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This homemade Blackberry BBQ Sauce is the perfect balance between sweet wild blackberries, spicy sriracha, and tangy apple cider vinegar. With 10 ingredients and less than an hour of your time, you will have an incredibly easy and unique barbecue sauce straight from the farm.

Slather it on everything from Smoked Pulled Pork to Baked Chicken Wings to dipping Smashed Potatoes and saucing up holiday meatballs!

If you’re a fan of homemade barbecue sauces like I am, try this Apple Butter BBQ Sauce or my favorite mustard based Gold BBQ Sauce!

Basting brush covered in sweet and spicy Blackberry BBQ Sauce.

One thing I love about living on the farm is the wild berries, flowers, and vegetables. Out behind my grandpa’s old workshop we have a huge row of wild blackberry bushes. We like to call them black caps here in Michigan but they are also referred to as brambles, in addition to the term blackberry.

When I was younger I would walk up to the farm and eat handfuls of these littles babies. Luckily my grandma couldn’t see from the kitchen window or she would have yelled at me for eating her crop. When I pick them now, I often think about her and how lucky I am to be harvesting off the same bushes and cooking with them in the same kitchen she did.

Bushes of wild blackberries behind the barn.

This year I had so many blackberries! I kid you not, I picked probably 10 pounds or more over the course of a month. They were made in everything from cheesecake bars to infused Tequila and of course blackberry barbecue sauce. I love making homemade condiments so naturally, I created this Blackberry BBQ Sauce.

Why This BBQ Sauce Recipe Is The Only One You’ll Need:

The flavor is out of this world- sweet, spicy, tangy, smoky and the addition of fresh blackberries (of course). This barbecue sauce is everything it should be and less than 10 ingredients.
Better than store bought- For the 45 minutes of effort this homemade BBQ sauce is the way to go! Fresh ingredients, no added preservatives and junk.
It’s seedless and silky smooth! There is nothing worse than tiny seeds getting stuck in your teeth. But if you want to keep the seeds, you do you boo!

Strainer full of fresh wild blackberries with berry bushes in the background.

Blackberry BBQ Sauce Ingredients

Homemade blackberry barbecue sauce with just 8 ingredients, 10 if you include the salt and pepper! Below is everything you will need, plus a few notes and potential substitutions.

Blackberries: I used wild blackberries from the farm but store-bought and even frozen blackberries work great. Keep in mind fresh berries are best in terms of the flavor they give.
Water: This is used to breakdown the blackberries and create the base liquid of our BBQ sauce.
Ketchup: I recommend using sugar free ketchup because it keeps the salt level down. If you choose to use regular, be careful of the added amount of salt later.
Brown Sugar: For sweetness and to balance the BBQ sauce. Honey can be used in it’s place, but the flavor profile will differ slightly.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds acidity and tang.
Dijon Mustard: This adds a ton of flavor to the barbecue sauce without adding a whole bunch of spices and additional ingredients.
Sriracha Sauce: For the perfect amount spice and bold flavor without overpowering the sweet blackberry. If you are not a fan of spice, leave it out.
Garlic: Freshly minced adds the best flavor but jarred minced garlic works as well. I do not recommend using garlic powder, you won’t be able to taste it.
Salt and Black Pepper: Season your BBQ sauce to taste. I typically only add a 1/4 teaspoon each. If you use salted ketchup it may be less.

Ingredients needed. Fresh blackberries, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, sriracha sauce, Dijon mustard, fresh garlic, water.

Equipment Needed:

Saucepot: medium sized.
Silicone Spatula
Fine-Mesh Sieve: it needs to be able to catch all the small seeds.
Lidded Glass Jar: or other airtight glass container.

How to Make Blackberry BBQ Sauce

Here’s a short summary of the steps, the recipe card will have complete details.

1. SAUCE AND STRAIN THE BLACKBERRIES- In a medium sized saucepot boil together the blackberries and water for 5 to 10 minutes until the berries are broken down. Sieve the seeds from the blackberry liquid

2. COMBINE THE BBQ SAUCE INGREDIENTS- Pour the blackberry liquid back into the saucepot and add ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sriracha sauce, finely minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together and allow it to come to a rolling boil.

Fresh blackberries and water in a saucepan cooking down.

Straining blackberry seeds from liquid using a fine mesh strainer.

3. SIMMER THE BBQ SAUCE- Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat and allow the BBQ sauce to thicken over medium heat for 20 to 30 minutes. Be sure to stir your sauce every 5 to 10 minutes so it does not stick and burn to the pot.

4. SLIGHTLY COOL AND REFRIGERATE- When the BBQ sauce has thickened, remove from the heat and allow to cool a bit before pouring it into a lidded glass jar or container. Store in the refrigerator between uses for up to one month.

Simmering the blackberry juice and the remaining ingredients together.

Silicone spatula covered in barbecue sauce with a stripe through the center to show it is properly thickened.

How to Use Blackberry BBQ Sauce

The great thing about this barbecue sauce is it can be used for dipping or a spreading and it goes with a variety of foods. Here are a few ways I use mine:

on chicken wings- I have a baked wings recipe that is super crispy and tastes great with this as a dip or sauce.
a dipping sauce for French fries, chips, onion rings, tater tots, or my Smashed Fingerling Potatoes
for smothering pulled pork sliders- You can use my recipe for slow cooker BBQ pork sliders (just substitute the sauces).
spooned over meats like Smoked Pork Butt, grilled chicken, pork chops, or even steak and leftover turkey.
spread on sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas, or paninis
on a fresh salad or vegetables as a dressing
smoked cream cheese- use my recipe and smother it with this sauce instead.
the base to holiday meatballs (substitute the sauce for this)

Basting brush covered in BBQ sauce with two full jars in the background.

4 Recipe Tips

1. Remove the seeds after the blackberry and water liquid base is made. Straining them out after the blackberry barbecue sauce has thickened is super messy and not as easy. This is optional but highly recommended for a super smooth barbecue sauce. Nobody wants tiny seeds stuck in their teeth.

2. Keep a close eye on your simmering sauce. As the barbecue sauce cooks down it has a better chance of sticking to the pot and burning. So stir it often and monitor the heat, you may have to turn it down or up as it reduces.

3. Refrigerate your Blackberry BBQ Sauce overnight. Again, this is optional step but it helps the barbecue sauce to thicken up and build in flavor.

4. Worried about the spice level in this barbecue sauce? No problem! Remove or reduce the amount of sriracha sauce used. So you don’t miss out on the smokey flavor profile of sriracha, you can add a 1/4 teaspoon of liquid smoke or even a teaspoon of smoked paprika. If you want it spicier add more sriracha sauce or even adobo sauce.

Jar of burgundy colored, sweet and spicy Blackberry BBQ Sauce.

What To Do When Blackberries Are Out Of Season

You have 2 really great options for when blackberries are no longer in season or even if they are too expensive. This means you can have spicy sweet Blackberry BBQ Sauce all year long!

BLACKBERRY JAM OR PRESERVES. Keep in mind the sweetness level of preserves and jams tend to vary. Taste test it prior and reduce the amount of added brown sugar by half or even more. Doing this ensures your barbecue sauce will not be overly sweet.

FROZEN BLACKBERRIES. No need to thaw them either! Just add them to your pot with half the amount of water and follow the directions as written. Reducing the amount of added water is essential because the blackberries will give off liquid as they boil down.

Two jars full of BBQ sauce with a basting brush in the foreground.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

How long does Blackberry BBQ Sauce last?

If refrigerated in an airtight glass jar or container, blackberry BBQ sauce can last up to one month. I would be surprised if yours lasted that long, ours is always gone in weeks (it is that good).

What does Blackberry BBQ Sauce taste like?

Blackberry BBQ Sauce is a delicious blend of sweet blackberries, spicy sriracha sauce, and tangy apple cider vinegar. It is a traditional ketchup based barbecue sauce but with the beautiful fruity flavor of blackberries.

How spicy is this Blackberry BBQ Sauce?

This Blackberry BBQ Sauce has more heat then it does spice. In other words you can taste all the flavors without spiciness overwhelming your pallet. If you are sensitive to heat or spice, feel free to omit the sriracha sauce or reduce the amount.

Watch This Quick Video Tutorial

More Homemade Condiment Recipes You Might Like:

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Blackberry BBQ Sauce

Elizabeth Swoish

This homemade, straight from the farm, wild Blackberry Barbecue Sauce is a must-try for all sauce enthusiasts. It is unique, sweet, spicy and tastes great with a variety of foods!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 40

Total Time 45

Course Condiments

Servings 2 tablespoons each

Calories 66 kcal

Equipment

Saucepot; medium sized
Silicone Spatula
Fine Mesh Sieve
glass jar; 16 ounce

Ingredients

3 ½ cups blackberries
1 cup water
¾ cup ketchup; sugar free
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon sriracha sauce; omit or reduce amount for less spice*
½ tablespoon garlic; minced
¼ teaspoon salt; or to taste preferences
¼ teaspoon pepper; or to taste preferences

Instructions

To a medium sized saucepot add the blackberries and water. Bring to a rolling boil and then reduce to medium heat.
Using a silicone spatula, smash the blackberries until they are well broken down. Continue simmering and smashing the berries for 5 to 10 minutes.
NOTE: During this time the blackberries will steep with the water and create a flavorful blackberry liquid base.
Remove from heat. Using a fine mesh sieve remove the seeds from the blackberry liquid base.
Discard the seeds and pour the blackberry liquid base back into the medium sized saucepot.
Add the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sriracha sauce, finely minced garlic, salt, and black pepper (to your taste preferences).
As the mixture is brought to a rolling boil, continue to stir until all the ingredients are well combined.
Reduce heat to a medium low simmer and allow the barbecue sauce to thicken for 20 to 30 miutes. Be sure to stir it in 5 to 10 minute increments or it will stick and burn to the saucepot.
NOTE: The barbecue sauce will be done when you run your finger up the silicone spatula and the sauce does not fill back into the space you trace.
Remove the Blackberry BBQ Sauce from heat and allow it to slightly cool before pouring it into a clean glass jar or airtight container.
Store in the refrigerator for up to one month.
NOTE: Refrigerate overnight prior to serving. This helps the barbecue sauce to set up and amplify in flavor.

Video

Notes

*Omitting the Sriracha Sauce:

So you don’t miss out on the smokey flavor profile of sriracha, you can add a 1/4 teaspoon of liquid smoke or even 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika.

Substituting for Fresh Blackberries:

BLACKBERRY PRESERVES OR JAM. Taste test it prior and reduce the amount of added brown sugar by half or even more. Skip steps 1-4 and add all the ingredients to a saucepan.
FROZEN BLACKBERRIES. Add them to saucepot with half the amount of water and follow the directions as written.

Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Tried this recipe?Feel free to share a rating and comment below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media, or use the hashtag #EntirelyElizabeth – I would love to see what you’ve made!