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Home » Condiments + Sauces » Homemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce (Without Refined Sugar!)

Last updated on July 27, 2023. Originally posted on October 2, 2017 By Maryea / 5 Comments

Homemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce (Without Refined Sugar!)

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This Homemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce is sweetened with honey instead of refined sugar and is bursting with flavor. Bourbon Barbecue Sauce recipe with no refined sugar sweetened with honey

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If there’s one thing I want to teach others about healthy eating, it’s that it doesn’t have to feel like you’re depriving yourself. Healthy foods don’t have to be bland or boring. The right spices or sauce can elevate whatever you’re cooking into something that tastes spectacular and nobody would guess is “healthy.”

That’s where something like Homemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce comes in. You can use this sauce, with its deep, smoky flavor, to elevate a number of healthy, nutritious dishes. Don’t worry. Today I’m sharing the recipe for the sauce, but more ideas on how to use it will be coming soon. I can’t stop using this for everything!

So why should you bother making your own barbecue sauce? I have a few reasons why it’s worth the effort.

a spoonful of Bourbon Barbecue Sauce recipe with no refined sugar sweetened with honey

First, if you typically buy the most popular (*cough* Sweet Baby Ray’s *cough*) barbecue sauce from the store, the number one ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. Our bodies don’t process that stuff very well and it’s one of the largest contributors to the obesity epidemic (read more about that here).

To be fair, there are actually a lot of healthier options on the market today that are sweetened with real cane sugar. I would definitely suggest one of them instead of any brand that has high fructose corn syrup if you’re going the store-bought route.

But making it at home you get to control how you sweeten it! I sweeten this Bourbon Barbecue Sauce with honey. Now, is honey really any better than regular sugar? I’ll be the first to admit that honey is sugar and our bodies treat it as such. So yes, moderation is the key with anything sweetened with sugar or honey.

I still think that honey is a better way to sweeten foods because it does have some redeeming nutritional qualities. For example, honey contains the following minerals: calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. 

So while cutting out sugars completely is probably best for your health, it’s not necessarily realistic, right? Well, at least not for me and my family. Instead, we practice moderation and use natural sweeteners that have some nutritional value like honey and maple syrup instead of refined sugar.

top view of Bourbon Barbecue Sauce recipe with no refined sugar sweetened with honey

I’ve got one more reason why I think it’s worth making your own barbecue sauce at home.

FLAVOR!

You guys, this Homemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce has some fabulous flavors going on. I’m not a bourbon girl when it comes to cocktails, but decided to try to make a barbecue sauce with it since my husband is and we always have a bottle (or ten) of bourbon on hand.

Wow! I was super impressed with the flavor the bourbon brought to the barbecue sauce. I didn’t expect to love it, but I did.

There’s also a nice smokiness thanks to smoked paprika. GET SOME. You need it in your life.

I can’t get enough of this Homemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce and think you’ll love it, too. I use it in my Slow Cooker Turkey Barbecue Chili and it is perfect in this  20 Minute Barbecue Chicken Quinoa Bowl.

It would be absolutely delicious to use it in this recipe for Barbecue Burgers, too!

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Bourbon Barbecue Sauce recipe with no refined sugar sweetened with honey

Homemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce (Without Refined Sugar!)


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  • Author: Happy Healthy Mama
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: 2 cups 1x
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Description

This Homemade Bourbon Barbecue Sauce has a deep smoky flavor that will blow you away!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar*
  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika*
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in a sauce pan and whisk together well.
  2. Heat over medium low heat and bring the sauce to a simmer.
  3. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is about reduced in half. (about 20 minutes)

Notes

*Links to products are affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Happy Healthy Mama!

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 44
  • Sugar: 10 grams
  • Fat: 0 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 11 grams
  • Protein: 0 grams

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Also, if you try it, would you mind rating the recipe? It’s VERY helpful for me and other readers if the recipes have ratings and reviews. I appreciate you!

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homemade healthier Bourbon Barbecue Sauce with no refined sugar.

Links to products are affiliate links, which means, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase through those links I will receive a small percentage of the sale. This is an easy way for you to support my blogging efforts and allow me to continue to bring you free content. THANK YOU!

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Filed Under: Condiments + Sauces

Previous Post: « Flourless Chocolate Peanut Butter Blender Muffins (Vegan and Gluten-Free)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathi says

    August 20, 2024 at 9:10 am

    Can you can this recipe? If so, how long?

    Reply
    • Maryea says

      August 22, 2024 at 12:20 pm

      I’m not an experienced canner, so I’m not sure. Sorry I can’t help there!

      Reply
  2. Becky says

    June 23, 2023 at 9:56 am

    Thanks! I’m going to try it!

    Reply
  3. Becky says

    June 13, 2023 at 10:12 pm

    I want to make this because I am trying to stay away from sugar. I’m not a bourbon drinker. Can you share what brand is your favorite for this recipe? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Maryea says

      June 22, 2023 at 1:35 pm

      My favorite for this is Buffalo Trace bourbon.

      Reply

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