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5.0 from 9 votes

Bacon Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

Homemade BBQ Sauce with bacon and bourbon is a cinch to make! If you prefer your sauce on the milder/sweeter side, omit the chili powder, or use only 1/2 teaspoon. For a sauce with a kick, add additional chili powder to taste.Makes 2 cups sauce.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 16 servings (2 tablespoons)
Calories: 89 kcal
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces applewood smoked bacon , cut into a small dice
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion (about 1 cup), chopped
  • 1 garlic clove , minced
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons molasses (not Blackstrap)
  • 3 tablespoons bourbon
  • 1/2 cup firmly-packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 to 2 teaspoons chili powder (optional), to taste
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
  • kosher salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving bacon fat in pan. Add chopped onions to bacon fat, reduce heat to medium, and cook until onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Scrape up bacon drippings from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon as onions release their moisture. Add minced garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  2. Stir in remaining ingredients until combined, add reserved bacon, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. (Stir more frequently toward the end as the sauce thickens to prevent scorching.) Season to taste with additional salt and pepper.*
  3. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or the freezer for up to 1 month.

Notes

  • *We love tasting the tiny bits of bacon in our barbecue sauce, but if you prefer a smooth texture, strain the sauce through a mesh sieve before serving, discarding the solids. You can puree the sauce/bacon after cooking, but it will result in a thicker texture, which, depending on use, might need to be loosened with a bit of water.

Nutrition Information

Calories 89kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 13g (4%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 2g (3%) Cholesterol 4mg (1%) Sodium 211mg (9%) Potassium 160mg (5%) Sugar 11g (22%) Vitamin A 70IU (1%) Vitamin C 1.6mg (2%) Calcium 21mg (2%) Iron 0.6mg (3%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16servings (2 tablespoons)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 89

% Daily Value*

Calories 89kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 13g 4%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 2g 3%
Cholesterol 4mg 1%
Sodium 211mg 9%
Potassium 160mg 3%
Sugar 11g 22%
Vitamin A 70IU 1%
Vitamin C 1.6mg 2%
Calcium 21mg 2%
Iron 0.6mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.