Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Angela Paris · 10 Comments
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Cherry BBQ Sauce is the perfect sweet and savory addition to beef, pork, and chicken. You'll love how easy it is to make!

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

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Homemade barbecue sauce doesn't have to be complicated. You'll find this Cherry BBQ Sauce is the perfect sweet and savory addition to beef, pork, and chicken.

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (1)

Jump to:
  • Save this Article
  • 🧂 Ingredients
  • 🔪Instructions
  • Equipment
  • 💭 Frequently Asked Questions
  • ⭐ Tips
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🍴 Serving Suggestions
  • ⏲️ Storage
  • 😋 Similar Recipes
  • Cherry BBQ Sauce
  • 💬 Comments

Summer is right around the corner and that means that we will get out of the kitchen and cook on the grill more often. I prefer it because it means we aren't heating up the kitchen and we get outside as a family.

It also gives me the opportunity to whip up a delicious homemade BBQ sauce recipe.

I know that making your own condiments and sauces can seem intimidating, but they really are easy to make. They're so much better than store-bought sauces too. I like making my own sauces because often store-bought varieties are crammed with extra sugar and "natural flavors" (what are natural flavors anyway?).

That's why I wanted to share my recipe for Cherry BBQ sauce with you today. It's simple to make, so flavorful, and once you have the basic recipe down you can play with your own flavor profiles!

🧂 Ingredients

  • Onion
  • Salted butter
  • Fresh Garlic Cloves
  • Fresh or frozen dark, sweet cherries
  • Ketchup
  • Brown Sugar
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Ground mustard (dry mustard)
  • Black Pepper

🔪Instructions

This is meant to be a brief overview of how to make BBQ sauce from scratch. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below or Jump to Recipe.

  1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and then sauté the onion in it until tender.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook 1 minute more.
  3. Add in the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
  4. Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until cherries are tender and sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.

Equipment

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Be sure to check out my Juggling Act Mama Storefront on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of great products to make your life easier, including my favorite tools!Thanks so much for being a part of Juggling Act Mama

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (2)

💭 Frequently Asked Questions

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 on 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?

Instead of 1 cup of 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

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (3)

⭐ 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.

📖 Variations

  • 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 chili 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.
  • Add a little bit of orange juice or apple juice to the mixture for extra sweetness if you have particularly tart cherries.

Cherry Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Add 1 chopped chipotle pepper into the pan with the cherries along with 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce (from the can of chipotle peppers). Follow the rest of the instructions as written on the recipe card.

🍴 Serving Suggestions

This homemade sauce is totally finger-licking amazing! You're going to want to put it on everything from pork spareribs to steak tips. It also makes a great dipping sauce for chicken tenders!

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (4)

One of my favorite ways to serve cherry barbecue sauce is when Grilling Sirloin Steak Tips. It's good on all sorts of proteins including top sirloin, chicken, and grilled pork. You could even brush this onto grilled bacon!

⏲️ Storage

Store your leftover Cherry BBQ Sauce in a mason jar with a lid tightly secured. It will keep in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

😋 Similar Recipes

If you love making your Homemade Condiments and Sauces, you have to check out these other tasty recipes:

  • Montreal Seasoning Mix
  • Strawberry Peach BBQ Sauce
  • Cowboy Steak Rub
  • Homemade Pineapple Bourbon BBQ Sauce
  • Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

You'll also like our spicy ketchup, lime mayo, and honey mustard sauce!

See more

Not ready to make your own BBQ sauce yet?

Don’t forget to pin this tasty homemade cherry BBQ sauce recipe for later!

When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram@jugglingactmamaor #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (9)

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!

Add to Your Recipe Box

4.89 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cherry BBQ Sauce

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Author: Ang Paris

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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
  • 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

  • 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.

📖 Variations

  • 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.

For best results, be sure to check our Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help your delicious recipe come out perfectly.

Please Note: I am not a registered dietician. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe? Pin It for Later!Mention @jugglingactmama or tag #jugglingactmama!

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See more Grilling →

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nikki from Tikkido says

    Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (14)
    Oooh, I can't tell you how excited I am to try this recipe! I absolutely LOVE American Spoon Foods' cherry BBQ sauce, but since we moved to the UK, I haven't been able to get it. I think you've saved summer grilling season!

    Reply

    • Ang Paris says

      YAY I'm so glad! I hope you just love it!

      Reply

  2. SHELLY KANE says

    Could I use canned dark sweet cherries?

    Reply

    • Ang Paris says

      I have not tried it with canned cherries, but if you do, please let me know how it comes out 🙂

      Reply

  3. Dawn says

    Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (15)
    I only made a half batch to try it and boy am I sorry I did that! It's delicious! I didn't have my blender so I left it as is and the cherries were so good! I did add a bit of cayenne powder to give it a little kick and it was perfect!

    Reply

    • Ang Paris says

      Thanks so much for your message, Dawn! I love your idea to add a little cayenne pepper, too. If you're feeling adventurous you can add a bit of apricot, nectarine, or peach to go with your cherries. Sage also goes well with cherries.

      Reply

      • Dawn says

        Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (16)
        Wonderful thanks!!

        Reply

  4. Mette says

    Looks interesting. Do you know if this feeze well?

    Reply

    • Ang Paris says

      I have never tried to freeze it, but I imagine you could in a freezer safe jar or container.

      Reply

      • Mette Thunbo says

        Alright, thanks 😊

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Cherry BBQ Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does cherry barbecue taste like? ›

I've been seeing a lot of fruit based BBQ sauces lately and decided to give cherries a try since it's their season! It was sweet, tangy and a tad smokey

What is the oldest BBQ sauce in America? ›

Found in the eastern half of both North and South Carolina, Eastern-style vinegar sauce has the unique honor of being the oldest barbecue sauce in the country. Given its origin in the 13 colonies, it's literally where American barbecue was born, at the hands of enslaved chefs.

What are the three types of BBQ sauce? ›

Popular Types of BBQ Sauces In the U.S.
  • Tomato-based sauces.
  • Vinegar-based sauces.
  • Mayonnaise-based sauces.
  • Mustard-based sauces.

What is cherry chipotle? ›

Only the most uniquely delicious BBQ sauce to hit the meat scene. This sauce is rich and incredibly flavorful with notes of sweetness from the cherries, smoky heat from the chipotles, and a bright lift from fresh lime zest and juice. This is a sauce that will instantly elevate anything you baste or brush it on.

Is cherry good for BBQ? ›

Cherry Wood is best used for grilling or smoking poultry and pork. It usually gives the lighter meats a pinkish red tint to dark brown tint.

What does South Carolina BBQ taste like? ›

A lot of people have made a big deal about how South Carolina has four different barbecue sauces, but in practice there are really just two main ones: the tangy and sweet yellow mustard-based sauce of the Midlands and the fiery, fundamental vinegar/pepper sauce of the Pee Dee.

Can you eat 1 year old BBQ sauce? ›

Unopened BBQ sauce purchased from the store can last up to 1 year in the pantry. If you still haven't opened the BBQ sauce after 1 year and the appearance still looks acceptable, you are safe to continue storing the sauce until opening.

What BBQ sauce was on Shark Tank? ›

The Sharks have seen several lines of sauces over the years, and one such business was season eight's Lulu Bang. Philadelphia-based sisters Kelly and Jorrae Beard walked into "Shark Tank" hoping to make a "bang" with a cheeky pitch of their line of barbeque sauces: Joyce's Lulu Bang.

What makes Kansas City barbecue sauce different? ›

Kansas City BBQ sauce has a thicker consistency and is sweeter than a classic BBQ sauce. Made with onions, spices, ketchup, and molasses, other ingredients are often also added to give it a variation of flavors, such as liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce.

What is the difference between St Louis and Kansas City BBQ sauce? ›

St. Louis BBQ sauce is thinner than Kansas City sauce, and it has a tangy and slightly sweet flavor. The base often consists of ketchup or tomato sauce combined with vinegar, brown sugar, mustard and an array of spices.

Is tomato paste or ketchup better for BBQ sauce? ›

Most homemade barbecue sauces start with ketchup, but I prefer to strip it back further and start with a small can of tomato paste. It's usually under $2, and it's easy to keep stocked in your pantry. Plus, adding your own sugar, instead of using sugary ketchup, gives you control over the sweetness of the sauce.

What makes St. Louis BBQ different? ›

Louis–style barbecue is faster than other styles because it does not require smoking the meat for hours or applying a dry rub. St. Louis barbecue sauce is tomato-based, sweet, and vinegary. It traditionally contains ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and other spices.

What is a maraschino cherry? ›

Maraschino cherries, also known as co*cktail cherries, are preserved, sweetened, and artificially colored to become bright red cherries. That's why they have a different taste and composition (no pits) than natural cherries.

What is the salsa called at Chipotle? ›

How do we love our tomatillo red-chili salsa? Let us count the ways. Its primary ingredient is the dried red chili pepper - earthy and floral, fruity and hot, smoky and sweet, it gives our beloved hot salsa its delightfully spicy depth and complexity. (Plus, it lets you look like a hero in front of your friends).

What is the red stuff at Chipotle? ›

“Our recipe for tomatillo red-chili salsa has not changed,” a Chipotle spokesperson tells TODAY.com via email. “However, we use dried red chili peppers sourced seasonally from varying regions that can have a range of different heat levels.”

What does cherry flavor taste like? ›

Red cherries have a sweet taste with notes of berry and almond, while black cherries offer a tarter flavor that is slightly smoky. Both styles can be used in a variety of dishes, from pies and tarts to beverages and even barbeque.

What does cherry vape taste like? ›

The sweet, ripe taste of cherries is accentuated by the unique tartness of blue raspberry, making for a stimulating vape experience.

What does cherry beer taste like? ›

The flesh and skin of the cherries impart their colour to the beer as well as their sour fruit flavour, while the pits imbue the beer with an almond-like character. The wild yeasts found on the cherries and in the barrels impart the complex earthy aromatics associated with natural fermentation.

What does cherry alcohol taste like? ›

Instead, it is sweet and rich like cherry jam with a lovely fruit tartness and hints of wood and almond.

References

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