Pineapple Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce

The Recipe Rebel / Condiments and Sauces

written by Ashley Fehr

5 from 28 votes

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 30 tablespoons

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Last updated on June 9, 2020

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*Updated April 23, 2015

I’m all about making my own condiments.

I’m not all about making my own condiments all the time. I just don’t have time for that.

Sometimes, it’s just nice to have something with a little more personality! There are tons of great ketchups and barbecue sauces out there, but sometimes I like to spice things up a bit.

Pineapple Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce - The Recipe Rebel (2)

Often I’ll make my own sauce when I make pulled pork in the slow cooker, because I have pretty much zero other prep. The same goes with burgers. They are so simple, and I rarely even make a side dish, so it’s nice to be able to spice things up with homemade barbecue sauce.

I feel like this is kind of a new obsession of mine. I think it has a lot to do with how easy it is.

Meat and sauce. Maybe a jar of pickles. Some iced tea. The perfect summer meal!

So this time I wanted to try something with pineapple. I am also a big fan of sweet on meat. That kind of has a ring to it, doesn’t it?

I love all things sweet and sour.

Pineapple Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce - The Recipe Rebel (3)

Maple, apple, pineapple, cranberry, brown sugar, tomato, apricot, honey, saskatoons — I love it all in my dinner.

I’m actually a little embarrassed about my sugar consumption at this point. I feel like a normal person should be able to make dinner without adding fruit or sugar or fruit and sugar.

Apparently, I am not.

But this sauce.

Pineapple Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce - The Recipe Rebel (4)

So I added a bunch of random stuff to a pot and simmered it with my pineapple juice. It is so good. It’s sweet and tangy with just a hint of spice. It pairs perfectly with pulled pork, but it would also be fantastic on chicken or beef!

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written by Ashley Fehr

5 from 28 votes

Sweet and sour barbecue sauce with a bit of spice! Delicious on any kind of meat.

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Review

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Course Sauces and Condiments

Servings 30 tablespoons

Calories 33cal

Ingredients

▢ 200 ml pineapple juice 1 regular-sized juice box
▢ 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
▢ 1/2 tsp garlic
▢ 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
▢ 3/4 cup ketchup
▢ 1 pinch red pepper flakes or more if you like it spicy!
▢ 1/2 tsp onion powder
▢ 1 pinch salt to taste
▢ 1-2 tbsp corn starch
▢ 1-2 tbsp water

Instructions

Add all ingredients except for corn starch and water to a medium pot.
Bring to a boil and reduce to medium-low, simmering for 10-15 minutes until flavours come together.
Mix equal parts corn starch and water. Slowly add to the sauce and stir, until you reach your desired consistency.
Serve with pork, chicken or beef.

Nutrition Information

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

Reader Interactions

Comments

Kathy m Hall says
August 1, 2023 at 9:08 am
Wondering if you use dark or light brown sugar in the sauce. Please advise, Can’t wait to make this for Bunco night with the ladies.
Reply
- The Recipe Rebel says
  August 4, 2023 at 4:46 pm
  Hi Kathy! I typically use light. Enjoy!
  Reply
Claire says
April 11, 2023 at 8:29 pm
This is great! Use with koloa pork over coconut rice and pineapple. Very close to my favorite place Porky’s on Kawaii.
Reply
- The Recipe Rebel says
  April 17, 2023 at 3:33 am
  Hi Claire! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
  Reply
Jessica says
January 4, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Do you think you could use something else to substitute the pineapple juice if I don’t have any on hand?
Reply
- The Recipe Rebel says
  January 4, 2023 at 10:15 pm
  Hi Jessica! Maybe just use water? The flavor will be slightly different, but I can’t really think of anything else to substitute it with.
  Reply
- Susan says
  September 1, 2023 at 8:31 am
  Maybe canned crushed pineapple??
  Reply
  - The Recipe Rebel says
    September 6, 2023 at 12:14 pm
    That would be one way to get the juice but I am not sure if it contains enough for this recipe.
Lori says
August 5, 2022 at 12:41 pm
Loved this sauce. Do you know how long this will last refrigerated?
Reply
- The Recipe Rebel says
  August 9, 2022 at 1:16 pm
  Hi Lori, I would keep it 1-2 weeks in the fridge, or it can be frozen up to 6 months.
  Reply
Mike Farnsworth says
August 2, 2022 at 7:05 pm
Can this be waterbath canned to stock up?
Reply
- The Recipe Rebel says
  August 2, 2022 at 7:48 pm
  Hi Mike! I haven’t tried to can this myself. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
  Reply
Julie Lerum says
July 1, 2022 at 10:57 pm
We are having a luau/ pig roast tomorrow and I’m totally making this!
Reply
See Also
Hush Puppies Recipe | Spoon Fork Bacon
- The Recipe Rebel says
  July 5, 2022 at 9:56 pm
  Hope you enjoy it Julie!
  Reply
Dana says
July 21, 2021 at 9:25 am
Added a 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder, smoked paprika and liquid smoke. Can’t buy a better BBQ sauce.
Reply
Julie says
April 3, 2021 at 10:28 pm
Just made and it’s so yummy! Making chicken kabobs tomorrow and just finished the marinade with my just made bbq sauce! Hope the kabobs r good! I’ll let u know ☺️
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  April 7, 2021 at 10:20 am
  Thanks Julie! I’m glad you liked it!
  Reply
- KT says
  May 27, 2021 at 4:22 am
  How much did this make? How many ounces. I want to use a Mason jar but I could not tell what size jar she used?
  Thanks
  Reply
  - Ashley Fehr says
    May 31, 2021 at 12:59 pm
    The recipe makes roughly 2.5 cups
Kym says
February 14, 2021 at 2:34 pm
Hi, I’m all about making homemade sauces or (cashew) butters to control what’s in my meals rather than getting a high fructose sugar attack that’s on the shelves. I made it.
I think the only oomph I have with the recipe is the corn starch after all ingredients are boiled through. I kept back tracking to the website thinking maybe I missed something in this blog but theres no instruction, foresight, or advise what to do with the clumps. I had it simmering for 10 minutes (stirring as instructed) and still the corn starch was still all clumped up, refusing to break apart. Tried whisking hoping to help it break it up. No good.
Trial and Error, dump and try again but adding corn starch with the other ingredients to boil with it. Know, I love how easy it is (thank you from the bottom of my heart) and I am still excited to try this once cooked 100%. I have plans to make a homemade ripped rotisserie chicken gouda BBQ pizza. Mmm…
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  February 15, 2021 at 12:30 pm
  Hi Kym! I think you missed something. In the recipe it says to mix the corn starch and water. You cannot add corn starch to any hot liquid without dissolving it in water first.
  Reply
Rachel says
August 16, 2020 at 8:44 am
I can’t wait to try this! So I can figure out my weight watchers points associated with this, can you please tell me how big of a serving you are using to calculate 30 servings in this recipe? Thanks a bunch!
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  August 17, 2020 at 3:59 pm
  One serving is roughly a tablespoon, but your best bet would be to do your own calculations using My Fitness Pal so you know exactly.
  Reply
Paige says
July 4, 2020 at 5:26 pm
This just looks and sounds AMAZING. I bet it would be great on grilled chicken!
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  July 6, 2020 at 11:14 am
  Thanks Paige!
  Reply
Sara Welch says
July 4, 2020 at 2:38 pm
This was so savory and perfectly sweet! Tasted great on our baby back ribs! Delicious!
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  July 6, 2020 at 11:14 am
  Thanks Sara!
  Reply
Taryn says
July 4, 2020 at 10:52 am
Best bbq sauce ever for pork ribs!
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  July 6, 2020 at 11:15 am
  Thanks Taryn!
  Reply
Kimberly says
July 3, 2020 at 5:54 pm
What a heavenly mixture of flavors, I want to slather this on everything!
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  July 6, 2020 at 11:16 am
  I do often!
  Reply
Lisalia says
July 3, 2020 at 5:38 pm
This is such a yummy BBQ sauce. I won’t go back to store-bought. This just tastes so much better!
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  July 6, 2020 at 11:16 am
  Thanks Lisalia! It’s one of our favorites!
  Reply
Joyce says
July 7, 2018 at 10:41 am
Can this be canned? Thanks
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  July 9, 2018 at 10:12 am
  I haven’t tested the pH level so I can’t say 100%. Sorry!
  Reply
Denise says
January 1, 2018 at 9:18 pm
My husband was smoking some ribs he marinated in,pineapple juice. I was looking for a barbecue sauce that might complement them when I found your blog. This recipe worked so well with the ribs. It will be in rotation from here out.
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  January 2, 2018 at 10:46 am
  Thanks Denise! I love this recipe on pork, I can just imagine how good it would be on ribs!
  Reply
Sue says
March 11, 2017 at 5:58 pm
LOL, you had me at ” sweet on meat”! So happy I found your site, thanks for this great recipe ! As a fellow sweet/sugar fan I look forward to more!
Reply
- Ashley Fehr says
  March 13, 2017 at 1:52 pm
  Haha! Thanks Sue! Happy to have you here 🙂
  Reply
  - Tati says
    October 24, 2017 at 7:31 am
    How long does it keep?
  - Ashley Fehr says
    October 24, 2017 at 9:50 am
    I would keep it 1-2 weeks in the fridge, or it can be frozen up to 6 months.

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Pineapple Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

FAQs

Does brown sugar thicken BBQ sauce? ›

Add remaining brown sugar and reduce the heat, stirring occasionally. The sauce will become richer in flavor and thicker as it cooks.

What does brown sugar do in BBQ? ›

Brown sugar, white sugar, and honey are all common sweeteners in the pitmaster's arsenal. They're great in a pork rub or on chicken to accelerate the browning of the skin.

Know More ›

How to make BBQ sauce tastier? ›

Honey - adding honey to your BBQ sauce can help balance out the smokiness and add a touch of sweetness.
Chipotle peppers - if you want to add some heat to your sauce, consider adding chipotle peppers. ...
Apple cider vinegar - adding apple cider vinegar can help give your BBQ sauce a tangy flavor that complements the.

Mar 6, 2023

Read On ›

Can you buy pineapple sauce? ›

Ben´s Original™ Sweet and Sour Extra Pineapple cooking sauce is free from artificial colours and preservatives, and helps you create a delicious and wholesome Chinese meal in no time.

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Why does my pineapple taste sour? ›

Pineapple is naturally sour. Depending on the variety, when it ripes, it will become sweeter as the fruit will contain more sugar. Sour means it is not ripe enough. Pineapple that's gone bad will taste bland, very watery, and a bit bitter.

Show Me More ›

How do you make BBQ sauce stronger? ›

Spices: With big bold flavors, the subtly of spices in bottled sauces tends to get lost. Adding garlic or onion powder are standard flavors for barbecue, but get a little creative and try out different chile powders, peppers, cumin, or dried herbs to add body to the sauce.

View Details ›

How do you doctor up barbecue sauce to make it better? ›

Add smoky, spicy, or tangy flavors for a semi-homemade bbq sauce that tastes just like it's from scratch. You can spice up bbq sauce and add some texture and flavor to store-bought bbq sauce with chopped kimchi, bacon bits, sautéed onions, or jalapeños, fresh herbs, or fruit like pineapple and peaches.

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What to do if my BBQ sauce is too runny? ›

You can use either flour or cornstarch to thicken BBQ sauce. Just mix together 2 tbsp (16 g) of flour and ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of water, or combine 1 tbsp (9 g) of cornstarch with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water. Continue mixing the thickener until there are no lumps of flour or cornstarch.

Get More Info Here ›

Why do you put molasses in BBQ sauce? ›

It has a uniquely rich and complex flavor, bringing incomparable depth and subtlety to your barbecue sauce. Unlike white sugar, which simply tastes sweet without nuance, molasses adds notes of caramel, licorice and dried fruit to your sauce, creating a far more interesting taste experience.

Should I use light or dark brown sugar in BBQ sauce? ›

Depends. If I want the molasses flavor in a sauce, in the background, I'll use dark (if I want a pronounced flavor I use molasses). For most pork rubs I use light or white or a combination. Though I rarely include sugar in beef rubs, on the occasions I do it's usually dark.

Tell Me More ›

What is the secret to good BBQ? ›

Your grill needs to be hot, but not too hot – if you can't stand close, you shouldn't cook on it. Light it early enough so the flames have time to die down before you start cooking: the charcoal should have burned down and be coated in white ash. At the last second, season the meat well.

View Details ›

What makes BBQ sauce taste better? ›

To me, a good BBQ sauce has the right mix of smokiness, tanginess, sweetness, and spice. If your sauce isn't sweet enough, add some brown sugar or molasses. If the sauce isn't tangy enough, add some apple cider vinegar. If the sauce needs some heat, add your favorite hot sauce or red pepper.

Is it worth making your own BBQ sauce? ›

Skip the store-bought stuff! Homemade barbecue sauce is delicious, incredibly versatile, and oh-so easy to make with pantry staples. Trust us — you're going to want to bookmark this top-rated recipe for classic barbecue sauce.

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What country is pineapple imported from? ›

The majority of fresh pineapples sold on the world market are produced in Latin America, with 84% grown in Costa Rica. The majority of production is on large-scale, monoculture plantations owned by a small number of national and multinational fruit companies.

What country does pineapple juice come from? ›

Product description. Pineapple juice is a popular tropical beverage. It is made from the pineapple fruit, which is native to South America . Pineapple is widely grown in Asia (Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, China and India) and South America (Brazil and Costa Rica), with Brazil being the world's largest producer.

Read The Full Story ›

Where did Hawaiian pineapple come from? ›

While its exact origins have yet to be determined, botanists agree that the pineapple originated in the Americas, most likely in the region where Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil meet . As to how the plant arrived, and was domesticated, in Hawaii is apocryphal.

Read On ›

Is pineapple from Mexico? ›

Pineapples are indigenous to South America, and eventually reached the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico, where it was cultivated by the Mayas and the Aztecs.

Keep Reading ›

Pineapple Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce - The Recipe Rebel (2024)