When you need a good barbecue sauce, skip the pre-made versions and make up a batch of your own! This Cherry Dr. Pepper Barbecue Sauce is the perfect mix of sweet and tangy, and you can whip it up with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and fridge.
Homemade Cherry Dr. Pepper Barbecue Sauce
Homemade BBQ sauce is one of my favorite things to whip up. There’s nothing like being able to be fully in control of the final outcome. Like spice? Toss in some red pepper flakes. Don’t like any spice at all? Omit it completely. You can taste and adjust until you are totally satisfied with the end result and it’ll perfectly compliment whatever you’re going to slather it all over.
We used this sauce on chicken wings recently and it was incredible! Next it is going to go on some Traeger Pulled Pork and some 3-2-1 Ribs!
Get all of my Traeger Recipes here!
Cherry Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce shopping list
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- onion
- garlic
- Cherry Dr. Pepper
- yellow mustard
- ketchup
- olive oil
- salt
- Worcestershire sauce
- black pepper
- apple cider vinegar
- red pepper flake
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How to make Sweet & Tangy Homemade Barbecue Sauce
This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
1
Prep
Chop your onions, mince your garlic, and toss all of the ingredients into a sauce pot.
2
Simmer
Heat over low heat and stir frequently. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, lightly simmering.
3
Store
Let it cool and store the sauce in the fridge. It should last for at least a week or two in the fridge.
Try our original homemade bbq sauce too!
Cherry Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce FAQ
Can you use a different type of soda in this recipe?
Yup! Regular Dr. Pepper works, so does Coke, Cherry Coke, and even Root Beer would be an interesting addition to this recipe.
What are the best things to use this bbq sauce with?
Barbecue Beef, Smoked Ribs, Pulled Chicken Sandwich, Smoked Short Ribs, Smoked BBQ Pickled Eggs, Smoked Brisket, Pulled Pork Sliders, Traeger Chicken Lollipop, BBQ Smoked Sausage Bites, Poor Man’s Burnt Ends, and Pork Belly Burnt Ends would all be great options!
No smoker? Try this sauce on these delicious
Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Ribs from Midwestern Home Life!
More great recipes to love!
- Grilled Mandarin Chicken Salad
- Traeger Tomato Soup (from scratch)
- Traeger Garlic Gruyere Potato Gratin
- Traeger Caramel Rolls
- Traeger Reverse Seared Venison Sirloin Steak
- Traeger Grilled Venison Striploin
- Traeger Venison Rib Chops
- Traeger Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
- Grilled Rack of Pork
- Traeger Smoked Short Rib Bites
- Traeger Pork Belly Twists
- Traeger Smoked Turkey Wings
- Traeger Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
- Traeger Grilled Turkey Wings
Cherry Dr. Pepper Barbecue Sauce
This simple barbecue sauce features one of our favorite sodas, Cherry Dr. Pepper! Sweet, tangy, and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 12 ounces cherry Dr Pepper
- 1/3 cup yellow mustard
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flake
Instructions
- Dice the onion and mince the garlic.
- Add those along with the rest of the ingredients to a sauce pot, and heat over low heat to a low simmer.
- Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Blend in a blender or with an immersion blender. Keep in the fridge for a week or two.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 186Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1293mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 2g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.
Nicole Johnson
Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.
Lana Robards
Friday 28th of June 2024
This is very good - can you can it to save?
Nicole Johnson
Sunday 30th of June 2024
I've never tried canning it personally, and I don't know enough about canning to really say one way or another if the Ph would be safe for water bath canning. I'm sure pressure canning would work, but make sure you are using safe practices. This recipe is so easy to whip up, we usually just make a batch the day before we want to use it.