How to Make Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce
Jack Daniel's BBQ Sauce is rich and tangy with mild smoky flavor. Perfect for slathering on beef or roaster oven pork ribs or air fryer chicken, or as a dipping sauce for darned near anything.
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This Jack Daniels BBQ sauce recipe will instantly up your grilling game -- or even your air frying and oven baking game.
It's tangy, zesty, and bold -- and so much better than anything you'll find in the grocery store.
And ridiculously easy to make. If you can chop an onion and boil water, you can make your own BBQ sauce.
Jack Daniel's sauce is awesome on everything. Try it slathered on Roaster Oven Ribs, brined chicken thighs, air fryer hamburgers, and pulled pork, and as a dipping sauce for French fries, chicken wings, or mozzarella sticks.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Rich, delicious sauce with an extra special touch of Jack Daniel's taste
Easy recipe to customize with your favorite sweet, spicy, smoky, or tangy flavors
It makes great holiday gifts!
Ingredients
Please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients.
Jack Daniel's. Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 is a brand of Tennessee whiskey with notes of vanilla, oak, caramel, and a touch of charcoal. So it totally makes sense in BBQ sauce. You can use another brand of Tennessee whiskey as a substitute, or your favorite bourbon.
Brown sugar. You can use light or dark brown sugar.
Apple cider vinegar. If you don't have apple cider vinegar, try one of these substitutes for apple cider vinegar.
Tomato paste. Tomato paste adds rich, concentrated flavor to the sauce.
Worcestershire sauce. If you're out, use low sodium soy sauce as a swap, and skip the salt.
Liquid smoke. If you like smoky flavor in your BBQ sauce, don't skip the liquid smoke. If you don't have it, add a little smoky paprika or adobo sauce from a can of chipotles. Not a fan? It's okay to leave it out.
Cayenne pepper or hot sauce. Make it as hot or mild as you like!
Variations
Customize your Jack Daniels sauce recipe to the flavors you love! Give it a little taste, then adjust accordingly.
Tangy. To add more tang, add a little more vinegar or try a tangier type of vinegar like white vinegar.
Sweet. For more sweetness, up the brown sugar or add honey, which is sweeter than sugar.
Spicy. Give your sauce a kick with more cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or red pepper flakes.
Smoky. If you like smokier flavor, add more liquid smoke. It's highly concentrated, so add a little at time.
How to Make Jack Daniels Barbecue Sauce
1. Combine onion, garlic, and Jack Daniels whiskey in a saucepan. Simmer and stir on low heat until the onion is soft and translucent, about 7 minutes.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low to bring it to a simmer.
Simmer and occasionally stir uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by half.
How to Use BBQ Sauce
Slather on Crock Pot Ribs, Baked Thin Chicken Breasts, and burgers, Chicken Gumbo Sloppy joes, and your favorite meatloaf. Or use it as a dipping sauce for meatballs, Little Smokies with Grape Jelly, or French fries.
Storage & Freezing
Store Jack Daniels sauce covered in a in a glass jar in the refrigerator for one week.
To freeze, cool completely and place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Success Tips
Finely mince the garlic and onion so you don't end up with big pieces in your sauce.
For smooth sauce, use an immersion blender or whizz it through a food processor or blender.
FAQs
Homemade Jack Daniels BBQ sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Yes! You can freeze your homemade BBQ sauce in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Yes, you can use other types of whiskey or bourbon, but keep in mind that the flavor of the sauce will be slightly different.
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📖 Recipe
Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup Jack Daniels
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- ¼ cup minced onion
- 2 cups ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper -- or a dash of hot sauce to taste
Instructions
- Combine onion, garlic, and Jack Daniels whiskey in a saucepan. Simmer on low heat until the onion is soft and translucent, about 7 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce to low heat. Simmer uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by half.
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Notes
Nutrition
Inspired by thespruceeats.com
