I wanted to create a sweet BBQ sauce but didn't have any honey in my cupboard. While traditionally made with honey, I think my Sweet BBQ Sauce with Pineapple Juice is a better alternative!
This homemade BBQ sauce recipe is versatile where the flavours can be adjusted to suit your personal preferences. I like mine a little less sweet (which is why I like the slight sour taste from the pineapple juice).
You can use this as a condiment for your favourite fried snack, as a marinade, in a stir fry, or why not try on Bacon Wrapped Asparagus?
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What is sweet BBQ sauce?
BBQ Sauce. Barbecue Sauce. Barbeque sauce. Barbie sauce. B-B-Q. However you want to refer to it. IT'S DELICIOUS! As Aussies, we love it on everything from our Bunnings Sausage to a delicious Meal Prep recipe.
It has the tang and smokiness you know and love from your traditional barbeque sauce, but it has a secret ingredient which makes it sweet (I use pineapple juice).
Sweet barbeque sauce ingredients
Passata. Different people have different tomato based ingredients in their BBQ Sauce recipe. I prefer using Passata as it has one ingredient - Tomatoes. Ketchup, or tomato sauce can often have unnecessary ingredients and the purpose of me making my own sauce is to decrease the amount of this.
White wine vinegar. This adds the tang you know and love from traditional Barbeque sauces. You could use apple cider vinegar as an alternative, or white vinegar in a pinch.
Worcestershire sauce. I like to think of this as the secret ingredient that gives the whole sauce extra depth and flavour.
Brown sugar. This helps with the sweetness and colour of the sauce. The brown sugar also adds a depth of caramelisation.
Smoked paprika. This is the ingredient that helps with the smoky flavour you all know and love
Pineapple juice. Traditional sweet barbeque sauce recipes use honey or maple syrup for the sweetness. These are normally called honey bbq sauce. I like to use pineapple juice as it adds an extra layer of flavour from the fruit. You can substitute with honey or maple syrup if you prefer.
How to make sweet BBQ sauce?
- Combine
Using a small saucepan. Stir all the ingredients and combine.
- Simmer
Bring the mixture to a boil (it'll start to bubble) and then reduce the heat and leave on a low heat for approx. 20 minutes. Stir every few minutes to help it thicken and prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
As it simmers, you can adjust to suit your taste preferences. Here is how:
Sweeter. Add more brown sugar.
Sweeter and more tart. Add more pineapple juice
Less Sweet. Add acid (more vinegar)
Thinner. Add more water.
Thicker. Add more passata
Smokier. Add more smoked paprika.
More flavour. Add more Worcestershire sauce.
Spicier. Add a touch of hot sauce or chili flakes. - Cool and store
Even if you want to use this the same day as making it, I would suggest letting the sauce cool as it helps the flavours sink in more.
You can serve this sweet BBQ sauce with a range of proteins or even as a coating on vegetables. It can act as a marinade for a meal prep recipe or a dipping sauce.
What to serve with sweet BBQ sauce
Here are some ideas for what to serve with sweet BBQ sauce:
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Sweet BBQ Pork
- Sweet BBQ Roast Chicken
- Sweet BBQ Ribs
Storing sweet barbeque sauce
Refrigerate. The sweet barbeque sauce will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Mason jars work really well.
Freeze. You can freeze in a freezer-friendly container or bag (I like the silicone bags) for up to 3 months. You could also use an icecube tray or Souper Cubes for smaller portions that can defrost quickly. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you've added too much sweetness, you can balance this by adding more acid or citrus. This recipe already calls for vinegar, so I would suggest adding more of that.
The pineapple instead of the honey or maple syrup is why I love this recipe. It doesn't get overly sweet!
Absolutely! This sauce is extremely versatile and can be used to flavour your protein and vegetables.
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Other sauce recipes
Recipe
Best Sweet BBQ Sauce with Pineapple Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups passata (See Note 1)
- ⅓ cup white wine vinegar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar lightly packed
- 2 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup pineapple juice (See Note 3)
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan.
- Heat on medium setting until boiling then reduce to a simmer. Cook for another 10 minutes or until thickened.
- Transfer and serve on proteins, vegetables etc. or store for up to 2 weeks in an air tight container in the fridge.
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