Homemade Blueberry BBQ Sauce
This blueberry bbq sauce recipe is going to be your new favorite BBQ sauce. It’s perfect for grilling season and pairs well with grilled pork tenderloin, pork chops, ribs, chicken breast, thighs, or chicken wings.
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I was pleasantly surprised after my first attempt at making homemade BBQ sauce. It is much tastier than any BBQ sauce you can buy in grocery stores, and it’s easy to make. This blueberry barbecue sauce has become one of our favorites, especially when delicious fresh blueberries are in season. They are the perfect addition to add natural sweetness to this delicious sauce.
Why you will love blueberry BBQ sauce
- It’s easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and easy steps.
- It’s healthy and naturally sweet; when you make your own BBQ sauce, you can control the ingredients.
- It’s versatile! In addition to slathering on ribs or grilled chicken, this sauce can add flavor to burgers, meatloaf and sandwiches too.
Here is what you will need
This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this homemade blueberry bbq sauce recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.
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Ingredients
- ketchup
- blueberries
- apple cider vinegar
- fresh garlic
- maple syrup
How to make blueberry barbecue sauce
Prepare the ingredients: rinse and dry the blueberries, and chop the garlic. Measure the ketchup, vinegar, and syrup.
STEP 1: Place all of the ingredients into a saucepan and mix everything together. Set the heat to medium-high.
STEP 2: Cook the sauce over medium-high heat for a few minutes until it begins to boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 30 to 35 minutes. The liquid should start to thicken as the blueberries break down, and this delicious sauce will be ready once the blueberries turn soft, but the sauce will be thick and chunky.
STEP 3: If you prefer a smooth sauce, use an immersion blender, regular blender, or food processor to puree the sauce.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
The full list of ingredients to make this blueberry sauce recipe is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients along with ideas for substitutes.
Blueberries – Fresh or frozen blueberries will work in this recipe. If you use frozen, thaw them out and drain them before adding them to the sauce.
Ketchup – For this recipe, any type of ketchup can be used. While I prefer unsweetened ketchup, it is ultimatley up to you. You can also use a thick tomato puree in place of ketchup.
Apple Cider Vinegar – This adds a nice tang to the homemade bbq suace and can be replaced with white or balsamic vinegar for a sweeter-tasting blueberry barbecue sauce.
Maple Syrup – Look for real maple syrup, not pancake syrup. You can substitute the syrup with an equal amount of honey, brown sugar or brown rice syrup. This sauce is not overly sweet, feel free to add more sweetner to your taste.
Serving suggestions
This sauce is so versatile! For a tasty BBQ dinner, try serving grilled baby back ribs, or chicken thighs, grilled tempeh topped with homemade blueberry barbecue sauce. Pair your barbecued meat with homemade coleslaw and potato salad for a satisfying meal.
Blueberry BBQ sauce is an excellent addition to slow-cooker recipes like baked beans, pulled pork, and country ribs.
How to store blueberry barbecue sauce
Blueberry BBQ sauce can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container such as a mason jar or glass storage container.
Recipe variations
Change up the fruit – Instead of blueberries, use 1 cup of fresh or frozen raspberries, blackberries, or a combination of fresh berries.
Make it spicy – Add a tablespoon of chipotle chili powder, chopped chili peppers, jalapeno peppers, or red pepper flakes.
Bourbon Blueberry BBQ Sauce – Add a quarter cup of bourbon to the saucepan when cooking the sauce.
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Tips
- Adjust the sweetness and spiciness of the sauce to your liking by adding more or less syrup and vinegar to your taste.
- Be patient, the sauce will thicken as it simmers, but it will take up to 30 minutes.
- Let the sauce cool to room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can freeze leftover blueberry BBQ sauce. Place room-temperature BBQ sauce into an airtight container and freeze it for up to three months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
To prevent over-charring, brush the sauce on a few minutes before serving.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup you can adjust this to your taste]
- 1 clove fresh garlic crushed
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: crush the garlic, rinse the blueberries or if you are using frozen, rinse them off and let them thaw out in a bowl.
- Add 1 cup fresh blueberries, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar1 clove fresh garlic to a medium saucepan. Cook on low heat stirring occasionally until the blueberries become very soft – about 30 minutes.
- Stir in 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and check the taste for sweetness and adjust the flavors.
- For a smooth sauce, place sauce into a blender, food processor or use an immersion blender.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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What a super fun way to to use some of my blueberry bounty!! SO good!
This seems to be really easy to make! I am excited to add this to my 4th of July BBQ spread!
Enjoy!
Such a unique but delicious bbq sauce! I love how simple and easy it is too.
Thank you!
my mouth is WATERING .. I love blueberries and rarely think to do them in savory!
I love serving fruit in savory dishes.
I knew right away from the title I would like this and the recipe does not disappoint! So simple and easy yet such a great balance of sweet, savory and a little spice from the chipotle powder.
Thank you!
What a beautiful sauce! So easy to make and delicious! Perfect for summer BBQ.
OMG, this looks so good! I love the idea of blueberries adding fruity touch of sweetness to bbq sauce. Those ribs 🙂
Can I add chipotle peppers to the sauce?
Hi Dave! Yes you can add one or two chopped chipotle peppers to the sauce.
Hello, so glad I found this recipe. You see my small local business bbq joint sold his version of blueberry sauce for his pork spareribs. It was delicious. Now he has retired and doesn’t bottle anymore. I can’t wait to make this but, can I use 1 tbsp corn syrup in place of 1 tbsp maple syrup
Yes, you can replace maple syrup with corn syrup or any liquid sweetener.
Tried this recipe. Way way too much vinegar. Maple syrup did not cut through the vinegar I had to put about 2 -3 tablespoons of honey. Then a 1/2 tsp salt.
Hi Lauren! It sounds like you were looking for a sweeter sauce, I’m glad it worked out adding extra honey!