Name: Easy Bourbon Barbecue Sauce
Total time: 1 h
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1/2 cup grated onion; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/4 cup bourbon; 1 1/2 cups ketchup; 1/4 cup molasses; 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 3 tablespoons cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1 teaspoon hot sauce

Why This Recipe Works

Every barbecue needs some tasty barbecue sauce. We started by sautéing grated onion so it would easily incorporate into the sauce. We then added some fragrant spices and briefly cooked them to bring out their flavors. Next we added some bourbon and cooked it down just enough to tame its harsh bite but still infuse the sauce with its signature vanilla, peaty notes. Worcestershire sauce and ketchup added rich, savory flavor, and a combination of chili powder, cayenne pepper, and hot sauce provided just enough heat.

Before You Begin

This recipe was developed using Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce. Grate the onion on the large holes of a box grater.

Instructions

Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic powder, chili powder, and cayenne and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Off heat, carefully add bourbon; return saucepan to heat and cook until bourbon is nearly evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes.

Stir in ketchup, molasses, Worcestershire, vinegar, mustard, and hot sauce and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook until flavors meld, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely before serving. (Cooled sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.)