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Give traditional barbecue sauce the summer treatment with this recipe for peach bbq sauce! With basic ingredients and 45 minutes you can make perfectly sweet and tangy homemade southern bbq sauce with fresh or frozen peaches. Use this delicious versatile sauce to grill meats, glaze ribs, spread on sandwiches, or use it as a salad dressing!

Featured comment: I hardly ever grill, but the look and sound of the peach and sriracha sauce sounded phenomenal so I decided to try. WOW. So very good with ribs and chicken thighs!” – Amanda

Overhead photo of homemade peach sauce in a glass saucepan with two fresh peaches next to the pan.

Updated: This recipe was originally published in May 2016. I made updates to the article below to include more information about making fruity bbq sauce with peaches at home. 

About this recipe for peach bbq sauce

Meet your new favorite summer sauce, friends! Made from a blend of plump peaches, onions, sriracha, and apple cider vinegar, along with barbecue sauce classics, like brown sugar, Worcestershire, and ketchup, this peach sauce is the perfect mixture of sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy flavors.

Use this versatile condiment to marinate meats, slather it on meatloaf, use it as a dip for crudité, spread it on sandwiches and wraps, or thin it out and use it as a salad dressing. Regardless of how you use it, this homemade peach BBQ sauce will become your favorite summer sauce.

Best of all, this simple recipe for southern peach bbq sauce comes together with basic kitchen ingredients and minimal prep in under 45 minutes!

Why you’ll love this barbecue recipe

  • Tested and perfected recipe: The recipe for this barbecue sauce has been tested and perfected since 2016.
  • Simple and Easy: You can make the best peach BBQ sauce right at home with easy-to-find ingredients and this simple, straight-forward recipe.
  • Best Flavor: With a combination of sweet ripe peaches, savory aromatics, and a touch of hot sauce, this homemade southern peach barbecue sauce is beyond delicious!
  • Versatile: This yummy peach sauce is the ideal way to infuse fresh, fruity flavor into any proteins and veggies! I especially love this sauce on pork and chicken.

Overhead photo of the eleven ingredients for peach BBQ sauce recipe.

Ingredients for peach barbecue sauce

  • Peaches: If you have access, I recommend using fresh peaches in this BBQ sauce; however, frozen works too. Just make sure you use peeled peach slices and be sure to thaw and roughly chop them prior to using them in this recipe..
  • Lemon Juice: Fresh is best; however, the stuff in a bottle will work in a pinch.
  • Oil: Any neutral cooking oil, such as canola, will do.
  • Onion: I recommend a sweet Vidalia onion – peeled and medium dice; however, a yellow onion is fine.
  • Aromatics: A combination of peeled ginger, grated, and peeled and minced garlic cloves lend flavor.
  • Brown Sugar: I prefer rich dark brown sugar for sweetness, but light brown sugar will work as well.
    • Substitution: Honey and agave also work in a pinch.
  • Vinegar: A couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar lend tangy flavor.
  • Stock: You’ll want to use unsalted or low-sodium beef stock to thin the barbecue sauce.
    • Substitution: Beef broth, chicken stock, chicken broth, water, and liquor (bourbon or whiskey!) all work well as a substitute.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Just a few splashes provide those classic sour, sweet, spicy flavors.
  • Ketchup: I prefer to use all natural but use what you love.
  • Tomato Paste: For deeply caramelized tomato flavor
  • Hot Sauce: I prefer sriracha hot sauce here. However, your favorite hot sauce will work too.

Variations

  • Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce – Swap out the stock (broth / water) for your favorite brand of bourbon and use the liquor to deglaze the pan.
  • Chipotle Peach BBQ Sauce – If you love the smoky heat of chipotles in adobo, feel free chop one up and add it to the pan when you add the tomato paste.
  • Jalapeño Peach BBQ Sauce –  Looking for a spicier barbecue sauce? Chop up a jalapeno chili pepper and add it to the pot when you sweat the onions.

Overhead photo of a white saucepan with cooked fresh peaches in barbecue sauce.

How do I make barbecue sauce with fresh peaches?

This peach sauce is fuss-free and comes together in under 45 minutes. Here’s how:

  1. Prep the Peaches: Place the peaches on a clean work surface. Then, cut the peaches in half, remove the stone pits, and roughly chop the fruit into medium chunks. Transfer the peaches a medium bowl. Then, drizzle the lemon juice all over the peaches and toss to coat. Finally, set the bowl of peaches aside.
  2. Start Barbecue Sauce: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper. Sweat the onions, stirring often, until translucent, about 4-6 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste is caramelized, about 2 minutes.
  3. Simmer: Add the vinegar and stock (or water), and deglaze the pan, using the back of a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Then stir in the chopped peaches, followed by the sugar. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then increase the heat to high to bring the ingredients to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to maintain a rapid simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the peaches are tender, about 18-22 minutes.
  4. Add the remaining BBQ ingredients: Add the Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and sriracha to the pot. Stir to combine. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the peaches are very tender and sauce is thickened. Turn the heat off under the pot.
  5. Puree: Use an immersion blender to puree the peach barbecue sauce, or carefully transfer the bbq sauce to a high-powered blender and puree. Taste the sauce and adjust for seasoning and consistency.
  6. Use or Store: Serve southern peach bbq immediately with your grilled protein favorites, or store in an airtight container in the fridge to use later.

Tips for the best homemade peach bbq

Follow the simple tips below to ensure your homemade fruity barbecue sauce turns out perfect!

  • Fresh Fruit: Use fresh ripe peaches in this barbecue recipe. Ripe peaches will lend more flavor to your sauce.
  • Reduce Sauce to Your Liking: Making BBQ sauce at home is a relatively simple process and there’s plenty of room for customizations. I recommend you cook the barbecue sauce on the stove-top until it’s thick, syrupy, and coats the back of a spoon. However, you can cook it shorter for a thinner sauce, and longer for a thicker sauce.
  • Flavor the BBQ Sauce to Taste: This peach barbecue sauce recipe, as written, is wonderfully delicious. HOWEVER, I always recommend you season food to YOUR taste. Add a splash of fresh lemon juice, lime juice, or more vinegar to brighten up the flavors. Add salt and pepper for overall seasoning, or sugar for a sweeter sauce, add more hot sauce for spice, etc.  

Overhead photo of peach barbecue sauce in a saucepan.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this barbecue peach sauce vegetarian or vegan?

Absolutely! Simply replace the animal products and bi-products with your favorite substitutions to make this barbecue sauce vegetarian and vegan-friendly, 

How do I add heat to BBQ sauce?

There are a few different ways you can spice up barbecue sauces. This southern peach bbq sauce uses sriracha hot sauce for heat, so if you prefer a spicy BBQ sauce, simply use more sriracha. Alternatively, you can add other fiery seasonings, such as cayenne pepper, chipotle chili powder, or red pepper flakes. Or, you can add other spicy flavoring ingredients, like habanero peppers or chipotles in adobo.

Serving bbq peach sauce

  • Spicy peach barbecue sauce is the perfect sauce to accompany any and all grilled food favorites, from chicken breasts and kebobs to pork or fish fillets, seafood, and more.
  • You can also use this peach sauce as a marinade or glaze for spare ribs, baby back ribs (seen here), pork chops, chicken wings, meatballs, and more.
  • Use it as a dipping sauce with French friestater tots, chicken strips, and potato wedges.
  • Or drizzle it over your seasonal roasted veggies for a healthy side.
  • Try it as a spread on your favorite wraps, sandwiches, and flatbreads. I especially love this peach bbq sauce with pulled pork or pulled chicken.
  • Swap out traditional pizza sauce or marinara sauce on pizza dough for fruity peach sauce. This barbecue sauce pairs particularly well with Hawaiian pizzas, pineapple pizzas and ham pizzas.

Storing barbecue sauce recipe leftovers

Allow the southern barbecue sauce with peaches to cool completely to room temperature before storing in an airtight container or storage jars. Homemade peach barbecue sauce will last for up to 1 week in the fridge. Alternatively, you can store the BBQ sauce made from fresh fruit in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you like to meal prep, this sauce is perfect for making a big batch.

Close-up photo of southern peach bbq sauce.

If you’ve got fresh peaches lying around, you’ve got to try this homemade peach BBQ sauce. With just a few ingredients you can make the best barbecue sauce and celebrate the summer season in a delicious culinary style!

Craving MORE? Follow all the deliciousness on FacebookPinterest, and Instagram!

More homemade BBQ sauces!

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How to make Southern Peach BBQ recipe👇

Overhead photo of homemade peach bbq sauce in a saucepan with two fresh peaches next to the pan.

Peach Barbecue Sauce

5 from 9 votes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Give traditional barbecue sauce the summer treatment with this recipe for peach bbq sauce! With basic ingredients and 50 minutes you can make perfectly sweet and tangy homemade bbq sauce with fresh or frozen peaches. Use this delicious versatile sauce to grill meats, glaze ribs, spread on sandwiches, or use it as a salad dressing!
Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.

Equipment

  • 1 Medium Bowl (for tossing peaches with lemon juice)
  • 1 Saucepan (for cooking the barbecue sauce)
  • 1 Immersion Blender OR High-Powered Blender (for pureeing the BBQ sauce)

Ingredients 

Instructions

  • Chop Peaches: Cut the peaches in half and remove the stone pits and roughly chop the peaches into medium chunks. Transfer the peaches to a medium bowl.
    Drizzle the lemon juice all over the peaches and toss to coat. Finally, set the bowl of peaches aside.
  • Start Barbecue Sauce: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-low to medium heat. Add the onions and season with salt and pepper. Sweat the onions, stirring often, until translucent, about 4-6 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste is caramelized, about 2 minutes.
  • Deglaze Pan and Add Peaches + Sugar: Add the vinegar and stock (or water) and deglaze the pan, using the back of a wooden spoon to scrape up any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. Then stir in the chopped peaches, followed by the sugar. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Simmer: Stir to combine, then increase the heat to high to bring the ingredients to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to maintain a rapid simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the peaches are tender, about 18-22 minutes.
  • Add the remaining BBQ ingredients: Add the Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and sriracha to the pot. Stir to combine. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the peaches are very tender and the barbecue sauce is thickened. Turn the heat off under the pot.
  • Puree: Use an immersion blender to puree the peach barbecue sauce, or carefully transfer the bbq sauce to a high-powered blender and puree. Taste the sauce and adjust for seasoning and consistency.
  • Use or Store: Serve immediately with your grilled protein favorites, or store in an airtight container in the fridge to use later.

Notes

  • Peaches: You can substitute ¾ pound frozen peeled peaches for the fresh ones – just thaw them first.
  • Peeling Peaches: You can peel fresh peaches using a vegetable peeler or a pot of boiling water and paring knife. See this article How to Peel Peaches for the step-by-step photos and detailed instructions.
  • Broth, Stock, or Water: You can use whatever you have on hand to thin out the barbecue sauce. I typically use beef stock if I’m making this sauce for ribs or pork, and chicken stock if I’m going to use this barbecue sauce on chicken and veggies. However, water works too!
  • Peach BBQ Sauce stores well for up to 3 days in an airtight.  
Nutritional information is an estimate based upon 6 (1/2 cup) servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcal    Carbohydrates: 26g    Protein: 1g    Fat: 3g    Saturated Fat: 0.2g    Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g    Monounsaturated Fat: 2g    Trans Fat: 0.01g    Sodium: 207mg    Potassium: 249mg    Fiber: 2g    Sugar: 21g    Vitamin A: 284IU    Vitamin C: 17mg    Calcium: 33mg    Iron: 1mg

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Overhead photo of a peach barbecue sauce in a glass storage container with peach glazed ribs next to the sauce.

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