Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce

Have you ever tried Dr Pepper barbecue sauce? Making your own barbecue sauce is simple enough: Mix together some delicious ingredients, and cook them down until thick. This recipe, however, uses a surprising ingredient: Dr Pepper. With its own 23 secret ingredients, Dr Pepper imbues this barbecue sauce with complex flavor, including vanilla and caramel notes. The sweet soda is an ideal complement to the savory tomato base spiked with Worcestershire sauce.

Bottle this one up and use it with pulled pork, sloppy joes and grilled barbecue chicken thighs, or whenever you need an outstanding barbecue sauce. We even recommend mixing a few tablespoons into your favorite coleslaw recipe for extra tang.

Ingredients for Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce

• Dr Pepper: A single can of Dr Pepper adds sweetness and depth to this DIY barbecue sauce.
• Crushed tomatoes: A can of crushed tomatoes adds a little texture and the required tomato component.
• Brown sugar: Packed brown sugar adds just a touch of sticky sweetness.
• Mustard: Spicy brown mustard brings subtle heat to the sauce.
• Orange juice: Fresh orange juice balances the barbecue sauce with some light acidity.
• Worcestershire sauce: The Worcestershire sauce packs its distinctive umami punch.
• Fresh garlic: A lot of barbecue sauce recipes call for garlic powder, but minced fresh garlic offers even more flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Combine everything and simmer

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In a small saucepan, combine the Dr Pepper, crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, mustard, orange juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring the ingredients to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, until the sauce is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.

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Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Variations

• Make it spicy: This sauce can be sweet and spicy if you add some cayenne, chili powder or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
• Add a little smoke: Barbecue sauce and smoke are good friends. If you won’t be using the sauce with smoked meat, add a hint of smoke with smoked paprika or a few drops of liquid smoke.
• Go a little brighter: Apple cider vinegar is a classic barbecue sauce ingredient because it adds clean, bright acidity to balance the sauce. Try a tablespoon to start.

How to Store Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce

Dr Pepper barbecue sauce can be stored in a clean jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Can you freeze Dr Pepper barbecue sauce?

If you haven’t used up the sauce in a couple of weeks, it freezes well. If you freeze it in a glass jar, make sure to leave at least 1 inch of headroom to allow for expansion. Otherwise, freeze it flat in a zip-top bag for easy storage.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce Tips

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Can you use another type of soda?

You can substitute another regular soda, preferably a dark soda like Pibb Xtra, Coca-Cola or Pepsi. But Dr Pepper has a unique flavor that can’t be replicated. We don’t recommend using a diet soda, as the taste and texture will be different.

What if you want a very smooth barbecue sauce?

If you prefer a silky-smooth barbecue sauce, use a blender or handheld immersion blender to make it totally smooth. This will eliminate any small chunks from the crushed tomatoes.

How do you use a sweet barbecue sauce while grilling?

Grilling with a sugary barbecue sauce can be tricky, as the sauce is likely to burn. The trick is to wait until the last 10 minutes of grilling, then carefully paint on layers of sauce, letting it cook in between for a lacquered effect.