This sweet and tangy pineapple barbecue sauce recipe is a quick way to flavor meals and a must-have for summer cookouts and backyard BBQs– perfect for brushing roasted and grilled meats, slathering on burgers, or doubling as a dipping sauce or marinade!
Why Make Pineapple BBQ Sauce?
The real question is, why haven’t you made it sooner? Fresh pineapple paired with smoky, savory BBQ flavors creates a tangy sauce that’s completely irresistible! Whether grilling, roasting, or braising in a slow cooker, the easy pineapple BBQ sauce is an excellent way to add a smoky, tropical flavor to your favorite dishes.
I like using the homemade barbecue sauce on juicy grilled chicken, crispy pork belly, and pork ribs or as a simple dipping sauce for fries.
Try more unique BBQ sauce recipes: Cheerwine BBQ Sauce, Carolina gold BBQ sauce, or raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce.
Key Ingredients
Why settle for grocery store barbecue sauce when you can make your own BBQ sauce using simple ingredients? It is quick, delicious, and better than anything you may buy in a bottle. Here’s what you need to get started.
- Butter: Sauté the aromatics in unsalted butter to keep the saltiness in check.
- Shallots: Naturally sweeten the BBQ sauce with cooked-down shallots, or swap them out for scallions for a bolder flavor.
- Garlic: Include a few garlic cloves.
- Ginger: Fresh ginger provides a nice kick to counter the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Pineapple: Add fresh pineapple or canned crushed pineapple (in juice, not syrup) to sweeten the sauce for a tropical twist. If using fresh pineapple or larger canned pineapple chunks, blend them in a small blender to create a smoother base.
What kind of pineapple should I use?
Fresh pineapple is your best bet for the brightest flavor. You can use canned pineapple (crushed, tidbits, or chunks)—make sure it’s stored in juice, not syrup. Fresh pineapple juice works in a pinch but only add a few tablespoons. Blend the fresh pineapple or larger chunks of canned pineapple beforehand so it cooks down more quickly into the BBQ sauce.
- Sauces: Adding sugar-free ketchup, oyster sauce, and shoyu (Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce—whatever you have handy) gives the pineapple barbecue sauce a balanced and complex flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: A splash of apple cider vinegar cuts the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Brown Sugar: I recommend adding light brown sugar for caramelized flavor.
- Spices: Toss in coarse black pepper, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper for a hint of spice. Adding the smoked paprika gives the sauce a subtle smoky flavor, but a dash or two of liquid smoke will increase the smokiness.
Additions and Substitutions
Making your own condiments at home gives you the freedom to customize the ingredients to suit your taste buds perfectly.
- Crank up the heat. Feel free to add more cayenne or a pinch of red pepper flakes to make it spicier. You can also saute fresh jalapeños or serrano peppers with the aromatics for spicy pineapple barbecue sauce.
- Sweeten the sauce. The BBQ sauce recipe is already pretty sweet. Add extra brown sugar if you want it sweeter, or substitute it with honey, maple syrup, agave syrup, or a sugar-free option like golden monk fruit.
Prepare the Pineapple for the Sauce
Choose a Ripe Pineapple: Look for a sweet-smelling pineapple with slightly soft skin. Avoid green or bruised pineapples.
Trim the Pineapple: Use a sharp knife to cut off the pineapple’s top (crown) and bottom. Place it upright and cut off the skin, following the natural curve of the fruit.
Core the Pineapple: Cut the pineapple lengthwise into quarters, then remove the tough core from each section.
Cut it into Pieces: Cut the sections into smaller pieces. Small chunks will blend easier for the sauce.
Process the Pineapple: Transfer the pineapple chunks to a small blender or blender. Process until smooth.
How to Make Pineapple Barbecue Sauce
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Warm the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and ginger. Sauté until the shallots soften, for 1-2 minutes.
Step 2: Stir in the crushed pineapple, ketchup, shoyu, oyster sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and ground spices. Increase to medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Step 3: Lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally until the sauce thickens and reduces.
Preparation Tip
For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to process the ingredients directly in the pan or transfer the mixture to a blender in batches– using caution when blending the hot liquid.
You can also pour it through a fine-mesh strainer to remove larger pieces.
Step 4: Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool at room temperature before you transfer it to an airtight container or glass jar.
Expert Tips
- Simmer slowly. Leave the sauce to simmer slowly for at least 15 minutes, giving the pineapple and aromatics time to soften and caramelize.
- Choose your consistency. The texture of the BBQ sauce depends on the pineapple you use. Larger chunks take longer to break down, producing a chunkier sauce. Crushed pineapple or pineapple puree will give you a smoother sauce. Whatever you choose—process the ingredients with an immersion blender or blender and strain them through a fine-mesh strainer if you enjoy an extra-smooth sauce.
Whip up a batch of pineapple barbecue sauce and serve it with your favorite meals!
What Can I Serve Pineapple BBQ Sauce On?
Skip the bottled stuff—pineapple barbecue sauce is a versatile and tasty addition to anything you’d put regular barbecue sauce on—but with a sweet, tropical twist! Brush it on grilled chicken drumsticks, pork tenderloin, beef ribs, baked shrimp skewers, thin-cut chicken breasts, or pork chops during the final minutes of cooking for a tangy, sweet heat.
The homemade BBQ sauce shines as a topping for your favorite burgers, Dutch oven-pulled chicken, shredded brisket, or pulled pork sandwiches. Finish them with pickled red onions, homemade coleslaw, and dill pickles—don’t forget some extra sauce for dipping!
Use it as a base for BBQ chicken crust pizza instead of marinara sauce, or pair it with crispy chicken tenders, French fries, BBQ egg rolls, or popcorn chicken.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Transfer the leftover pineapple BBQ sauce to an airtight container or glass jar for one week.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I thicken the BBQ sauce?
The best way to thicken homemade sauces is to slowly simmer the ingredients until the liquid cooks off and the sauce reduces. You can also add a spoonful of tomato paste or a cornstarch slurry (made from cornstarch and water).
More Homemade Sauces:
Pineapple Barbecue Sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ medium shallot, finely minced
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 -inch knob of ginger, peeled and finely grated
- ½ cup crushed pineapple
- ½ cup ketchup, no sugar added
- ¼ cup shoyu
- 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Warm the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and ginger. Sauté until the shallots soften, for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the crushed pineapple, ketchup, shoyu, oyster sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and ground spices. Increase to medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally until the sauce thickens and reduces. Tip: For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to process the ingredients directly in the pan or transfer the mixture to a blender in batches–using caution when blending the hot liquid. You can also pour it through a fine-mesh strainer to remove larger pieces.
- Remove the sauce from heat and let it cool at room temperature before you transfer it to an airtight container or glass jar.
- Simmer slowly. Leave the sauce to simmer slowly for at least 15 minutes, giving the pineapple and aromatics time to soften and caramelize.
- Choose your consistency. The texture of the BBQ sauce depends on the pineapple you use. Larger chunks take longer to break down, producing a chunkier sauce. Crushed pineapple or pineapple puree will give you a smoother sauce. Whatever you choose—process the ingredients with an immersion blender or blender and strain them through a fine-mesh strainer if you enjoy an extra-smooth sauce.