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Up your summer BBQ game with a sweet and smokey cherry BBQ sauce. This is the gluten-free bbq sauce that the whole party can enjoy!
Enjoying gluten-free bbq food is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. There are very few store-bought gluten-free bbq sauces I like, so I love making my own. I love making a gluten-free sauce that uses seasonal ingredients, and in the summer, that means I'm reaching for my husband's favorite cherries, and I'll make a batch of my homemade cherry barbecue sauce.
Is BBQ sauce gluten free?
If you're gluten-free, you are probably pretty good at reading labels. You've also probably noticed that not all of them are gluten-free bbq sauces. Some of these bbq sauces contain thickeners, colorants, and even possibly beer or soy sauce, which can contain gluten.
Why should you make your own homemade bbq sauce?
This cherry barbecue sauce is
- Easy to make!
- Simple ingredients!
- It comes together in minutes!
- Easy to use on everything from chicken to pork or whatever you decide to grill up.
- It's the best gluten-free bbq sauce that everyone can enjoy!
Gluten-free cherry bbq sauce ingredients.
- Cherries - Fresh or Frozen - For this cherry bbq sauce recipe, it doesn't really matter. When I can get fresh cherries, I tend to use them, but I have also used frozen cherries and find the sauce to be just as delicious.
- Sriracha Sauce - I use Steve's Paleo Goods.
- Tomato Paste
- Brown Sugar
- Molasses
- Dijon Mustard
- Worcestershire Sauce or Coconut Aminios
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Water
- Onion Powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic
- Paprika
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How to make cherry barbecue sauce?
- Combine all of the ingredients into a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Allow the mixture to come to a low simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low and let it go until the cherries start to fall apart.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce or transfer the sauce to a blender and puree.
- If you removed the sauce from the pan, return it to the pan and stove and allow it to simmer on low until it thickens, about 5-10 minutes.
Tips and tricks for making gluten-free bbq sauce.
- Make sure you are using pitted cherries for this cherry barbecue sauce. A simple cherry pitter will do the trick easily.
- Want to make your bbq sauce sweeter? This gluten-free bbq sauce uses a combination of brown sugar and molasses, but if you want it a little sweeter, you can increase the brown sugar or add a bit of honey for a sweeter honey bbq sauce.
- How do you make a hot bbq sauce? Add a bit of red pepper flakes or chipotle powder. I would start with about a quarter of a teaspoon unless you like a really hot bbq sauce.
Try my Blueberry BBQ Sauce that I love for wings if you can't find cherries or just don't like cherries.
How do you store homemade bbq sauce?
This gluten-free bbq sauce will last in the fridge for up to two weeks.
This cherry bbq sauce can be frozen. Place the cooled bbq sauce into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months. Let it defrost overnight in the fridge when you want to use it, and then use it as fresh.
How do you use this cherry barbecue sauce?
This gluten-free bbq sauce is delicious on something as simple as grilled chicken. Slather this cherry barbecue sauce over some of my ribs, or be a little extra and make my bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin and even a simple, fresh piece of grilled salmon. The possibilities are endless.
Homemade Gluten-free Cherry BBQ Sauce
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cups Pitted Cherries fresh or frozen
- ½ Cup Sriracha Sauce I use Steve's Paleo Goods
- ½ Cup Tomato Paste
- ¼ Cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ Cup Molasses
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce or Coconut aminos or gluten free Soy Sauce
- ½ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- ½ Cup Water skip if using frozen cherries
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients into a small saucepan over medium heat.1 ½ Cups Pitted Cherries, ½ Cup Sriracha Sauce, ½ Cup Tomato Paste, ¼ Cup Brown Sugar, ¼ Cup Molasses, 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard, 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce, ½ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar, ½ Cup Water, 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 Teaspoon Salt, 1 Teaspoon Pepper, 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- Allow the mixture to come to a low simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low and let it go until the cherries start to fall apart.
- Using an immersion blender to blend the sauce or transfer the sauce to a blender and puree.
- If you removed the sauce from the pan, return it to the pan and stove and allow it to simmer on low until it thickens about 5-10 minutes.
Notes
- Make sure you are using pitted cherries for this cherry barbecue sauce. A simple cherry pitter will do the trick easily.
- Want to make your bbq sauce sweeter? This gluten-free bbq sauce uses a combination of brown sugar and molasses but if you want it a little sweeter you can increase the brown sugar or add a bit of honey, for a sweeter honey bbq sauce.
- How do you make a hot bbq sauce? Add a bit of red pepper flakes or chipotle powder. I would start with about a quarter of a teaspoon unless you like a really hot bbq sauce.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #grainfreetable or @grainfreetable on Instagram. I'd love to see what you come up with!
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