This Peach BBQ Sauce is zesty, saucy, and fruity — perfect for slathering on your favorite grilled and smoked foods like chicken, turkey, shrimp, wings, brisket, and smoked pork! It's ready in a few simple steps and made with everyday ingredients. Enjoy it year-round by baking it with fresh, canned, or frozen peaches!
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Change up your barbecue routine in the best way possible with peach BBQ sauce! It's saucy, zesty, sweet, tangy, and fruity — perfect for slathering everything from smoked ribs and brisket to grilled chicken, roasted salmon, and chicken wings or serving as a dipping sauce with chicken nuggets or sweet potato french fries.
I started making barbecue sauces a few years ago and I haven't looked back. It's so simple — just add the ingredients to a saucepan and simmer — and I love being able to adjust the seasonings to my preference, adding more sweetness, spice, tang, or savory umami.
This recipe is a great way to feature fresh summer peaches, but you can make it year-round with canned or frozen. The sauce also freezes well if you prefer to make a double batch to enjoy later!
For my complete collection of peach recipes, check out my Best Peach Recipe Round-Up!
Ingredients
Peaches — Though this sauce shines with in-season, late summer peaches, you can make it anytime with canned or frozen peaches. If using canned, drain them well; if using frozen, thaw them before blending.
Tomato Sauce — This adds deep tomato flavor. Be sure to use canned pureed tomato sauce, not marinara or pasta sauce.
Ketchup — For tang, texture, and tomato flavor.
Red Wine Vinegar — More tang! You can use apple cider or distilled white vinegar if you don't have red wine vinegar.
Liquid Smoke — A few teaspoons of this add depth and smokiness — essential for homemade bbq sauce!
Molasses — This adds sweetness and rich caramel, accentuating the sweet and spicy peach bbq sauce! Use unsulphured molasses for the best results.
Honey — Adds sweetness and helps the sauce to thicken up, making it great for slathering!
Brown Sugar — Use packed light brown sugar for mild caramel flavors and dark brown sugar for deeper molasses notes.
Seasonings — You will need fine sea or kosher salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, onion powder, chili powder, and ground mustard to make this peach barbecue sauce. Use spices with a good expiration date for the best flavor.
How to Make Peach BBQ Sauce
For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a blender in the order listed.
Step 2: Blend on high for 15-30 seconds or until smooth.
Step 3: Pour the bbq sauce into a medium saucepan. Heat over medium-high or medium heat until simmering.
Step 4: Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes or until thickened to your preferred consistency.
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Add the ingredients in the order listed. Pour in the liquids first, followed by the solids and spices for the smoothest blending.
- Using an immersion blender. If you don't have a blender, add the ingredients to a quart-sized measuring cup and blend with a stick or immersion blender.
- Blend well. Blitz the peach barbecue sauce mixture for at least 15-30 seconds or until it is completely smooth and has a texture similar to a thick soup.
- Stir regularly. I recommend stirring the homemade peach BBQ sauce every 5 or so minutes as it simmers to prevent burning.
- Adjust to taste. Add additional honey or brown sugar to make it sweeter, more vinegar for a stronger tang, or extra cayenne pepper for heat.
Recipe Variations
- Vary the Vinegar: Swap apple or distilled white vinegar for the red wine vinegar for a milder, less robust peach BBQ glaze.
- Sweeten with Brown Sugar: For a more caramel and molasses flavor, use all brown sugar. You will need ⅔ cups.
- Very Vegan — Make this recipe completely plant-based using ⅔ cups organic cane sugar instead of the honey and brown sugar.
- Swap the Stone Fruit: Blend fresh or canned apricots instead of peaches for a different summery twist.
- Super Smoky — Love those smoky flavors? Double the amount of smoked paprika, or add an extra teaspoon of liquid smoke!
- Über Umami — Blend 1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce with the peach mixture to add a punch of savory umami!
Serving Suggestions
The options for enjoying this peach BBQ sauce recipe are nearly endless! Slather it on any of your favorite grilled and smoked foods, such as chicken, turkey, brisket, shrimp, and wings. Or, toss it with shredded pork or chicken. I also love using it to make BBQ Chicken Nachos!
Make the most of the summer harvest by making a complete peach-themed feast, serving your BBQ sauce-brushed foods with Peach Sangria or Peach and Strawberry Frosé to drink and Cast Iron Peach Cobbler or Peach Bread Pudding for dessert!
Storage Directions
- Refrigerating: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
- Freezing: The sauce can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight or in a pan over low heat.
- Heating: Warm the saucepan in a saucepan over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring it periodically, or in a microwave on gentle heat.
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Recipe Card
Peach BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- ¾ cup canned tomato sauce not marinara sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 ¼ cup sliced peaches fresh (peeled), frozen (thawed), or canned (drained)
- 3 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
- 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground mustard
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender in the order listed.
- Blend on high for 15-30 seconds or until smooth.
- Pour the bbq sauce into a saucepan. Heat over medium-high until simmering.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes or until thickened to your preferred consistency. Use as desired, brushing it on chicken, pork, wings, or shrimp, tossing it with pulled pork, and anywhere else you enjoy BBQ sauce!
Notes
- Refrigerating: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
- Freezing: The sauce can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight or in a pan over low heat.
- Heating: Warm the saucepan in a saucepan over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring it periodically, or in a microwave on gentle heat.
- Add the ingredients in the order listed. Pour in the liquids first, followed by the solids and spices for the smoothest blending.
- Using an immersion blender. If you don't have a blender, add the ingredients to a quart-sized measuring cup and blend with a stick or immersion blender.
- Blend well. Blitz the peach barbecue sauce mixture for at least 15-30 seconds or until it is completely smooth and has a texture similar to a thick soup.
- Stir regularly. I recommend stirring the homemade peach BBQ sauce every 5 or so minutes as it simmers to prevent burning.
- Adjust to taste. Add additional honey or brown sugar to make it sweeter, more vinegar for a stronger tang, or extra cayenne pepper for heat.
I love this recipe! It's so simple to make and absolutely delicious on air fryer wings! We may never go back to the bottled store-bought stuff. Instead, I will make large batches when peaches are in-season so we can enjoy them throughout the year. I hope you all really love this recipe. I worked hard on it!