Blueberry BBQ Sauce
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Blueberry BBQ Sauce is loaded with sweet and smoky flavor that promises to be the hit of your next backyard barbecue!
Juicy blueberries are blended with chipotle seasoning and smoked paprika to make the perfect condiment for baby back ribs, pork tenderloin and roasted chicken.
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What Is Blueberry BBQ Sauce?
This easy recipe starts with your favorite bottled barbecue sauce, then adds blueberries, chipotle peppers and a touch of spice to create a tasty addition to grilling season.
If you love making your own recipes with less than 5 ingredients, this fruity bbq sauce is for you!
Whether you’re looking for a tasty condiment to serve at your weekend cookout, or just want to wow the family at dinner tonight, this Blueberry BBQ sauce recipe is a great match for grilled meats and vegetables.
It’s quick and easy to prepare, and packs a flavorful punch your guests will love! Try it on smoked chicken thighs, fried chicken wings, chicken breast and chuck roast. You can also enjoy blueberry barbecue sauce with other dishes such as zesty meatloaf and smoked baked beans!
Why You’ll Love It
- Easy to make: mix everything with a food processor or immersion blender, heat it up, and you’ll have a nice jar of deliciousness in no time!
- Perfect blend of flavors: barbecue sauce is great on its own. When you combine it with blueberries, this homemade condiment becomes a whole new level of yum.
- Goes well with many different meals: trust me, you’ll seriously want to slather this stuff on everything. It’s that good!
- Lasts a while: store blueberry sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. If you want to stretch it a bit further, you can freeze it for a few months.
- Makes a great homemade gift: pack it in a cute mason jar with personalized decorations on the lid and you've got the perfect hostess gift!
Ingredients
Most of the items below are pantry ingredients, so you may not even have to go to the grocery store for this recipe!
This blueberry barbecue sauce recipe tastes a lot like the one made famous by 12 Bones Smokehouse, which is a local favorite restaurant in our hometown. See recipe card for quantities.
- barbecue sauce (any type) - I use Sweet Baby Ray's Honey style
- ground chipotle seasoning - located in the specialty spice section of your grocery store
- smoked paprika - adds intense smoky flavor to any recipe
- fresh or frozen blueberries - your choice, but I use fresh whenever possible
- brown sugar - adds an extra layer of sweetness
Equipment You'll Need
- food processor or blender
- medium saucepan
- pint size mason jars
How to Make Blueberry BBQ Sauce
Add all ingredients to a food processor or regular blender.
Pulse until mixture is smooth, but still a little chunky.
Pour contents into a medium saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes until it comes to a boil.
Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for a total of 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour hot sauce into 2 pint size mason jars (or airtight containers) and fasten lids.
Let jars cool until they reach room temperature, then use immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Variations
Curious about what other twists you can create when making your own bbq masterpiece? Give these variations a whirl:
- Add other fresh berries: blackberries and raspberries are well known for their sweet and tangy flavor, so substituting them is a great idea.
- Experiment with more spices: this recipe uses ground chipotle and paprika, but if you like spicy food, feel free to make your own mix. Try adding chili pepper, sriracha, or even a little cinnamon. Red pepper flakes will definitely kick it up a notch!
- Make it sweeter: brown sugar adds sweetness to this recipe. For an even sweeter sauce, substitute a bit of maple syrup or honey.
- Create a tangier sauce: simply add a hint of balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Lemon juice works well too. Watch the flavor balance — you might need to add some sugar to make sure the sauce isn’t overwhelmed with acid.
- Use canned blueberries: canned blueberries or blueberry sauce can be substituted if desired. But, fresh or frozen blueberries work best.
Top Tips
Here are some helpful tips to make the process go more smoothly:
- Use fresh spices: spices that have been sitting in the cupboard for a long time lose their flavor. For best results, use spices you've had for six months or less.
- Keep the heat on medium: if you leave the pot on high heat, your sauce may burn and stick to the bottom. Cooking on medium heat is the way to go!
- Use fresh blueberries: you can always use blueberry jam, but keep in mind that this will change the taste significantly since jams and jellies have a fair bit of added sugar. It's best to stick with fresh blueberries to get a feel for how the mixture should taste.
Recipe FAQs
It's up to you! The best part of making a sauce from scratch is that you get to decide exactly how sweet, savory, or spicy it is. You can always skip the spicy stuff or try it in small quantities.
Barbecue sauce is thought to have originated in the 17th century, around the time Europeans came to America. Some variations can be traced to German and African origins, but today there are hundreds of homemade bbq sauce versions all over the world.
The best thing about this blueberry barbecue sauce recipe is that it has a cooking time of only 15 minutes. Of course, you’re free to adjust the cooking time if you want a specific texture. The longer you heat it, the thicker it becomes.
Storage and Freezing
The best way to store homemade blueberry barbecue sauce is in an airtight container or mason jar in your fridge. This will keep it fresh and tasty for up to two weeks.
If you have lots of sauce, it’s also safe to freeze it for later. Be sure to let it cool before adding to an airtight container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What to Serve with Blueberry BBQ Sauce
Now that you have a wonderful jar of blueberry goodness, it’s time to pair it with other dishes. Here are some recipes that go perfectly with this condiment:
- Barbecue Ribs: these ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender, making them the perfect comfort food. They're the best partner for this sweet and tangy bbq sauce.
- Smoked Chicken Legs: chicken legs smoked to crispy perfection are sure to impress your guests. These are great for dipping!
- Pulled Pork: you haven't tasted pulled pork like this! It becomes even better with this fruit-based condiment and a side of smoked baked beans.
- Jalapeno Poppers: crispy, and slightly spicy, these poppers are a great finger food. Plus, blueberry sauce makes a great dip!
- Pork Tenderloin: the carrots and potatoes in this dish are flavorful, while the tenderloin is tender and juicy. Add a splash of blueberry BBQ sauce with a side of collard greens and it's over the top!
- Smoked Beer Can Chicken: if you've never smoked a beer can chicken, you're really missing out on the juiciest chicken you've ever tasted. Drizzle blueberry barbecue sauce over the finished bird and you won't believe how good it is!
More Blueberry Recipes to Try
- Blueberry Lemon Crumble
- Best Blueberry Muffins
- Blueberry Lemon Pastry
- Peach and Blueberry Cobbler
- Blueberry Sriracha Margarita
Recipe Card
Blueberry BBQ Sauce
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Equipment
- food processor (or blender)
Ingredients
- 40 ounces honey barbecue sauce (large bottle)
- ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 pint blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender. Pulse until mixture is smooth, but still a little chunky.40 ounces honey barbecue sauce, ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle seasoning, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 pint blueberries, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- Pour contents into a large saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until it comes to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for a total of 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour hot sauce into 2 pint size mason jars (or airtight containers) and fasten lids.
- Let jars cool until they reach room temperature, then use immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- The best way to store homemade blueberry barbecue sauce is in an airtight container or mason jar in your fridge. This will keep it fresh and tasty for up to two weeks.
- If you have lots of sauce, it’s also safe to freeze it for later. Be sure to let it cool before adding to an airtight container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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This barbecue sauce is delicious! I could eat it with a spoon! In fact, I did. It's that good.
I have to admit I've eaten it with a spoon too Sandra! 🙂
I made this delicious blueberry bbq sauce the other day for my ribs on the smoker. Man. You weren't kidding! This sauce is the best I've ever had. Can't wait to try it on chicken and pork.