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Root Beer BBQ Sauce

5 from 4 votes
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By: the Evinks12 Comments
Posted: 06/05/18 Updated: 06/20/19

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Root beer bbq sauce collage. Top image of bbq sauce on a wood spoon, bottom image of bbq sauce in a glass jar.
Root Beer Barbecue Sauce being spooned out of a glass jar
Root Beer Barbecue Sauce being spooned out of a glass jar

Easy homemade BBQ sauce perfect for dipping, slathering on sandwiches or dousing on burgers! Root Beer BBQ Sauce gets a rich flavor from the root beer added to the sauce! What will you pile this barbecue sauce on first?

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Root Beer Barbecue Sauce on SpoonRoot Beer BBQ Sauce

This easy root beer bbq sauce recipe is delicious and the perfect recipe for slathering on your pork chops, sandwiches, burgers and for dipping your chicken strips in! I love that rich flavor you get from the root beer instead of using a cola for the sauce. I bet you have all the ingredients in your pantry to make this root beer barbecue sauce too!

Personally, I’m picturing it slathering on this hamburger with cheese, onion rings and bacon! Who’s with me?

#drooling

Of course it would be great on chicken drumsticks and pork chops too!

Really, the possibilities are endless.

I have a confession.

This is the FIRST homemade BBQ sauce that I’ve ever made. Usually I just grab my favorite store bought BBQ sauce and use that, but I was feeling like an overachiever and decided to make a homemade root beer BBQ sauce this time.

Whhhhhy did I wait this long?

Instead of it being long, complicated and hard to make. It was easy, delicious and the only thing I had to go buy was the root beer! Plus, I knew what was in the barbecue sauce 😉

The deep flavor from adding that root beer into this sauce took it over the top!

Root Beer BBQ Sauce in JarRoot Beer Barbecue Sauce

Now, I’m picturing all the different flavors of BBQ Sauce I can whip up!

If you have a favorite you want me to make comment on this post and let me know. I’ll do my best to make that one next!

Personally, I want a Texas Style, Hawaiian, Dr. Pepper, and I even saw a Balsamic BBQ Sauce.

Balsamic is my love language. I love that stuff!

Although, it’s kind of one of those love or hate things isn’t it? There’s really no in between on like balsamic or hating it. It’s either or!

Apparently there’s white BBQ sauces? Never had one, should I?

Root Beer BBQ Sauce in jar emptyI grilled chicken thighs and shredded them to make Pulled Chicken Sliders and then bathed them in this root beer BBQ sauce.

They were so delicious! Perfect for when you don’t want to heat the house up.

Plus, they would be perfect for making for guests. Think backyard party this summer. Who doesn’t love one of those?

Ingredients to Make Root Beer BBQ Sauce

  • Olive oil
  • Yellow onion
  • Ketchup
  • Root beer
  • Unsulfured molasses
  • Lemon juice fresh
  • Chili powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt
  • Pepper

How to Make Root Beer BBQ Sauce

This root beer barbecue sauce is so simple to make and I bet you might even have all the ingredients in your pantry!

First, grab a sauce plan and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in your finely diced yellow onion and cook until translucent, about 3-5 minutes.

Then dump in the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

That’s it!

See I told you this Root Beer BBQ Sauce was so easy and packs a punch of flavor!

You can easily make this ahead of time and store in airtight container in fridge for 3-5 days.

More BBQ Recipes

  • 30 Minute Homemade BBQ Sauce
  • Easy Homemade Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce
  • Carolina Mustard Barbecue Sauce
  • Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce

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Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @gimmesomegrilling or #gimmesomegrilling so I can see your grilling masterpieces!

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Root Beer Barbecue Sauce on Spoon
5 from 4 votes

Root Beer BBQ Sauce

Easy homemade BBQ sauce perfect for dipping, slathering on sandwiches or dousing on burgers! Root Beer BBQ Sauce gets a rich flavor from the root beer added to the sauce! What will you pile this barbecue sauce on first?
Prep:10 mins
Cook:25 mins
Total:35 mins
Print Recipe Rate Recipe
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8

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 c. yellow onion finely diced
  • 2/3 c. ketchup
  • 1/2 c. root beer
  • 2 Tbp unsulfured molasses
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice fresh
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
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Instructions

  • Warm the olive oil over medium heat in saucepan. Add the onion and cook until softened and transclucent, about 3-5 minutes; stirring occasionally. 
  • Stir in remaining sauce ingredients. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Simmer until slightly thickened about 10-15 minutes.
  • Serve over your favorite sandwiches, dunk chicken strips in or enjoy any way you can!
  • Store in airtight container in fridge for 3-5 days.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 62kcal (3%), Carbohydrates: 11g (4%), Fat: 1g (2%), Sodium: 333mg (14%), Potassium: 144mg (4%), Sugar: 9g (10%), Vitamin A: 200IU (4%), Vitamin C: 3.4mg (4%), Calcium: 14mg (1%), Iron: 0.3mg (2%)
© Gimme Some Grilling ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

Did you make this?

Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @gimmesomegrilling. I love seeing what you made!

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Meet the Evinks

Hi! We are Jason & Julie! We focus on easy, simple recipes that everyone can tackle on their smoker and grills that the entire family will enjoy!

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Reader Interactions

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Recipe Rating




  1. Terry B says

    Posted on 4/30/22 at 12:01 pm

    After making and refrigerated after cooling , what do you think the shelf life would be for this sauce ?

    Reply
    • the Evinks says

      Posted on 5/16/22 at 8:40 am

      It should last 1-2 weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

      Reply
  2. Alison LaFortune says

    Posted on 5/12/21 at 10:18 am

    5 stars
    We loved the root beer in this sauce! Tangy and delicious.

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 5/13/21 at 9:54 am

      So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Malinda says

    Posted on 4/23/21 at 10:07 am

    5 stars
    I love root beer so I knew I wanted to try this and it didn’t dissapoint!! I will be using this all summer long!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      Posted on 4/26/21 at 8:24 am

      Awesome to hear Malinda! Thanks for trying the recipe!

      Reply
  4. Danielle says

    Posted on 4/19/21 at 9:20 pm

    5 stars
    This was so good! Will be making this again for sure!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      Posted on 4/22/21 at 1:09 pm

      Hi Danielle! Glad to hear you loved this recipe!

      Reply
  5. Alison LaFortune says

    Posted on 4/12/21 at 4:36 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious on grilled chicken! And easy to whip up. Keeping a jar around for next time.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      Posted on 4/15/21 at 1:45 pm

      Thank you for trying the recipe Alison!

      Reply
  6. Becky Palfreyman says

    Posted on 7/14/19 at 2:24 pm

    Can onion powder be used in place of the yellow onion? And if so, how much do you think I would use?

    Reply
    • Julie Evink says

      Posted on 7/15/19 at 4:30 pm

      Yes I think that would work. I’d use 1 – 1 1/2 tsp of onion powder!

      Reply

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