If you're looking for a delicious and unique BBQ sauce recipe, try this apricot BBQ sauce recipe. The sweet and tangy flavor of apricot preserves pairs perfectly with the smoky flavor of barbecue, making it a great sauce for grilled meats, poultry, and even vegetables.
This homemade apricot bbq sauce is great for Father's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and all of your other summer cookouts.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- This apricot barbecue sauce is an easy way to add flavor to your favorite grilled meats and vegetables.
- Making your own homemade sauce allows you to control the ingredients and adjust the sweetness and tanginess level to your preferences
- This tangy sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for even longer storage.
- This simple recipe for bbq sauce tastes great with chicken, pork, grilled, fish, and vegetables.
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Ingredients
Ketchup: Ketchup is a pretty standard bbq sauce base.
Apricot Preserves or Apricot Jam: You can also use fresh apricots. See the variations section below for instructions. I do not recommend using dried apricots.
Brown Sugar: I love the caramel flavor that the brown sugar adds but you could also substitute white sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar helps to balance the sweetness from the apricot preserves and the brown sugar. If you don't have apple cider vinegar you could also use regular white distilled vinegar.
Worcestershire Sauce: If you are a vegetarian try using soy sauce or coconut aminos instead.
Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds a bit of spice and acid.
Garlic Powder and Onion Powder
Cayenne Pepper: Cayenne pepper adds a bit of heat to the bbq sauce. For a milder flavor omit the cayenne pepper for more spice increase the cayenne pepper.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Directions
In a medium saucepan, combine the ketchup, apricot preserves, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.
Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a simmer.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens slightly.
Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Serving Suggestions
This apricot barbecue sauce recipe is a versatile sauce, simply brush it onto your meat, poultry, or vegetables during the last few minutes of cooking. It also tastes great when paired with this smoked cream cheese.
Try brushing it onto some chicken thighs, pork chops, burgers, or meatloaf, mixing it with some pulled pork, or tossing it with these smoked chicken wings.
You can also use it as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders or as a marinade for your meats.
This recipe makes about 1 ½ cups of sauce, so you can easily double or triple the recipe if you're cooking for a crowd.
Variations
Apricots: If you have an abundance of apricots they can be substituted for the apricot preserves.
If using fresh apricots rather than apricot preserves, halve and pit the apricots. Place the halved apricots in a small saucepan with two tablespoons of water. Simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes.
Once the apricots have softened, use a food processor or immersion blender to puree the apricots until they reach a smooth consistency. Depending on the sweetness of your apricots you may need to add additional sweetener.
Spice: For a less spicy sauce omit the cayenne pepper. Increase the cayenne pepper for a spicier sauce.
Storage
Homemade bbq sauce should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
For longer storage, place the airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three months.
To defrost: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but the sauce will require a little more prep work.
To use fresh apricots, halve and pit the apricots. Place the halved apricots in a small saucepan with two tablespoons of water. Simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes.
Once the apricots have softened, use a food processor or immersion blender to puree the apricots until they reach a smooth consistency. Depending on the sweetness of your apricots you may need to add additional sweetener.
Tips
- Omit the cayenne pepper for a milder sauce Increase the cayenne pepper for a spicier sauce.
- The sauce will look thin at first but will thicken the longer it simmers and reduces.
- The sauce will thicken even more as it cools.
- When measuring sticky ingredients like ketchup and preserves I prefer to weigh the ingredients using a kitchen scale or use one of these plunger measuring cups.
This apricot BBQ sauce recipe is a delicious and unique twist on traditional BBQ sauce. With its sweet and tangy flavor, it's sure to be a hit at your next cookout or BBQ. Try it out and enjoy!
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing Suggestions
These are my favorite side dishes to serve with apricot bbq sauce:
📖 Recipe
Homemade Easy Apricot BBQ Sauce Recipe for Grilling
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- storage container
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¾ cup apricot preserves 10oz jar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the 1 cup ketchup, ¾ cup apricot preserves , ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper. Stir to combine.
- Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens slightly.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
Notes
Nutrition
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