Chef Erin Finegan's Cherry Cola Barbecue Sauce

Elevate your backyard barbecue game with Chef Erin Finegan's Cherry Cola Barbecue Sauce—a sweet, tangy, and smoky condiment that’s sure to become your new favorite grilling companion. This irresistible homemade sauce combines the zing of ketchup, the bold flavor of cherry cola, and the depth of brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika for a perfectly balanced glaze or dip. Easy to make in just 35 minutes, it features sautéed onions and garlic for a savory base and gets a flavorful kick from hints of apple cider vinegar and optional red pepper flakes. Whether slathered on ribs, brushed over chicken, or served as a dipping sauce, this cherry cola barbecue sauce is a surefire crowd-pleaser that brings unique, bold flavors to your table.

Nutriscore Rating: 61/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1.5 cups cherry cola
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1.5 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Melt the unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the finely chopped onion to the pan and sauté for 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.

Step 4

Add the ketchup, cherry cola, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce to the saucepan. Stir to combine.

Step 5

Season the mixture with smoked paprika, ground mustard, black pepper, kosher salt, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Mix well.

Step 6

Bring the sauce to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and develops a deeper flavor.

Step 7

Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the barbecue sauce to cool slightly.

Step 8

For a smoother consistency, blend the sauce using an immersion blender or a countertop blender until desired texture is reached. This step is optional.

Step 9

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Add a pinch of salt or a splash of vinegar for balance if necessary.

Step 10

Transfer the sauce to a clean, airtight container. Let it cool completely before refrigerating.

Step 11

Serve as a glaze, marinade, or dipping sauce for your favorite grilled or smoked meats. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(827.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	756.2

Total Fat 24.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 14.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 62mg	0%
Sodium 1661.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 140.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 3.7g	0%
Total Sugars 113.0g
Protein 2.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 117.0mg	0%
Iron 2.9mg	0%
Potassium 542.1mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 27.9%

Protein: 1.3%

Carbs: 70.8%