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!
Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce: A Flavorful Alternative
I have been craving all things barbecue these days. Maybe it’s the weather (hello, Spring!) or maybe it’s this homemade Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce. It’s the kind of bib-wearing BBQ sauce that’s sticky-sweet, thick and smoky, bold and flavorful, and officially my go-to for slow-cooked meats like ribs, pulled pork, and chicken. Unlike everyday BBQ sauce recipes, this Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce offers a cherry-caramel undertone and ditches the ketchup for canned tomato sauce. The flavor isn’t shockingly different. But it’s delightfully complex and a little addictive – you may even find yourself replacing more traditional “mainstream” sauces for this Dr. Peppered version.
Table of contents
Pro Tips: What To Know Before You Start
Yield and Servings. This recipe makes approximately 2 to 2½ cups of BBQ sauce, or 16-20 (2 tablespoon) servings, depending on how long you let it simmer. Check out the section below for ideas on what you can make with this amount of sauce.
It takes about 30 minutes to make. The key to achieving deliciously thick and sticky Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce is allowing it to simmer for the full 25–30 minutes (or longer). Remember to stir occasionally to prevent scorching.
Use regular Dr. Pepper. It may be tempting to use diet or zero-sugar versions of soda pop, but this recipe actually needs the real sugar to thicken and sweeten the sauce. Especially since we’re using regular tomato sauce instead of sugary ketchup.
For the best flavor, make the sauce ahead. The sauce gets even better after cooling and sitting in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator it will last up to 1 month!
This Is What You Need To Make It
To make this Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce you will need to gather the following: 1 (12-ounce) can of Dr. Pepper, 1 cup of tomato sauce (not pasta sauce), about 1/4 cup of packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, and half a teaspoon of liquid smoke and black pepper.
Substitutions and Variations
- Swap the sweetener: Brown sugar is a popular choice when making homemade sweet and sticky sauces, but maple syrup or honey are great alternatives. Just note that liquid sweeteners may thin the sauce, so simmer a bit longer to thicken.
- Use a different soda? Yes you can! Try using Root Beer, Cherry Cola, or regular Coca-Cola.
- Add little heat: I love a little spice in my BBQ sauce. If you do too, add add 1/4–1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
- Add texture: For chunkier sauce that’s super flavorful and bursting with caramelized sweetness, add some jammy caramelized onions. It takes a while to make caramelized onions (correctly) and will shorten the lifespan of your BBQ sauce, so you may want to add them as needed.
- Make It Vegan/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).
What You Can Make With 2½ Cups of BBQ Sauce
- Pulled Pork or Shredded Chicken (serves 6-8). Toss the sauce with a batch of slow cooker pulled pork or juicy shredded chicken. It’s enough to coat approximately 2-3 pounds of meat. Use it to make sandwiches, sliders, or yummy shredded chicken tacos.
- BBQ Ribs (2 full racks). Brush the sauce over 2 full racks of slow cooker BBQ ribs, oven-baked BBQ ribs, or grilled ribs. You’ll even have some sauce leftover for dipping!
- BBQ Chicken Thighs or Drumsticks (8-10 pieces). Whether you’re making easy baked BBQ chicken, grilling BBQ chicken, or slow cooking BBQ chicken thighs, this is enough sauce to marinate and glaze a full tray of bone-in chicken pieces.
- Burgers (about 8-10). You can mix a few tablespoons directly into the ground meat for Dr. Pepper BBQ infused patties or spread it directly over your favorite cooked beef burgers, turkey burgers, or veggie burgers.
Have any questions? Drop me a message in the comment section below! I’m happy to help. And, if you enjoy this homemade Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce Recipe, please rate it with some STAR LOVIN’ so other readers know to try it too! Tag me at #theforkedspoon. I’ll be sure to share! Thank you!
RECIPE CARD
Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce Recipe (No Ketchup Needed)
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.
Jessica’s Notes
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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