Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce

Name: Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup ketchup; 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed); 1/2 cup cider vinegar; 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce; 6 ounce can tomato paste; 2 tablespoons liquid smoke; 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 12 ounce can Dr Pepper

Total Time 30

Updated on May 21, 2025 | By Kate Dean | 2 Comments

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Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce is a sweet and tangy homemade barbecue sauce that’s made with Dr Pepper.

Dr Pepper barbecue sauce in a glass jar.

Some things, like barbecue sauce, are so easy to come by and so inexpensive that making your own sauce may seem like more trouble than it’s worth. Let me assure you that making this Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce is completely worth the little bit of time that it takes to make it.

It’s rich and sweet and a little spicy. And since you’re making it, you can adjust the seasonings to your liking.

Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make. Just stir it up, let it simmer, and you have sauce!

Once you take the time to make this Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce, you may never go back to bottled sauce again!

Ingredients for Dr Pepper barbecue sauce in dishes.

Ingredients and substitutions

Ketchup: Regular tomato ketchup works well.
Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar will work.
Liquid smoke: You can use any variety of liquid smoke.
Ancho chile powder: I like the mild, smoky flavor of ancho chile powder. Feel free to use chili powder if you prefer.
Garlic powder: Not garlic salt.
Kosher salt: Or 1/4 teaspoon table salt.
Dr Pepper: I use regular Dr Pepper.

How to make Dr Pepper barbecue sauce

Dr Pepper barbecue sauce ingredients in a skillet.

Add all the ingredients to a saucepan, and stir until combined.

Let the sauce simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until it begins to thicken, stirring occasionally.

Taste and adjust the seasonings with additional salt and pepper, if desired.

Jar of Dr Pepper barbecue sauce next to a pan and a dish cloth.

Let sauce cool until room temperature.

Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce in a glass jar next to a white spoon.

Storage

Store the barbecue sauce covered in the fridge. The sauce will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Dr Pepper barbecue sauce pouring off a spoon into a jar.

Recipes that go well with this sauce

This sauce goes well with pork (pulled pork), beef, or chicken. It’s also delicious on brisket, and ribs.

More sauce and marinade recipes!

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Created by Kate Dean

Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

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5 from 1 vote

Ingredients and substitutions

How to make Dr Pepper barbecue sauce

Storage

Recipes that go well with this sauce

More sauce and marinade recipes!