Cherry BBQ Sauce
Cherry BBQ Sauce is the perfect sweet and savory addition to beef, pork, and chicken. You'll love how easy it is to make!
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups fresh or frozen dark sweet cherries pitted and coarsely chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and then sauté the onion in it until tender.2 tablespoons salted butter, 1 medium onion
- Add the minced garlic and cook 1 minute more.2 garlic cloves
- Add in the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.2 cups fresh or frozen dark sweet cherries, 1 cup ketchup, ⅔ cup packed brown sugar, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons ground mustard, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until cherries are tender and sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Optional: for a super smooth sauce, use an immersion blender to puree the cherry barbecue sauce.
Notes
Cherry Barbecue Sauce FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions- and answers - about making cherry BBQ sauce at home:
Can I use white sugar instead of brown sugar for BBQ sauce?
You can use white sugar, but then you'll miss out o f the molasses flavor that the brown sugar adds.
How do you use barbecue sauce?
This sauce is delicious on beef, chicken and pork. Remember the sugar in the sauce will caramelize on the meat but take care not to burn it.
What can I use instead of ketchup in BBQ sauce?
Instead of 1 cup ketchup, use the following mixture:
¼ cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon of honey or maple syrup
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon of sweet paprika or smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder ⭐ Tips
¼ cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon of honey or maple syrup
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon of sweet paprika or smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder ⭐ Tips
- If fresh cherries are in season, grab a cherry pitter and get to work! The flavor will be brighter and fuller.
- You can use a food processor or potato masher which will help break the cherries down quicker so you can make the sauce faster.
- For a super smooth sauce (my preference), use an immersion blender to puree the cherry barbecue sauce.
- Instead of butter, you can use olive oil to cook the onions.
- This is a mild BBQ sauce, if you would like it hot and spicy consider adding chipotle powder or adobo sauce.
- For a smokier version, use a tiny bit of liquid smoke. A little goes a long way so season and taste, then you can always add more.