Summer barbecues are on once school’s out — especially if you live in the southern part of the U.S. Having a go-to barbecue sauce recipe in your back pocket is one way to impress your guests and make hosting an impromptu summer celebration easier.
You may know what type of barbecue sauce you prefer (sweet, savory, or somewhere in between), but what many people don’t realize is that there are four distinctly different categories of barbecue sauce in America, according to the Eat-Q quiz from the James Beard Foundation. These set-in-stone BBQ sauce categories include Vinegar and Pepper, Mustard, Light Tomato, and Heavy Tomato.
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The finger-licking barbecue sauce recipe we’re about to share with you falls somewhere between Pepper and Tomato. Since our barbecue sauce contains an unconventional ingredient — Dr. Pepper — we suspect it may fall into a category all its own. For now, we’re calling it Light Tomato. In tomato-based barbecue states like Texas and Kansas, Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce may be even more popular. In any state, we think guests will enjoy a sweet barbecue sauce made with the classic 23-flavor blend.
How to make Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce: Ingredients
- 12 oz. Dr. Pepper
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
Making barbecue sauce is easy. Just like getting prequalified for a mortgage online.
How to make Dr. Pepper barbecue sauce: Tutorial
Choose your meat, fire up your grill, and put together your ingredients. We promised you this homemade barbecue sauce was going to be easy:
Get started
1. Make sure you have all your ingredients. You may have most items in your pantry or refrigerator.
Image: Bethany Ramos
Next
2. Start measuring — Dr. Pepper and ketchup first.
Image: Bethany Ramos
Next
3. Put all ingredients in a large saucepan.
Image: Bethany Ramos
Image: Bethany Ramos
Next
Image: Bethany Ramos
Image: Bethany Ramos
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Next
4. Whisk well so that all ingredients are combined.
Image: Bethany Ramos
Next
5. Cook on medium-high heat until mixture starts to bubble. Then lower to simmer and cook for 5 minutes until sugar is dissolved.
Image: Bethany Ramos
Next
6. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator until barbecue time — or enjoy your creation as it cools.
Image: Bethany Ramos
For the more seasoned chefs (see what we did there?), you can add less brown sugar to taste. This barbecue sauce recipe is admittedly sweet. It tastes just like the soft drink. Serve it over brisket, burgers, ribs, and other grilled meat.
We know you’re going to be busy this summer, so we thought we’d save you some trouble. You can spend time with your family and friends and keep track of your mortgage on the fly. Our free LoanFly app makes it possible to get prequalified for a house at the grill, at the pool, or wherever you happen to be.
For educational purposes only. Please contact your qualified professional for specific guidance.
Sources are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.