Flavorful Bourbon Peach BBQ Sauce Recipe for Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
A sweet, tangy, and smoky bourbon peach BBQ sauce perfect for slow cooker pulled pork. This sauce balances warmth from bourbon with the natural sweetness of peaches for an unforgettable flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours (slow cooker low) or 4-5 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes to 10 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker low) or 4 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large ripe peaches, peeled and diced (or about 1 ½ cups frozen peaches, thawed)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) good-quality bourbon
- 1 cup (240 ml) ketchup
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) onion powder
- ½ teaspoon (1 g) ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced peaches and sauté for about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften and caramelize.
- Carefully pour in ¼ cup (60 ml) bourbon. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly and mellow out the alcohol.
- Stir in ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened and fragrant.
- Trim excess fat from a 3-4 pound (1.4-1.8 kg) pork shoulder or butt. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Place the pork in a slow cooker. Pour about half of the bourbon peach BBQ sauce over the pork, turning to coat. Reserve the rest for serving.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until pork is fall-apart tender.
- Remove pork from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Toss shredded pork with additional sauce as desired or serve sauce on the side.
Notes
Caramelizing the peaches unlocks natural sweetness and adds depth. Simmer bourbon to mellow alcohol bite. Season pork well with salt and pepper. Save some sauce for topping after shredding to avoid soggy pork. Adjust brown sugar based on peach sweetness. Sauce keeps refrigerated up to one week and freezes well for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About ¼ cup sauce wi
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Fat: 2
- Protein: 3
Keywords: bourbon peach BBQ sauce, slow cooker pulled pork, barbecue sauce, easy BBQ sauce, peach BBQ sauce, bourbon sauce, pulled pork recipe