of tanginess.
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Get creative with Guinness
Beer-based BBQ sauce is nothing particularly new, but why not take things up a notch? Combining ketchup, brown sugar, Guinness, apple cider vinegar, and a whole lot of garlic could be a recipe for success. The concoction is ideal for smothering all over a nice rack of ribs before cooking.
Originally Published: May 23, 2018
