Description

This homemade Kansas City-style BBQ sauce features a thick, tangy tomato base enhanced by a unique smoky cherry infusion. It’s an easy-to-make, family-friendly condiment that redefines comfort food, perfect for grilling, dipping, and weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
170 g (6 ounces) tomato paste
120 ml (1/2 cup) apple cider vinegar
120 ml (1/2 cup) water or vegetable broth
100 g (1/2 cup) packed dark brown sugar
60 ml (1/4 cup) molasses
2 tablespoons alcohol-free Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
60 g (1/2 cup) dried cherries, roughly chopped
1 large chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
1 teaspoon adobo sauce from can
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste

Instructions

Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for 5-7 minutes until soft and translucent, stirring frequently to prevent browning. Add the minced garlic and all spices (smoked paprika, sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, black pepper, and cayenne if using) and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Toast Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to deepen the flavor and remove any metallic taste.
Add Liquids and Infusion: Pour in the apple cider vinegar, water (or broth), dark brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke. Whisk thoroughly until the sugar dissolves. Add the roughly chopped dried cherries, minced chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce; stir until incorporated.
Simmer to Thicken: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and cook for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should reduce by about one-quarter, and the dried cherries should be very soft. If it thickens too quickly, add a tablespoon of water or broth.
Blend for Smoothness: Remove the saucepan from heat. Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce directly in the pot until it reaches your desired consistency. For a completely smooth sauce, transfer it carefully to a stand blender.
Adjust and Chill: Taste the sauce and adjust the salt as needed. Allow the sauce to cool completely at room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken fully.

Notes

To customize consistency, thin the sauce by adding extra broth during simmering or thicken it by simmering uncovered longer. The sauce’s flavor deepens significantly after refrigerating overnight, so making it ahead of time is recommended. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator or freeze for longer storage.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Category: Sauce
Method: Simmering
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Calories: 50 kcal
Sugar: 10 g
Sodium: 150 mg
Fat: 1 g
Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
Unsaturated Fat: 0.9 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 12 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 0.5 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: BBQ sauce, Kansas City style, cherry, smoky, homemade sauce, condiment, grilling, simmering, easy recipe