Homemade pineapple BBQ sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce that’s perfect for grilling or dipping. The key to its unique flavor is using pure canned pineapple juice and simple spices like cumin.

This sauce is easy to make and can be customized to your desired level of spiciness. It’s a great way to add a tropical twist to your favorite barbecue dishes.

Barbecue sauce with pineapple juice in a small bowl.

Why make your own BBQ sauce?

Making your own barbecue sauce is always a great idea because you can customize the flavor to your liking. You can adjust the sweetness, spiciness, or tanginess of the sauce to create a flavor profile that suits your taste buds.

You also have control over the quality of the ingredients e.g. using pure canned pineapple juice, to ensure that the sauce is of the best quality.

And my favorite part? You get creative with flavors and ingredients. You can experiment with different types of vinegar, herbs, and spices to create unique and delicious sauces.

What you need

Here are the ingredients to make pineapple barbecue sauce:

Ketchup, pineapple juice, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, and vinegar.
  • Pineapple Juice – The base ingredient of this barbecue sauce recipe. Use pure canned pineapple juice for the best flavor. I don’t recommend substituting with syrup.
  • Tomato Ketchup – Gives the barbecue sauce its signature reddish color.
  • Brown Sugar – Adds a hint of caramel flavor to the barbecue sauce. I personally prefer brown sugar when making barbecue sauces but you can also use white sugar if that’s what you have.
  • White Vinegar – Just a hint of vinegar to boost the tanginess of the pineapple juice.
  • Soy Sauce and Worcestershire sauce – For depth of flavor and balances the sweetness of the sauce.
  • Spices – I used ground cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder. It can be substituted with paprika powder for a smoky flavor. To make the barbecue sauce spicy, add chili powder or cayenne pepper.

How to Make It

Making barbecue sauce is as simple as combining all the ingredients in a small pot or saucepan. Stir it well until the sugar is dissolved.

BBQ sauce cooking in a pot.

Simmer in medium heat until it thickens like a thin gravy consistency. Keep stirring to prevent the sugar from burning. Taste and adjust sugar and spices according to your preferences. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Tip: I you prefer a less tangy sauce, add 1-2 tablespoons of water.

That’s it! Easy!

Uses for this Pineapple BBQ Sauce

This homemade barbecue sauce is a versatile and flavorful condiment that can be used in a variety of ways.

Pork chops with barbecue sauce.

Here are some examples:

  1. Grilling – Brush it on meats like chicken, beef, or pork while grilling for a delicious and tangy flavor. You can also use it as a marinade for meats before grilling. This is the barbecue sauce I used to make Air Fryer BBQ pork chops!
  2. Dipping – Serve as a sauce as a dip for chicken tenders, french fries, or vegetables. It’s a great alternative to ketchup or ranch dressing.
  3. Sandwiches – Use as a spread on sandwiches like pulled pork or brisket. It adds a sweet and smoky flavor to the sandwich.
  4. Pizza – Use as a pizza sauce for a unique and delicious twist on traditional pizza. Top with chicken, red onions, and mozzarella cheese for a BBQ chicken pizza.
  5. Meatballs – Add homemade barbecue sauce to meatballs or meatloaf for a sweet and tangy flavor.
  6. Stir-fry: Use homemade barbecue sauce as a sauce for stir-fry dishes. It pairs well with vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and carrots.

These are just a few examples of how you can use this bbq sauce recipe. Get creative and experiment with using it in your favorite dishes!

Shelf-life and Storage

Homemade barbecue sauce can be stored in different ways depending on how long you want to keep it and how you plan to use it.

homemade barbecue sauce with pineapple juice.

Here are some storage options:

Refrigerator – If you plan to use your homemade BBQ sauce within a few weeks, you can store it in a glass jar (e.g. mason jars) or an airtight container in the refrigerator. Make sure to let the sauce cool completely before putting it in the container. It will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Freezer – If you have made a large batch of barbecue sauce and want to keep it for a longer period, you can freeze it. Pour the sauce into a freezer-safe container or a plastic freezer bag and make sure to label it with the date. It will stay fresh for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Regardless of how you store your homemade barbecue sauce, it’s important to always check it for signs of spoilage before using it. If you notice any mold, discoloration, or unpleasant odor, discard the sauce immediately.

More sauce recipes

Barbecue sauce made with pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar and spices.

Easy Pineapple BBQ Sauce

Rate this recipe
Sweet, tangy, garlicky, and packed with so much flavor. Use as a marinade, basting, and even as a dipping sauce. This is my go-to recipe for making Filipino pork BBQ skewers, BBQ pork belly and BBQ pork ribs, and even BBQ chicken.
This recipe makes about 2 1/4 cups of marinade. Use 1 1/4 cup to marinate 1 kilo (2 pounds) of meat and the remaining 1 cup to make the baste.
Servings14 servings
preparation time5 minutes
Total cooking time5 minutes

Ingredients
 

Instructions

  • Whisk all ingredients together in a small pot. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low.
    1 cup pineapple juice, 1 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp vinegar, 3 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, black pepper
  • Simmer until the sauce slightly thickens, stirring every now and then. Taste and adjust seasonings based on preference.
  • Use immediately or allow to cool and store in an airtight glass container for up to a week.

Recipe Notes & Tips:

  1. Vinegar – I recommend rice vinegar, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, and cane vinegar. All of these are milder in taste.
  2. Soy sauce – use regular soy sauce.
  3. Spices – other alternatives are sweet or smoked paprika. You can also add cayenne pepper or chili powder to make it spicy.
Author : Mella
Course : Dipping sauce
Cuisine : Filipino
Keyword : Filipino BBQ, Filipino BBQ street food
Nutrition Facts
Easy Pineapple BBQ Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
41
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
0.1
g
0
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.01
g
0
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.02
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
0.02
g
Sodium
 
263
mg
11
%
Potassium
 
102
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
10
g
3
%
Fiber
 
0.1
g
0
%
Sugar
 
8
g
9
%
Protein
 
0.4
g
1
%
Vitamin A
 
93
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
11
mg
1
%
Iron
 
0.4
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag @rivertenkitchen or leave a comment below!

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