This peach barbecue sauce is sweet, tangy, and spicy. It has it all! You can brush it over BBQ chicken in the last few minutes of grilling for a perfect summer meal!

maple syrup barbecue sauce in a jar beside fresh peaches

I originally shared this recipe on August 4th, 2015. I have updated the text and photos to share it with you again today.

Table of contents

Why We Love This Recipe for Maple Peach Barbecue Sauce

I have two summer loves! One is fresh peaches: I love snacking on them straight out of hand, and cooking with them too, like when I add them to Peach Cobb Salads or make a juicy Peach Blueberry Crisp. I have even been known to make fruit salsa with them! Seriously, who doesn’t have a summer love for a juicy ripe peach!?

My second summer love is cooking on the barbecue grill! From Grilled Chicken Thighs to figuring out ways to grill carrots, you will find me grill side most evenings!

When you add those two summer loves together you get this super simple Peach Barbecue sauce.

It is arguably the perfect way to use up any extra peaches you have and preserve them!

After reading this recipe, you’re going to want to go out and snatch up all the fresh peaches you can find and make some of this barbecue sauce to freeze for the rest of the year – and I don’t blame you! There’s nothing like biting into a fresh in-season peach and meeting a refreshingly juicy flavor explosion!

I’m looking forward to hearing how you like this bbq sauce and what you choose to cook with it! Let us know!

Key Ingredients for This Recipe

Ingredients for chipotle peach barbecue sauce including peaches, onions, maple syrup, and chipotle seasoning

Peaches

I highly recommend making this barbecue sauce when peaches are in season and then freezing it for use throughout the year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there’s nothing like an in-season peach.

To determine which peaches are ready for use, give them a squeeze. If there’s a little give when squeezed gently – you’re good to go! If you can’t find good peaches you can go with nectarines instead, or even a blend of the two!

Remove the skin with a peeler and dice them into chunks so they will cook quickly.

Maple Syrup

You’re going to want pure dark maple syrup for this recipe becuase the flavor has a subtly rich caramel undertone that will balance gorgeously with the chipotle seasoning. If you’re looking for a good maple syrup, my husband and I make our own small batch maple syrup by hand at our home in Vermont.

Chipotle

Chipotle is really just dried smoked red jalapenos that have been ground into a fine powder! Look for dried chipotle chili powder in the dried spice section of large supermarkets. Feel free to use a range to make this sauce less spicy.

Onions

Use a sweet onion for this recipe. The onions will provide a rich savory flavor but since they will carmelize a tiny bit in the pan they’ll express more sugars to make sure the savory doesn’t overpower the sweet.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar will give this bbq sauce a tangy taste that can’t be missed! You can sub in another vinegar such as white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar.

Additional Ingredients

Additionally, you’ll include a mild oil (I recommend avocado), salt, cumin, and allspice.

Step By Step Instructions to Make This Recipe

heating onions and mixing in chipotle seasonings for the tomatoless bbq sauce

Step 1: Heat Oil and Add Onion

Swirl your avocado oil in the bottom of a large suacepan. Add onion, cover, and place over medium heat. Remove the lid to stir occassionally until the onion is softened and starting to brown, which should be about 12 to 15 minutes.

Step 2: Add Spice

Sprinkle salt, chipotle, cumin, and allspice, and cook – stirring occassionally – until the spices are fragrant. It should take about 30 seconds.

adding liquid and then blending maple peach barbecue sauce

Step 3: Add Peaches, Maple, and Vinegar

Add peaches, maple syrup, and vinegar, and stir to coat. Cover the pan and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and then reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Continue to cook until the peaches are completely soft and breaking down, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 4: Blend

Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Cool before using and storing.

peach barbecue sauce in a jar beside fresh peaches

FAQs and Expert Tips

Can I freeze this sauce?

Absolutely! This sauce is a great way to preserve peaches when you’re overflowing with the fruit and don’t know how to use it all up. You can freeze it in batches and pull it out to defrost in the refrigerator when you’re ready to use it.

How do I use this sauce for bbq chicken?

You’re going to want to brush the peach barbecue on at the very end so that it doesn’t burn. If you put it on in the last minute or two, the grill will only sear it briefly to caramelize it.

Is it cheaper to make your own bbq sauce?

It depends on what’s in season and what you already have, but in general, it’s safe to say homemade is cheaper (and better-tasting) than storebought! Plus, you get the opportunity to create variations of your favorite bbq sauce by using fresh, seasonal ingredients (like peaches!).

More Peach Recipes and Barbecue Recipes To Check Out

Additional Sauce, Condiment, and Pickling Recipes To Make The Most Of Summer Produce

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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peach barbecue sauce beside slices of peaches and baked goods

Peach Barbecue Sauce

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 1 3/4 cups 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This maple peach barbecue sauce is sweet, tangy, and spicy. It is paleo-friendly, vegan, gluten-free, and super simple to make! You can brush it over chicken in the last few minutes of grilling for a delicious weeknight meal!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 teaspoons avocado oil or organic canola oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • Generous pinch allspice
  • 1 1/2 cup peeled and diced peaches (2 large freestone, or 3 medium cling stone)
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup, dark or amber
  • 4 teaspoons cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Swirl oil in the bottom of a large saucepan. Add onion, cover and place over medium heat. Cook, removing lid and stirring occasionally until the onion is softened and starting to brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
  2. Sprinkle salt, chipotle, cumin, and allspice and cook stirring until the spices are fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  3. Add peaches, maple syrup and vinegar, and stir to coat. Cover and increase heat to medium-high. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low or to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the peaches are completely soft and breaking down, 4 to 5 minutes.
  4. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids.) Cool before using.

Notes

Freezing Instructions

Freeze 1 cup portions of this sauce up to 6 months. Thaw before using.

To Use For BBQ

Brush over the grilled meat or vegetable in the last four minutes of cooking. Turn over to sear the sauce with the heat of the grill, but do not let it burn. It should darken and caramelize in spots.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Condiment
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3 tablespoons
  • Calories: 47
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Sodium: 254 mg
  • Fat: 1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 0 g

Keywords: Peach Barbecue Sauce, Maple Barbecue Sauce, tomatoless bbq sauce, chipotle peach barbecue sauce

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