Published September 27, 2024. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This succulent BBQ sauce recipe with three essential ingredients perfectly complements any smoked or pulled pork recipe. When people taste this sauce for the first time, they immediately ask for more to add to their BBQ and often end up dunking their pork sandwich. Yes, it is that good.
One of my favorite aspects of visiting any BBQ restaurant is tasting all the different sauces. If you’re like me and love them as well, then try my South Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce, Alabama White BBQ Sauce, or Vinegar Based BBQ Sauce.
BBQ Sauce for Pulled Pork
BBQ sauce for pulled pork should be a balanced sauce that complements and enhances the overall flavor of what it is being added to. I believe my approach to taking a tomato-based BBQ sauce and adding 3 crucial ingredients brings out incredible flavors that perfectly marry with any smoked pulled pork to make it so much better.
The addition of butter, apple cider, and vinegar will dilute the sauce’s viscosity. However, I believe a sauce that is not too thick and not too thin is perfect when applied to pulled pork, as it will be able to trickle down between the cracks. This allows each bite to be flavored with the sauce. It’s also absolutely delicious in my 321 Ribs Recipe.
When Do You Put the Sauce on Pulled Pork?
This is a bit subjective and genuinely lies in the one who is making and eating it. The sauce can be added to the pork when it’s resting, while you’re pulling it, or on top just before serving it. My opinion is that when you finish it by adding some at the end, you get to taste both the sauce and the pork instead of one or the other overpowering the other.
In addition, I prefer to serve this sauce warm, as there is nothing worse than adding cool sauce to a hot BBQ. The butter will also solidify and break away from the sauce, missing a massive emulsification opportunity to help balance the flavors.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- BBQ Sauce — Any tomato-based BBQ sauce will work for this recipe. It can be sweet, spicy, smoky, tangy, or a combination of all four. My personal favorite is to use my Homemade BBQ sauce or a sweeter KC-style sauce. I think sweeter sauces do a great job when paired with pork.
- Apple Juice – I always prefer to buy organic apple juice. Apple cider could be an option, but it will alter the flavors.
- Vinegar — Apple cider vinegar is best to use so that it can complement the other apple flavors in the sauce. Substitute with white distilled vinegar if that’s all that is available. In addition, this will help tenderize the pork even more and give that much-needed acid to help break down the protein.
- Butter – I always use unsalted butter so that I can control the sodium content. This will add an incredible balance of flavor and some much-needed fat. Yes, you can use salted butter, just be sure to taste it so that it is not over salted.
- Alcohol – This is completely optional and not added to my recipe. However, you can add a small amount of bourbon, whisk, or beer to the sauce.
How to Make BBQ Sauce for Smoked Pulled Pork
Whether you are making a homemade BBQ sauce from scratch or using a pre-made store-bought sauce, prepare it and add it to a medium sized pot.
Next, pour in the apple juice, apple cider, water, and butter.
Heat the sauce over low to medium heat to mount the butter and emulsify into the sauce while stirring occasionally. Do not heat it too quickly or the butter will separate, and you’ll see a thin layer of fat at the top. Usually when I do this I’m slowly stirring it with a rubber spatula or a whisk.
Once it’s melted you are free to use it on your favorite pulled pork or smoked pork shoulder recipe.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: For freshness, make this up to 2 weeks ahead. The sauce will get better with time as it allows the flavors to marry together.
How to Store: Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. Freeze it covered for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge for 1 day before reheating.
How to Reheat: Add the desired amount to a small saucepot and heat over low heat until warm.
Chef Notes + Tips
- While I love the complementary flavors of this on any BBQ pork cut, like ribs, it would also work well on BBQ chicken or smoked brisket.
- If you are making smoked pork, try adding some of this sauce to it during the wrapping process so that it will be incorporated into it.
More Sauce Recipes
BBQ Sauce Recipe (for Smoked Pulled Pork)
Ingredients
- 2 cups BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup apple juice
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 stick unsalted butter
Instructions
- Whether you are making a homemade BBQ sauce from scratch or using a pre-made store-bought sauce, prepare it and add it to a medium sized pot.
- Next, pour in the apple juice, apple cider, water, and butter.
- Heat the sauce over low to medium heat to mount the butter and emulsify into the sauce while stirring occasionally. Do not heat it too quickly or the butter will separate, and you’ll see a thin layer of fat at the top. Usually when I do this I’m slowly stirring it with a rubber spatula or a whisk.
- Once it’s melted you are free to use it on your favorite pulled pork or smoked pork shoulder recipe.
BBQ Sauce Recipe (for Smoked Pulled Pork)