• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kitchen Laughter logo

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Kitchen Laughter Recipes Blog » Condiment, Marinade, Sauce

    Smoked Pumpkin Bourbon BBQ Sauce {25 Minutes}

    Published: Feb 25, 2021 · Modified: Apr 18, 2021 by Jason C · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Share
    Pin46
    46 Shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Smoked Pumpkin Bourbon BBQ Sauce will quickly become your new fall favorite to slather on ribs, grilled chicken or simple wings. This homemade sauce is upgraded with smoked pumpkin purée and bourbon to make a sauce that is out of this world. 

    decorative jar filled with a rich bourbon and smoked pumpkin BBQ sauce
    This is an Amazing Smoked Pumpkin BBQ Sauce! So Easy to Make!
    Contents hide
    1 Why You Will Love This Recipe
    2 🍽️ Ingredients
    3 🔥 Instructions
    4 Smoked Pumpkin Bourbon BBQ Sauce

    After we made the Smoked Pumpkin, Whipped Smoked Pumpkin Butter and the Cajun Smoked Pumpkin Seeds, we decided to create other recipes to use for the grill. The more options to continue grilling through the fall and winter, the better. We ended up with quite a bit of purée and this BBQ Sauce was first on our list. For us, there will never be enough BBQ sauce options. Variety is the spice of life, right? 

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    Simple – This is a really quick and easy bbq sauce that you can make right after you smoked your pumpkin.

    Different – When you get tired of the ol’ normal bbq sauces, this is the one to pull out every fall and make. Slather this on a big rack of ribs, pulled pork sandwiches or double dip the sauce on a platter of wings.

    Fast – This one is super fast, just about 20 minutes to make and you are able to make this ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.

    🍽️ Ingredients 

    The two main ingredients for this recipe are Smoked Pumpkin Purée and Bourbon. 

    Smoked Pumpkin Purée – This is simply the inside of a pumpkin blended smooth with no other ingredients added. Use a smoked pumpkin and it will bring a fantastic flavor to all of your dishes. Learn how we smoked a pumpkin. 

    Bourbon – This is used to add depth, complexity and a bit of sweetness to the sauce. Bourbon often has hints of vanilla and caramel which blend nicely with the other ingredients. It is also popular for savory recipes like sauces, glazes and baking. We tend to use Bare Knuckle’s bourbon for a smooth and rich taste that isn’t quite as bitter as some other brands. 

    all of the ingredients for the Smoked Pumpkin BBQ sauce on a sheet pan
    Simple Ingredients for an Amazing Barbecue Sauce
    The alcohol burns off to about 40% given we cooked it for 20 minutes if you follow the guidelines given by Iowa State University. The old myth that alcohol completely burns off has been busted by Universities and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Iowa lists a great example of how much alcohol is actually burned off given the time it cooks. 

    🔥 Instructions 

    Step One: Combine the olive oil and chopped onions over a medium high heat and sauté for 7-9 minutes or until golden brown. Add in minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes. 

    Step Two: Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. 

    Step Three: After it cools, run the sauce through a high speed blender, like a Vitamix, for a few minutes. This will create an extremely smooth consistency which is perfect for brushing on your favorite grilled dish!

    Step Four: Let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours to give the flavors a chance to meld together. 

    The sauce keeps for 7-10 days. 

    Serve this sauce over grilled ribs, chicken, chicken wings, pork chops or simply as a dipping sauce. 

    three steps to make the BBQ sauce, including sautéing, mixing all the ingredients and then blending
    Three Simple Steps for an Amazing Sauce!

    👨‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    What can I use in place of bourbon?

    If you don’t have bourbon or just don’t like it, you can swap it out. Just keep in mind when you make a switch it’s going to greatly alter the way it tastes. Any of your favorite alcohols will work. You could also use jam or pureed fruit.

    What can I use in place of brown sugar?

    Out of brown sugar, no problem! You can still make this sauce. You could use regular white sugar and add 1/2 teaspoon of molasses to it. Doing this shouldn’t really change the way the sauce tastes too much. Another option would be to use maple syrup, but this will change the way it tastes a fair amount.

    Related Recipes 

    • Bourbon Barrel Smoked Cranberry Sauce {60 Minutes}
    • Smoked Chicken Thighs
    • Easy Homemade Cherry Bourbon BBQ Sauce Recipe {35 Minutes}
    • Asian BBQ Sauce Covered Chicken Wings

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

    jar of smoked pumpkin BBQ sauce with bourbon

    Smoked Pumpkin Bourbon BBQ Sauce

    This Smoked Pumpkin Bourbon BBQ Sauce combines the smoky pumpkin with a deep bourbon to create a dark, thick and delicious BBQ sauce that can be used on pulled pork, chops, chicken or wings.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 100kcal
    Author: Jason

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup Smoked Pumpkin Purée
    • 1 ½ cups Ketchup
    • ⅓ cup Cider Vinegar
    • ¼ cup Worchestershire Sauce
    • ¾ cup Bourbon
    • 1 ½ tbsp Olive Oil
    • ½ Onion chopped
    • 2 cloves Garlic minced
    • ½ cup Brown Sugar
    • ½ tsp Salt
    • ½ tsp Pepper

    Instructions

    • Sauté onions in olive oil over medium high heat until golden brown. This should take about 7-9 minutes. Add in the minced garlic and continue stirring for 1-2 minutes.
      onions and garlic with olive oil in the pan
    • Add in the remaining ingredients, turn the heat on high, stir and bring it to a boil.
      inside the sauce pan with the sautéed onions and garlic and the sauce
    • Reduce heat down to low and allow it to simmer for about 20 minutes.
      top down of pan with all ingredients simmering for 20 minutes
    • Allow the sauce to cool and then blend it to incorporate the onions and garlic and smooth out the sauce.
      closeup of the Vitamix high speed blender with the sauce in it
    • Place in refrigerator for 24 hours before using to allow the flavors to come together.
      jar of smoked pumpkin BBQ sauce with bourbon

    Notes

    Pumpkin Puree: You can use canned but we decided to use our Smoked Pumpkin recipe. 
    Bourbon Substitute: If you want to leave out the bourbon, replace with water or even a beer or root beer. 
    Refrigeration: Make sure to allow to refrigerate for 24 hours to get the flavors to blend fully. The sauce is thicker and has a much more complex taste after 24-48 hours. It’s worth the wait! 
    Blending: Blending the sauce is only a recommendation. You can allow the onions to stay chunky in the sauce and it works great as well.
    Brown Sugar Substitute: Out of brown sugar, no problem! You can still make this sauce. You could use regular white sugar and add 1/2 teaspoon of molasses to it. Doing this shouldn’t really change the way the sauce tastes too much. Another option would be to use maple syrup, but this will change the way it tastes a fair amount.
    Inspired by Allrecipes Bourbon Whiskey BBQ Sauce here. 
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8servings | Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1906IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenlaughter or tag #kitchenlaughter!
    Smoked Pumpkin Bourbon BBQ Sauce {25 Minutes}Smoked Pumpkin Bourbon BBQ Sauce {25 Minutes}
    Share
    Pin46
    46 Shares
    « Grilled Mussels in a Foil Pack {15 Minutes}
    Smoked Turkey Thighs {75 Minutes Smoke Time} »

    Primary Sidebar

    family photo
    Welcome!  We love to grill and have a blast trying new recipes!  Join us and explore our favorite grilling recipes.

    Join the Kitchen Laughter Crew!

    Subscribe to get exclusive deals, tips, and the lastest info you need to step up your grilling game!

      We won't send you spam, but you can unsubscribe at any time. :-)

      Powered By ConvertKit
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest

      Most Popular Posts

      How to Home Cure and Smoke Bacon

      Smoking Bacon on the Big Green Egg

      Grilled Pork Shoulder

      Grilled Pork Shoulder is Almost Ready after more than 11 hours

      Delicious Grilled Beer Can Chicken

      Beer Can Chicken Fresh off the Grill
      graphic showing publications that kitchen laughter was featured in.
      • Home
      • About Us
      • Recipe Index
      • Resources

      Footer

      About

      • Privacy Policy
      • Disclaimer
      • Accessibility Policy

      Contact

      • Contact

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.