Such a great way to preserve the flavors of summer! This Blueberry BBQ Sauce is great on chicken and pork! Sweet, tangy and smoky!
So, you know that I love to try preserve as much of the flavors of Summer that I possibly can! It is such a long, dark, cold, damp winter here in Upstate NY (I could totally come up with more adjectives for our winters here, but I’ll refrain!) 😂 Suffice it say, I am not a huge fan of our winters!
Ingredients you need
- roasted sweet peppers, any color, chopped
- red onions
- can of chipotles in adobo (freeze any unused portion of the can for later use.) (you can substitute chili powder but the chipotle adds the smokiness.)
- blueberries, fresh or frozen
- cloves garlic
- molasses – use blackstrap molasses
- apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- dry adobo seasoning
- kosher Salt
- black pepper
- honey – use local honey (you can substitute brown sugar or white sugar for the honey)
How to make it
- Roast peppers directly on gas flames of stove, in a high grill, or under the broiler until skins are very black. Remove to plastic bowl and cover with lid or plastic wrap until cool enough to handle. With a paper towel, slip off blackened skin.
- Place all of the ingredients in a large saucepan. Stir well, heat to boiling. Mash blueberries with a potato masher. Reduce heat to quick simmer on medium-low heat. Simmer for 30 minutes to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally until desired thickness is achieved.
For a smooth sauce use an immersion blender, stand up blender or a food processor to blend it into a smooth sauce. Cover the food processor or blender with a kitchen towel to avoid burns. Process in batches. If you would like chunks, it’s fine to leave the berries crushed too.
Sauce can be frozen in freezer containers or water bath canned.
How to can it in water bath
- Fill hot jars with hot sauce, leaving a half inch of head space.
- Wipe rims with a damp paper towel.
- Cover with hot lids and tighten bands fingertip tight. Add to canning pot.
- Process the jars of sauce for 20 minutes (adjust for altitude, see below).
- Allow them to sit in the canning pot for 5 additional minutes.
Remove jars and let them cool for 12-24 hours. Check lids to make sure they have sealed. (If they don’t pop when pressed in the middle of the lid, they are sealed). Any that don’t seal should be refrigerated and used first.
How long will the sauce last?
If you freeze the sauce it will last about 8 months.
If you water bath can it, it will last at least 12 months.
Unopened jars will last in the refrigerator for about 3-4 months.
Use any opened jars within 2 months.
Pro tips for your success
- Use fresh or frozen, thawed blueberries for this recipe.
- Can be water bath canned to make it shelf stable.
- The yield will depend on how thick you want the sauce. A very thick bbq sauce will yield less than a thinner sauce.
- You can leave the sauce chunky or process with an immersion blender or blender.
Ways to use blueberry barbecue sauce
Use this sauce on grilled, fried or roasted meats for extra flavor.
- chicken wings
- chicken thighs or breasts
- chicken tenders
- pork chops
- pork tenderloin
- pork ribs
- pulled pork
Other BBQ sauce recipes
More blueberry recipes
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The sweetness of the berries and honey combined with the smokiness of the chipotle peppers are an irresistible combination. Try eating this blueberry BBQ sauce is the middle of winter. It will give you a taste of summer.
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I hope you enjoyed the recipe today!
Enjoy. And have fun cooking!
Blueberry BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup roasted sweet peppers, any color, chopped
- 1 cup red onions, heaping, finely chopped
- 2 Tablespoons chipotle juice plus 2 chipotle peppers from can of chipotle in adobo freeze any unused portion of the can for later use.
- 12 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
- 4 Tablespoons molasses
- 4 Tablespoons cider vinegar
- 4 Tablespoons worchestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons dry adobo seasoning
- 1 Tablespoons Salt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Roast peppers directly on gas flames of stove, in a high grill, or under the broiler until skins are very black. Remove to plastic bowl and cover with lid or plastic wrap until cool enough to handle. With a paper towel, slip off blackened skin.1 cup roasted sweet peppers, any color, chopped
- Place all of the ingredients in a large pot. Stir well, heat to boiling.1 cup red onions, heaping, finely chopped, 2 Tablespoons chipotle juice plus 2 chipotle peppers from can of chipotle in adobo, 12 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen, 4 Tablespoons molasses, 4 Tablespoons cider vinegar, 4 Tablespoons worchestershire sauce, 2 Tablespoons dry adobo seasoning, 1 Tablespoons Salt, 1/4 cup honey, 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
- Mash blueberries with a potato masher.
- Reduce heat to quick simmer on medium-low heat. Simmer for 30 minutes to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally until desired thickness is achieved.
- For a smooth sauce use an immersion blender or stand up blender or a food to blend it into a smooth sauce. Cover the food processor or blender with a kitchen towels to avoid burns. Process in batches. If you would like chunks, it's fine to leave the berries crushed too. Sauce can be frozen in freezer containers or water bath canned.
- Sauce can be stored for about a week in the fridge or frozen in freezer containers. It also can be water bath canned. See below.
To can sauce
- Fill hot jars with hot sauce, leaving a half inch of head space.
- Wipe rims with a damp paper towel.
- Cover with hot lids and tighten bands fingertip tight. Add to canning pot.
- Process the jars of sauce for 20 minutes (adjust for altitude, see below). Allow them to sit in the canning pot for 5 additional minutes.
- Remove jars and let them cool for 12-24 hours. Check lids to make sure they have sealed. (If they don’t pop when pressed in the middle of the lid, they are sealed). Any that don’t seal should be refrigerated and used first.
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Nutrition
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Originally published September 4, 2018. Updated February 23,2022.
Lefty
I am going to can your bbq sauce. How many pints will this make?
Beth Neels
It makes 128 tablespoons or 4 pints.
Irena Macri
Wow, it was spectacular! I have never thought of blueberries and BBQ together but it’s very yummy and unique, goes well with grilled chicken.
Beth Neels
We love it with grilled pork as well. I’m so glad you liked it Irena! Thanks
Caitlyn Erhardt
This is my first time trying a blueberry BBQ sauce and WOW. so much flavor and I loved it. Will be making more often.
Beth Neels
I’m so glad you like it Caitlyn! Thanks for letting me know.
Heather
Love homemade BBQ sauce and the blueberries gave such a wonderful sweetness. Perfect way to use up fresh summer blueberries!
Beth Neels
It’s one of our favorite ways to use up berries in the summer. Thanks Heather. I’m glad you liked it.
Caitlin
Absolutely love the flavors in this! Can’t wait to use it all summer long!
Beth Neels
Thanks so much Caitlin. I’m so glad you liked it.
Keri Bevan
This blueberry BBQ was so perfect – the perfect balance of flavors, and I’m so impressed with the unique blueberry flavor. Five stars from me!
Beth Neels
Great! I’m so glad you like it Keri! Thanks for letting me know.
Jacqui
I just had a long discussion with a frind of mine about freezing as many summer flavors as possible. Great sauce that will fit so many meat recipes any time of the year!
Binky
I freeze everything that I can! It is so great to go to the freezer in February and make something that tastes like summer! Thank you Jacqui!
Catherine Brown
Oh, my! Blueberry BBQ sauce… yes, please! It looks so thick and perfectly sticky the way a good BBQ sauce should be… can’r wait to try this.
Binky
It really is thick and sticky! Great way to explain it! Thanks Catherine!
Amanda
What an interesting combo! I love BBQ sauce, I can’t wait to try this one!
Binky
Thanks, Amanda! I think you will love it!
Geetha Priyanka
Anything homemade is always best. This blueberry bbq sauce sounds delicious and perfect. I hope it must have an extra layer of flavour from blueberry. Love your creative way of using blueberries !!!
Binky
Thank you so much, Geetha! That is very kind!
Julie Running in a Skirt
OH MY! Blueberry and bbq sauce is a perfect combination. I’d love to try this on so many things. I’m sure everyone would love it.
Binky
It really is super on chicken too! Thanks for the comment Julie!
Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale
Blueberry and pork are a delicious combination. This recipe looks very tasty. I can’t wait to make it for my next cookout!
Binky
I think you will like it! Thanks, Katie!!
Dannii
It has to be homemade bbq sauce. Adding blueberries to it is such a great idea.
Binky
Thanks Dannii! I appreciate the comment!
Krissy Allori
Homemade BBQ sauce is the best. The blueberries add the perfect amount of tartness.
Binky
I agree! The blueberries give it lots of flavor! Thanks, Krissy!
Ginny McMeans
This is an absolute keeper in the sauce department! I can’t even imagine how delicious this tastes and am really looking forward to making it. I make a killer sliced seitan (vegan steak) and this would be perfect on it.
Binky
Oh, great! I’m so glad you like it! Thanks for stopping by, Ginny!
camila
wow now this is really innovative!! I’ve never seen a barbecue sauce ;like this before. sounds delicious!
Binky
Thank you Camilla! It’s really super tasty!
Pam Greer
I’ve never canned barbecue sauce before, but I definitely want to try this! What a great way to preserver summer’s blueberries!
Binky
Thanks, Pam! It is really easy to can BBQ sauce! You will love this one!
Elaine
This looks absolutely divine! What a great way to use up blueberries. I can just imagine how delicious those ribs taste!
Binky
Oh, they are so delicious! Thanks, Elaine! You could absolutely use frozen blueberries too!