Sweet, spicy, and smoky, Apple-Jalapeno Barbecue Sauce is the ultimate addition to grilled or smoked proteins. Its rich, tangy taste will leave your taste buds craving more. Take you BBQ game up to the next level with this amazing apple jalapeno sauce!

For a boost of flavor, brush this silky smooth, BBQ sauce on beef back ribs and smoked pork ribs. It’s so good that we regularly use it on chicken and pork belly too!

Ingredients for Apple-Jalapeno Barbecue Sauce

• Ketchup
• Jalapeno jelly: This jelly is available in most grocery stores. You can also use homemade pepper jelly if preferred. If you really want to spice things up, use habanero jelly instead. Keep in mind that whatever jelly you choose should have a good balance of sweet and spicy.
• Apple jelly: Use jelly, and not apple butter for this recipe.
• Apple cider vinegar
• Brown Sugar
• Unsalted butter
• Molasses: Use dark molasses for this barbecue sauce. You can use backstrap, but it will produce a slightly bitter after taste. If you do not have molasses, substitute with dark corn syrup or pure maple syrup..
• Chili powder: Use mild chili powder.
• Granulated garlic: substitute with garlic powder for a more intense garlicky flavor.
• Salt and black pepper
• Smoked paprika

How to Make It

• To prepare the apple-jalapeno barbecue sauce: combine all ingredients (except butter) in a medium saucepan.
• Bring mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat until the apple and jalapeno jellies and sugar have dissolved. Reduce heat to low and simmer on low for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
• Remove saucepan from heat and stir in butter.
• Let the sauce cool for 10-15 minutes before using. 
• If making in advance, cool the the apple jalapeno BBQ sauce completely and store it in an airtight container (or lidded jar) in the refrigerator for up to one week after preparation.
• To use, baste onto ribs (or meat of choice) during the last 20-30 minutes of cooking time. Discard any remaining sauce that has come into contact with raw or undercooked meat.

More Recipes to try!

If you love the perfect combination of sweetness with a kiss of heat, you’re going to enjoy these recipes.

• Spicy Cherry-Apple BBQ Glaze
• Smoked Candied Bacon
• Brown Sugar Beef Rub

Print

Apple-Jalapeno Barbecue Sauce

Sweet, spicy, and smoky, this sauce is fantastic apple-jalapeno on beef and pork ribs, and BBQ chicken.

Course Sauces

Cuisine American BBQ

Keyword barbecue sauce, BBQ sauce, tomato-jalapeno sauce

Prep Time 8 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 16 minutes minutes

Servings 2.25 cups

Calories 120kcal

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups ketchup
• 1/2 cup jalapeno jelly
• 1/2 cup apple jelly
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar (increase amount as needed)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic (substitute with garlic powder)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• To prepare sauce, combine all sauce ingredients (except butter) in a medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium high heat until apple and jalapeno jellies and sugar have dissolved.

  Reduce heat to low and simmer on low for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
• Remove sauce from heat and stir in butter. Allow the sauce to cool for 10-15 minutes before using.

  If making in advance, let the sauce cool for 30 minutes, then transfer it to an air tight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week after preparation.
• To use: baste sauce onto ribs during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Do this every 10 minutes or so, to build layers of saucy flavor.

  For chicken: baste on during the last 15-20 minutes. Apply every 5 minutes.

  Discard any sauce that has come into contact with undercooked or raw meat.

Notes

Jellies: You can find both apple and  jalapeno jelly at your local market or online. If you are particularly fond of high Scoville peppers, then try using a habanero jelly. Keep in mind that whatever pepper jelly you choose should be a sweet and spicy. 

 

Nutrition

Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 283mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 453IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

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