Make Homemade Pineapple Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Bourbon BBQ Sauce might just be the most delicious condiment ever!

Grilling season is just about here so it is a perfect time to make our Homemade Pineapple Bourbon BBQ Sauce!  See how easy this recipe is – you could have thick delicious barbecue sauce in less than 30 minutes.

When grilling season rolls around, I love getting out of the house and experimenting with new flavors.  I’ve made homemade BBQ sauce a few times now, and I love how simple it is to whip up.  When it comes to making a sauce for basting, there are a couple of things I know I want:

• A thick luscious sauce that covers the meat or vegetables and hangs on – drippy sauces cause flare-ups.
• Balanced flavors that are not too sweet, spicy or tangy.
• Enough sugar to help give the grilled food nice caramelization on the grill, but not immediately burn.

How Can I Make BBQ Sauce?

If you have never made your own BBQ sauce before, you might be intimidated, but it’s really quite easy to do!  The key is to get the right amount of acid, paired with just the right amount of sweet and heat.  In our Pineapple Bourbon BBQ Sauce recipe, we’re using ketchup as a base, which has vinegar in it.  The Worcestershire also acts as an acid in this recipe.  For sweetness, light brown sugar and molasses work together, along with the pineapple.  This sauce is more sweet, but there is just a pinch of red pepper flake to bring a little bit of that heat.  If you like, you can also add a little cayenne pepper.

1. Cook onions on low under translucent.
2. Whisk in the ketchup, light brown sugar, pineapple juice, crushed pineapple, Worcestershire sauce, bourbon, molasses, black pepper, granulate garlic, onion powder, chili powder and salt.
3. Bring to boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer 20-30 minutes.

What Are Ingredients in Barbecue Sauce?

• Olive Oil
• Onion
• Ketchup
• Light Brown Sugar
• Pineapple Juice
• Crushed Pineapple
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Bourbon
• Molasses
• Salt and Pepper
• Granulated Garlic
• Onion Powder
• Parsley
• Red Pepper Flake

Items You May Also Need:

Some of the items below contain affiliate links; I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. However, I only promote things that I love and think you will love, too.  For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.

• Sauce Pan
• Wire Whisk
• Canning Jar Funnel
• Mason Jars
• Hand Blender

For a list of some of my favorite items to use when cooking, and why I chose them, please visit my Kitchen Resource page.

Incredible Pineapple Bourbon BBQ Sauce

You’re going to love this bold but sweet BBQ sauce!  It’s perfect for pork and chicken, but can hold it’s own for beef and veggies, too.  Stay tuned for a new recipe next week with absolutely mouthwatering Grilled Pork Loin Roast using this tasty homemade BBQ sauce.

How Long Should You Cook BBQ Sauce?

Our BBQ sauce recipe needs just 20-30 minutes to cook.  That is plenty of time for all the flavors to come together and the sugars to caramelize a little.  The longer this cooks, the thicker it will be, so take care not to let it go to long.

This this BBQ Sauce on my Grilled Pork Kabobs! Just skip the Asian marinade in the preparation.  Slather on this gorgeous sauce and you’re good to go!

With smooth buttery flavor and notes of brown sugar, this Bourbon BBQ Sauce is totally scrumptious!

Pineapple Bourbon BBQ Sauce Recipe Variations

There are several other yummy flavors you could pair with this bourbon BBQ sauce instead of the pineapple.  Substitute pineapple juice for apple juice and instead of crushed pineapple, use an equal amount of pureed peaches, plums, apricots or apples.

If you like a spicier sauce, try adding a bit of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the mixture.  Always be sure to taste because a little goes a long way and it’s easy to add more, but you can’t take it out

If you liked this Bourbon BBQ Sauce Recipe, You Might Also Like…

From left to right:

• Strawberry Peach BBQ Sauce
• Chipotle Marinated Chicken
• Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce
• Grilled Pineapple Bourbon Boneless Pork Chops

Still not what you’re looking for? Try one of these recipes from some of my favorite blogs…

• Plum BBQ Sauce – Bowl Me Over – is super tasty with veggie kabobs for a meatless meal.
• Jamaican Barbecue Sauce – Kitchen Dreaming – is perfect for those who like it hot and spicy.
• Apricot BBQ Sauce – Salt & Calendar – is sweet and tangy and delicious on grilled chicken.