Jack Daniel's Barbecue Sauce

Jack Daniel's barbecue sauce in a glass jar on a plate with a spoon

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 20 servings
Yield: 3 1/2 to 4 cups

Barbecue sauce is available in a wide range of flavors at the grocery store, but why buy a bottle when it's so easy to make at home? Barbecue sauce always tastes better homemade, and you can add fun ingredients such as Jack Daniel's whiskey.

This spirited barbecue sauce is spiked with whiskey, which adds a spiced, sweet flavor without making it boozy. The alcohol cooks off during the cooking process, making it safe to serve to kids (unless you add extra at the end). Molasses and brown sugar sweeten the sauce, and ketchup and vinegar give it plenty of flavor along with liquid smoke and Worcestershire sauce.

Slather this flavorful sauce over ribs or serve it with pulled pork. It makes a tasty condiment for burgers, chicken barbecue, or just about any slow-cooked or grilled meat.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, or to taste

  • 1 small onion, chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • 2 cups ketchup

  • 3/4 cup molasses

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

  • 1/3 cup vinegar

  • 1/4 cup tomato paste

  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke

  • 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, or to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Jack Daniel's barbecue sauce gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  2. Combine the Jack Daniel's, chopped onion, and garlic in a 3-quart saucepan. Simmer until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.

    Jack Daniel's, chopped onion, and garlic in a 3-quart saucepan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  3. Add the ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, smoke flavoring, and Tabasco sauce.

    Onions with ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, smoke flavoring, and Tabasco sauce in a pan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  4. Bring to boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until reduced and thickened. Stir occasionally, This will take about 15 to 25 minutes, and a spatter screen is recommended.

    Jack Daniel's barbecue sauce in a pot

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  5. Add more Jack Daniel's whiskey if a stronger flavor is desired. Let cool for several minutes, and use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

    Jack Daniel's barbecue sauce in a glass jar on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Tips

Use this Jack Daniel's barbecue sauce to baste meats or as a flavorful sauce:

  • Brush on pork or beef ribs in the last several minutes of cooking and serve with more sauce on the side.
  • Toss with pulled pork and/or serve as a topping for pulled pork sandwiches.
  • Brush on baked or grilled chicken breasts or thighs in the last several minutes of cooking.
  • Coat freshly fried, baked, or grilled chicken wings.
  • Use to flavor slow-cooking beef chuck or brisket or pork shoulder.
  • Slather on burgers, chicken sandwiches, or even use it to make a barbecue chicken pizza.
  • Use as a sauce for appetizer meatballs.
  • Add to baked beans for extra flavor.
  • Brush on top of meatloaf before or after cooking.
  • Top seitan, tofu, or jackfruit for a vegetarian main dish (swap the Worcestershire sauce for soy sauce for a truly vegetarian version).
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
86 Calories
0g Fat
22g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 20
Amount per serving
Calories 86
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 349mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 22g 8%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 321mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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