The Best Homemade Blueberry-Bourbon BBQ Sauce Recipe

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This blueberry BBQ sauce recipe is everything you need for your summer cookouts. Made with blueberries, bourbon, brown sugar, spices, and molasses, this tangy-sweet-and-smokey BBQ sauce will elevate your favorite summer eats.

I’ve lived in the American South for 20 years. If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years here, it is that different regions have strong opinions about what constitutes a “good” BBQ sauce.

Raised in the mid-Atlantic, I thought all BBQ sauce was ketchup-based. But I learned the hard way that vinegar BBQ sauce reigns in Southeastern North Carolina (you’ll be corrected quickly if you say otherwise!).

But if there is one thing we will all agree on, it’s that this blueberry BBQ sauce recipe is delicious. It’s made with simple ingredients and delicious fresh blueberries. So you’ll love this no matter where you are from or what type of BBQ sauce you believe in (because BBQ is a belief and a practice in some parts).

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Pairs with everything – If you can put BBQ sauce on it, it will be delicious with blueberry BBQ sauce. We especially love to put it on smoked pork sandwiches, chicken wings, and sourdough fried chicken. The fresh blueberry flavor is great on just about everything!
• Simple ingredients – Making your own BBQ sauce is much healthier than buying it at the grocery store. When possible, I try to avoid store-bought sauce, which often contains questionable ingredients like high fructose corn syrup.
• Easy – This delicious sauce is quick and simple. It’s an easy recipe that takes less than 45 minutes, most of which is hands-off cook time.
• Versatile – Many of the ingredients are flexible and forgiving. Don’t have a red onion? Just use whatever onion you have. Balsamic vinegar or white vinegar is a great substitute if you don’t have apple cider vinegar. Out of brown sugar? Just use maple syrup.
• Summer love! – Outdoor cooking is one of the best parts of summer. Couple that with seasonal blueberries, and it’s summer love for a foodie. If you want to learn more about how I cook outdoors, check out my Blackstone video on YouTube.

Tools You Will Need

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• Heavy-bottomed sauce pot – To prevent burning, use a heavy-bottomed pot. Because they are dishwasher-safe, I like to use my All-Clad stainless steel pot for sauces. But an enameled cast iron Dutch oven will work, too.
• Large spoon – As the sauce simmers, stir it frequently to prevent burning.
• Measuring cups and spoons – Many of my recipes call for a kitchen scale, but finally, you can use plain old measuring cups and spoons!
• Immersion blender (optional) – If you prefer a smooth sauce, use an immersion blender. I prefer a little bit of texture in mine, so I skip this step.

What To Make with Blueberry BBQ Sauce

If you can put BBQ sauce on it, you’ll want to use blueberry BBQ sauce. But here are some of the ways my family enjoys it:

• Smoked pork sandwiches on sourdough buns – I like to keep a few bags of frozen smoked pork around. That way, it’s really easy to have a summer barbecue sandwich without busting out the smoker.
• Chicken wings – My husband throws chicken wings in the air fryer. Then, when they are fresh out of the fryer, he tosses them in blueberry BBQ sauce.
• Dipping – Chicken nuggets, anyone? This is a kid-friendly option!
• Ribs – Nothing is better than ribs slathered in homemade blueberry BBQ sauce.
• Pork tenderloin – Pour the blueberry BBQ sauce over the pork tenderloin during the last 10-15 minutes of cooking. We love this with a side of creamed spinach.
• Grilled anything – Grilling season calls for chicken breast, pork chops, and veggies smothered in blueberry BBQ sauce on a sourdough flatbread.

Blueberry BBQ Sauce Ingredients

The list of ingredients for this blueberry BBQ sauce recipe seems long, but it’s mostly pantry staples. And if there are a few ingredients you don’t have, they are easy to find at most grocery stores.

Fresh Ingredients

• Red onion – Red onion is my favorite for this recipe, but any onion will do if you don’t have one on hand.
• Garlic – Use either 2 cloves of fresh garlic or 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Blueberries – You can use fresh, frozen, or home-canned blueberries. For fresh and frozen, follow the recipe as is. Since home-canned blueberries are cooked down and need to be drained, you can use up to an extra cup.

Pantry Ingredients

• Oil – Olive oil or avocado oil are great choices.
• Chili powder – Chili powder adds depth of flavor and, depending on the blend, a touch of heat.
• Smoked paprika – The deep flavor of smoked paprika creates that classic smokey BBQ sauce flavor
• Apple cider vinegar – The tartness of apple cider vinegar cuts the sweetness and leaves behind BBQ’s classic tang.
• Ketchup – Ketchup is the main ingredient for traditional barbecue sauce. I try to use store-bought varieties without high fructose corn syrup, but I always recommend using whatever works for your budget or what you have on hand.
• Brown sugar – Brown sugar creates the perfect balance of flavors. I prefer dark brown sugar because of its added molasses, but light brown sugar works great, too.
• Bourbon – Bourbon is a perfect addition for creating a deep, smokey flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce – The Worcestershire sauce adds a touch of salt and tang.
• Molasses – This will thicken the sauce while adding a hint of sweetness and smokiness. In my area, the grocery stores don’t offer many molasses choices, so use what you can find.
• Salt and black pepper – Always!

How to Make Blueberry BBQ Sauce

Preheat the oil in a heavy-bottomed sauce pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté the onion until soft, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic. Cook until just aromatic, about 1 minute.

As soon as you can smell the spices and garlic, pour in the apple cider vinegar. This will prevent the spices and garlic from burning and deglaze the pot if any bits of flavor are stuck.

Add in all of the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Once boiling, turn down to medium-low heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stir frequently to prevent burning. The sauce should gently bubble while simmering, so adjust the heat as needed.

Turn off the heat when the blueberries are soft and the sauce has reduced to your liking. For a smooth BBQ sauce, blend with an immersion blender until it reaches your desired consistency. For a chunky sauce, serve as is.

Note: if you want a spicy BBQ sauce, add cayenne pepper with the other spices.

How To Store Homemade Blueberry BBQ Sauce

Store any leftover blueberry BBQ sauce in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Freeze Homemade BBQ Sauce?

Yes! If you want to save your BBQ sauce for later, put it in a freezer-safe bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I Use Frozen or Home-Canned Blueberries?

Yup! You can use fresh, frozen, or home-canned blueberries for this recipe.

If you are using fresh or frozen, use two cups of blueberries.

If you are using home-canned berries, you can add up to 1 extra cup. Home-canned berries are cooked down and need to be drained, so using extra can add more blueberry flavor. With that said, I’ve made this recipe without using an extra cup, and it was still delicious!

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Homemade French Style Mayonnaise Recipe (10 minutes!)
• Easy Beef and Broccoli Recipe (Freezer Meal Option)
• Gnocchi with Sage Cream Sauce – 20-Minute Recipe
• Creamy Lemon Chicken – (30-minute recipe)
• Homemade Cheeseburger Helper
• Easy 3-Ingredient Creamed Spinach (10-Minute Recipe)

If you have tried this recipe and love it, leave a review!