Sweet and Tangy Peach BBQ Sauce
This homemade Peach BBQ Sauce is perfectly sticky, sweet, and tangy. It’s made with both fresh peaches and peach preserves for a balanced peach flavor that tastes super fresh rather than artificial!
My Go-To BBQ Sauce for Smoked Ribs
I’ve been making this peach bbq sauce for years and almost always use it to slather over my smoked baby back ribs. Most bbq sauce recipes call for either peach preserves or fresh peaches, but I like using both for a pure peach flavor and the perfect sticky texture.
Here’s why else this scratch bbq sauce rocks:
✔ Perfectly Thick and Smooth: Sometimes bbq sauce made with fresh peaches can wind up being runny due to the extra moisture from the peaches. Not this sauce! By using both peach preserves and fresh peaches, we’re able to make bbq sauce with a texture like the kind served at restaurants.
✔ No Hidden Ingredients: Assuming you buy a good quality jar of peach preserves, you should wind up with bbq sauce that’s free of any thickeners, corn syrup, or artificial colors.
✔ Freezer Friendly: I love making a big batch of this sauce when peaches are in season and freezing it for later.
Happy barbecuing!
–Katie
The Key Ingredients You’ll Need
The secret to a really good bbq sauce is to layer in lots of complementary flavors so you end up with a nuanced tasting sauce. Measurements are provided in the recipe card below, but here’s an overview of what goes into this peach-flavored bbq sauce.
- Peaches: You’ll need nearly a pound of fresh, peeled peaches. You can use any variety you like, just make sure they’re nice and ripe for the best flavor.
- Peach Preserves: Read the ingredients list to make sure you’re buying a quality jar of peach preserves so your bbq sauce tastes the best ever.
- Dried Herbs and Spices: You’ll be layering in lots of smoky, spiced flavors with smoked paprika, ground allspice, ginger, and cinnamon. Plus salt and pepper, of course.
- Brown Sugar + Molasses: Brown sugar already contains molasses, but a little extra molasses really deepens the flavor of the bbq sauce, makes it nice and sticky, and keeps it thick enough to brush over ribs or burgers.
- Vinegar: I like using apple cider vinegar, which has a fruity flavor that goes nicely with the peaches.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard adds depth of flavor. I don’t recommend using regular yellow mustard since it’s more sharp and acidic than Dijon.
- Liquid Smoke: The only “special” ingredient you’ll need. It gives the bbq sauce so much smoky flavor! You should be able to find it at the grocery store or on Amazon.
Katie’s Tip: Try Adding Bourbon
Just 1 tablespoon of bourbon adds a nice smoky-sweetness to the sauce and further balances out the sweetness from the peaches and brown sugar.
How to Make Peach BBQ Sauce with 2 Types of Peaches
Prepare to be amazed at how easy it is to make your own bbq sauce!
- Bloom the spices and aromatics: This is a fancy way of saying to heat up some oil and gently cook the onion, garlic, and spices just until fragrant. This really wakes up the flavors, so don’t skip this step!
- Add the remaining ingredients and simmer: You’re looking for the peaches to soften and for the sauce to become thick enough to coat a spoon.
- Stir in the bourbon (if using): It needs just a minute or two of simmering to mellow out.
- Blend until smooth: An immersion blender is great for recipes like this, but a regular blender works too.
Need help peeling those peaches? Here’s my favorite method for peeling peaches that takes just a few minutes.
Ways to Use It
You’ll usually find us slathering this homemade peach bbq sauce over racks of smoked baby back ribs, but it’s just as delicious with:
- Grilled BBQ Chicken (add this sauce after the chicken has finished grilling)
- BBQ Chicken Sliders
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Bacon Blue Cheese Burgers
- Pulled Pork Nachos
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
More Homemade Sauces and Marinades to Try
You want more homemade sauces and spreads? You know I’ve got you covered!
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Peach BBQ Sauce Recipe
Made with both fresh peaches and peach preserves, this peach bbq sauce is perfectly sweet, glossy, and tangy!
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon avocado or vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup sweet onion, finely chopped
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
- 12 ounces peeled & diced fresh peaches
- 4 tablespoons peach preserves
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened but not browned.
- Stir in smoked paprika, cinnamon, allspice, and ground ginger. Cook for about 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
- Add the diced peaches, peach preserves, brown sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, and liquid smoke. Stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peaches are soft and the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Stir in bourbon (if using) and cook for another 1-2 minutes to mellow the alcohol.
- Blend the sauce until smooth using an immersion blender or regular blender.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
Need help peeling those peaches? Here’s my favorite method for peeling peaches that takes no more than a few minutes total.
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Ditch the Bottled Stuff From Now On!
Instead of buying a bottle of bbq sauce, try making a batch of homemade bbq sauce that’s infused with fresh peaches and peach preserves instead.
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