Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce Recipe (No Ketchup Needed)
This thick, sweet, and smoky Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce is made completely from scratch—no ketchup required. Made with just a handful of simple pantry staples, you’ll have a bold and tangy homemade barbecue sauce perfect for ribs, burgers, pulled pork, and so much more!
Servings: 20 servings (2 tbsps)
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) can Dr. Pepper
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients. Additionally, you'll need a medium saucepan.
- Combine the ingredients: In a medium saucepan, pour in the entire can of Dr. Pepper, the tomato sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, and all the dry seasonings (onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper). Whisk until everything is well combined and smooth.
- Simmer: Set the heat to medium-high and stir occasionally. Once the mixture reaches a gentle simmer (small bubbles around the edges), reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce simmer uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent burning. The sauce should reduce and thicken to a syrupy consistency. It will thicken more as it cools.
- Cool and store: Remove the pan from the heat and allow the sauce to cool completely. Transfer it to a clean, airtight container or mason jar and store it in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Notes
Yield: This recipe makes approximately 2 to 2½ cups of BBQ sauce (or 16-20 servings of 2 tablespoons), depending on how much you reduce it during simmering. That's enough sauce to coat 2 full racks of ribs, mix into a large batch of pulled pork, or to use in several meals with burgers and fries. Check out the full post to learn more about what you can make with 2.5 cups of BBQ sauce.
Nutritional Information: Calculated for 20 servings, 2 tablespoons each.
To make this recipe vegan and gluten-free: Use a vegan Worcestershire sauce and double-check your liquid smoke brand to keep it completely plant-based and gluten-free (such as Colgin Liquid Smoke).
Use regular Dr. Pepper, not diet or zero versions. This recipe needs the sugar in regular soda pop to thicken properly and sweeten.
Storage: The sauce gets even better after cooling and sitting in the fridge. Cool completely then transfer to an airtight container or jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Nutrition
Calories: 23kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg
