Tangy and sweet pineapple BBQ sauce is the perfect homemade condiment to brighten up your next barbecue dinner. Whether you are grilling chicken, pork, fish or veggies, pineapple barbecue sauce is easy to make and has a fresh pineapple flavor you will love.
I love making my own condiments especailly during grilling season, and barbecue sauce is especially easy. Homemade bbq sauce is a quick and straightforward way to put your own twist on a meal while also impressing your friends and family. Whether or not you tell them how easy it is to make homemade pineapple BBQ sauce is up to you.
Storebought barbecue sauce is undoubtedly convenient, but I often find them too sweet or too spicy. Making my own pineapple barbecue sauce gives me complete control over the ingredients, so I can tweak them until I get the right flavor. Plus, I don't have to worry about artificial ingredients or preservatives. I know exactly what's in my sauce.
The best part is that you probably have everything you need in your pantry and fridge for this homemade sauce. This recipe uses common ingredients so you can whip up a batch in no time.
Ingredients
- Ketchup – Grab your favorite brand. You can even use spicy ketchup for a fun twist.
- Brown Sugar – Add sweetness to the sauce. Substitute honey or maple syrup if desired.
- Seasoned Salt – This usually contains a combination of salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder and may have some cayenne pepper for heat.
- Paprika – This sweet and mild pepper adds depth of flavor. Use smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
- Pineapple Juice – Use the juice from a can of pineapple and serve the pineapple with your meal. You can also use undrained, crushed pineapple for a chunky sauce.
- Cider Vinegar – ACV adds a nice twang to the sauce.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring sauce to a simmer then lower the heat.
- Cook about 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Cool and store in an airtight jar in the fridge.
Hint: Brown sugar should be soft and pliable. If it gets hard, it can be softened in the microwave by putting it in a small microwavable bowl and covering it with a wet paper towel. Microwave in 20-second increments until soft.
Variations/ Substitutions
- Spicy - Add in a pinch of cayenne pepper, some crushed red pepper flakes of a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce. It will give the sauce a hint of spice.
- Chunky - For a chunkier BBQ sauce use undrained, crushed pineapple in place of the pineapple sauce.
- Umami - Give this sauce an umami flavor by adding a dash of soy sauce. Use tamari or amino acids to keep it gluten-free. Worchestershire sauce is another flavor booster.
- Aromatics – Saute diced onion and garlic before adding the rest of the ingredients for even more flavor. Fresh ginger also adds a lovely warm flavor.
- Lower Sugar – Use a sugar free ketchup and replace the brown sugar with your favorite sugar replacement. You can also use honey or maple syrup if you prefer natural sugars.
Storage
Store the homemade barbecue sauce in an airtight container, such as mason jars, in the fridge for up to a week. Freezing this sauce is not recommended.
Top tip
If you are going to be using this sauce to baste the meat while it cooks, cut back a bit on the brown sugar. This will help keep the sauce from burning while the meat cooks.
Serving Suggestions
This pineapple barbecue sauce pairs beautifully with grilled chicken or pulled pork sandwiches, but you can also use it on shrimp, fish, fried chicken wings or your favorite grilled veggies. Slather over chicken breasts, pork ribs or on your favorite burger. No matter how you use this tangy sauce it's a tasty addition.
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FAQ
This simple recipe contains ketchup, brown sugar, a blend of spices and pineapple juice. The tropical island flavor is sweet, tangy and full of delicious flavors.
Ideally, barbecue sauce should be cooked to fully blend the sauce and develop the flavors. The ingredients are simmered over low heat for several minutes.
If you like this Pineapple BBQ Sauce, please leave a 5-star rating.
RECIPE
Pineapple Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and mix together over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes or until mixture comes to a simmer.
- Lower heat to low and cook for 10 more minutes while stirring occasionally. Cook longer if you want thicker sauce.
- Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
Nutrition
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