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    Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes » How to Make Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce

    Published: Apr 28, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    How to Make Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce

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    top photo is spoonful of jack daniels bbq sauce and bottom photo is a piece of bbq chicken
    jack daniels bbq sauce in a mason jar with a spoonful of sauce in foreground and bottle of jack daniels in background
    jack daniels bbq sauce in a mason jar with a spoonful of sauce in foreground and bottle of jack daniels in background
    jack daniels bbq sauce in a mason jar with a spoonful of sauce in foreground and bottle of jack daniels in background

    Jack Daniel's BBQ Sauce is rich and tangy with mild smoky flavor. Perfect for slathering on beef or pork ribs or chicken, or as a dipping sauce for darned near anything. 

    jack daniels bbq sauce in a mason jar with a spoonful of sauce in foreground and bottle of jack daniels in background
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • How to Make Jack Daniels Barbecue Sauce
    • How to Use BBQ Sauce
    • Storage & Freezing
    • Success Tips
    • Stuff I Use
    • FAQs
    • More Great Recipes
    • Let's Stay in Touch
    • Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce

    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 slathered on ribs, chicken, hamburgers, and pulled pork, and as a dipping sauce for French fries, chicken wings, or mozzarella sticks. 

    bone in skin on bbq chicken thighs on parchment paper

    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 daniels BBQ sauce 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. 

    saucepan with jack daniels, onion, and garlic

    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. 

    sauce pan with jack daniels bbq sauce and a wooden spoon

    How to Use BBQ Sauce

    Slather on ribs, chicken, and burgers, use in your favorite sloppy joe or meatloaf recipes, or use as a dipping sauce for meatballs, little smokies, or French fries. 

    bone in skin on bbq chicken thighs on parchment paper

    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. 

    Stuff I Use

    8 oz. mason jars are perfect for storing homemade Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce sauce. 

    When I can't be bothered to chop garlic, I use my OXO garlic press. 

    FAQs

    How long can homemade Jack Daniels BBQ sauce be stored?

    Homemade Jack Daniels BBQ sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. 

    Can you freeze BBQ sauce?

    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. 

    Can I substitute other types of whiskey in the recipe? 

    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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    jack daniels bbq sauce in a mason jar with a spoonful of sauce in foreground and bottle of jack daniels in background

    Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce

    Cara Lanz
    Jack Daniel's BBQ Sauce is rich and tangy with mild smoky flavor. Perfect for slathering on beef or pork ribs or chicken, or as a dipping sauce for darned near anything. 
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 55 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16
    Calories 101 kcal

    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. 

    Notes

    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. 
    This recipe yields about 2 cups of BBQ sauce. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 497mgPotassium: 321mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 222IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Inspired by thespruceeats.com

    « Oven Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs (Boneless or Bone-in)
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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love dreaming up easier, and sometimes healthier twists on dishes from the heartland.

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