Spicy Hawaiian BBQ Sauce

This spicy Hawaiian BBQ sauce hits the right notes to make a lot of people happy. That delicious tropical tangy sweetness of pineapple meets the earthy sweetness of dark brown sugar. And then there’s the hint of fire. Ground ginger and cayenne pepper combine for a certain kick, without being overly spicy. It’s just enough to wake up those tastebuds – a level most everyone can enjoy.

Use this barbecue sauce with ribs, pork, chicken, and even steaks. It’s robust enough to handle the boldest meats. This recipe makes about two cups of sauce, which is plenty for party-level marinating. Plus, there’ll often be a little extra for use on the side as a dipper for fried appetizers. It’s great with chicken tenders.

Like this recipe? You’ll love these too:

• Smoky Espresso BBQ Sauce: There’s rich earthy flavor here.
• Cherry Habanero BBQ Sauce: Another fruity option – cherries and habaneros are an underrated pairing.
• Homemade Hoisin: A must for duck, but don’t overlook it as an alternative marinade for your summer grilling.

Spicy Hawaiian BBQ Sauce

Tropical tang, earthy sweet

4.80 from 10 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 10 servings

Calories 45 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 2/3 cup pineapple juice unsweetened
• 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
• 4 dashes liquid smoke optional (if you want a smokier sauce)

Instructions

 

• In a saucepan, combine the pineapple juice, ketchup, teriyaki sauce, and garlic. Stir well.
• Bring the sauce to a quick boil, then lower the heat to low and add in the dark brown sugar, ground ginger, and cayenne pepper powder. Stir well.
• Allow the sauce to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Taste the sauce and add liquid smoke (optional) and/or additional cayenne pepper, brown sugar, and/or ground ginger to taste.

Notes

You can opt for fresh ginger in this recipe (use two tablespoons) instead of ground ginger. We use ground ginger, though, because it tends to have more of a spicy kick to it compared to fresh.

Nutrition

Calories: 45kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 662mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 104IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 0.4mg

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