This Coca Cola Barbecue Sauce has a delicious deep richness, perfect for grilled or smoked chicken and smoked pork ribs. What’s even better? You can serve this sauce on the side, use it in a BBQ-inspired sloppy joe’s or thin it out, and slather it onto pork belly. The possibilities are endless.ย
I do love a good coca cola barbecue sauce. There is just something about cola that adds a nice, deep rich foundation to barbecue sauces. It’s one of my chief “helper” ingredients for Doctored BBQ Sauce. Try this sauce in my Baked Beans recipe as well. Fantastic!
Making your own BBQ sauce is not hard. It just requires a few ingredients and a little time. My advice is to make this sauce 4-12 hours before you intend to use it. That will allow the flavors to balance out. If you’d like the sauce to have a silky finish, add a pat of butter right before removing the sauce from the burner.
Ingredients for Coca Cola Barbecue Sauce:
- Ketchup
- Cola
- Brown sugar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Onion powder
- Salt and black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Ground cloves (optional)
How to make Cola Barbecue Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, bring all of the listed ingredients to a high simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer sauce for 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally. For a sauce with a silky finish, add a pat of butter at the end of cooking time.ย
- Once the sauce has thickened slightly, remove from heat and cool for 15-20 minutes before serving.ย
- If using a basting sauce, remove from heat, cover, and keep warm until ready to use.
- If making ahead of time, cool completely, place into an airtight container and place into refrigerator for up to 7 days.ย
- You can also freeze this coca cola barbecue sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw in your fridge, and reheat on your stovetop before using.
Alternatives:
- Need a low sugar alternative for this coca cola barbecue sauce recipe? We’re here to help!
- Ketchup:ย Substitute with low sugar or no sugar added ketchup.
- Cola:ย Use diet cola or zero sugar cola instead.
- Brown Sugar:ย ย Use a brown sugar substitute like Sukrin, Truvia, or Purecane Zero.
- Consult the package for recommendations, and please keep in mind that sugar alternatives may be sweeter than regular brown sugar.
Coca Cola Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups ketchup
- 1/2 cup cola
- 1/3 cup brown sugar adjust to your liking
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- few pinches of ground cloves optional
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring all of the listed ingredients to a high simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer sauce for 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Once sauce has slightly thickened, remove from heat and cool for 15-20 minutes before serving.If making ahead of time, cool completely, place into an airtight container and place into refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can freeze this sauce for up to 3 months.
