Cherry Chipotle BBQ Sauce – sweet & spicy perfection!

Name: Cherry Chipotle BBQ Sauce - sweet & spicy perfection!
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 cup ketchup; 1 cup fresh or frozen sweet black cherries, pits removed; 1 chipotle, minced (taken from a 7 oz. can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce), see note; 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (taken from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce); 1/3 cup dark brown sugar; 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons molasses; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 2 teaspoons dry mustard; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

45 mins

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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 08/17/2020Updated: 06/16/2021

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Try cherry chipotle BBQ sauce made with black cherries and chipotle chiles. With loads of flavor and a little sweet heat, this fruity barbecue sauce is so tasty on chicken, pork, burgers, or bratwurst.

Luscious black cherries combined with smoky chipotle chiles in adobo sauce make an unforgettable barbecue sauce that you’ll want to slather on everything! I pretty much can guarantee that everyone will be licking their fingers, trying to get that last bit of deliciousness.

My mom spent hours a couple weeks ago slow cooking pork roast for pulled pork sandwiches. While the pork was fall apart delicious, her guests raved almost exclusively about the BBQ sauce she served. Yup, you guessed it! Cherry chipotle barbecue sauce. Everyone was asking where she found such fantastic barbecue sauce.

So here it is! I figured you all would love it, too. Don’t let the summer slip by without giving this BBQ sauce a try. Try it on grilled meats or pulled pork or eat it by spoonfuls right out of the jar. Sweet Baby Ray, move on over.

About this cherry chipotle BBQ sauce:

One of the key ingredients in this BBQ sauce recipe is canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. If you’re not familiar with this product, go right out to the grocery store and buy some! You’ll love the complex, smoky flavor these beauties will add to homemade salsa, dips, tacos, refried beans, dressings, and more.

What are chipotle chiles in adobo sauce? When jalapeño peppers are dried and smoked, they get a new name, chipotles. Adobo is a tangy red sauce. Combined, you get a spicy hot, tangy, sweet, smoky flavored Wow ingredient! Use just the chipotles or just the sauce, or use them together.

If you don’t use the whole can, freeze the remainder for up to three months or more. I just put one chipotle with a little sauce into individual snack bags, and freeze them. They thaw out quickly.

Black cherries (fresh or frozen) add a fruity counterpoint to the spicy chiles. Combined with ketchup, molasses, dark brown sugar, cider vinegar, and a medley of spices, there’s quite a party going on! After the sauce has simmered a half hour or so, all the ingredients of the sauce will be married together for total bliss.

Just a little warning: If you have a tender mouth, you may want to start with half a chipotle. This sauce does pack some heat. Make sure to scrape out the seeds before adding the pepper. And always, always wash your hands thoroughly after handling all hot peppers. You seriously don’t want to get any in your eyes because that just plain hurts!

How to make this barbecue sauce your own:

Like your BBQ sauce on the sweet side? Increase the amount of brown sugar. Start with 1/2 cup.
No luck finding black cherries? Try my original barbecue sauce. Or try one of the options below.
Make blueberry chipotle BBQ sauce: Substitute a cup (or two!) of blueberries for the black cherries. Or make this recipe for chicken breasts baked in a tangy blueberry chipotle sauce.
Like Citrus Chipotle BBQ Sauce? Exchange orange marmalade for the cherries, and orange juice for the cider vinegar.
Apricot Chipotle Sauce (recipe by Kevin Is Cooking) substitutes apricot preserves for the cherries.
Add coffee flavor with this Espresso Chipotle Barbecue Sauce by Dad Cooks Dinner.
Can’t find canned chipotle peppers in adobe sauce? Add 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder (found in the spice section) instead, or try this substitute by Pepperscale: Mix 1 tablespoon tomato paste or ketchup, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder (or smoked paprika/cayenne powder mix), 1/2 teaspoon cumin, a pinch of oregano, a pinch of garlic powder, and a pinch of salt.

Storage Tips

Store leftover barbecue sauce in tightly covered container or jar and refrigerate for up to a week.

Other great sauce recipes:

Don’t you just love this BBQ sauce? Homemade sauces are so much better tasting and they aren’t hard to make. Be sure to try:

Tzatziki Sauce (with cucumbers, dill, and yogurt)

Pizza Sauce — yes, you can easily make your own!

Cheese Sauce — make it in the microwave or on the stove

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Fry Sauce — for French fries and more

Hot Fudge Sauce — Make your own with pantry ingredients

Salsa Verde

Restaurant Style Salsa

Verdict: I’m a sucker for spicy sweet things, and this bbq sauce fits the bill!
Husband’s take: Ben looooves this stuff!
Changes I would make: None are necessary!
Difficulty: Harder than buying bbq sauce at the store, but SO worth it.