Crafting The Ultimate Bacon Bbq Sauce At Home

Bacon BBQ sauce is a thick, rich, and sweet-and-salty sauce with a full-bodied bacon flavour. It is easy to make and can be used as a condiment or as a baste for barbecue chicken or pork tenderloin. The process is simple: cook the bacon, add the remaining ingredients, and simmer until thickened. The sauce will last for about a week in the fridge or a month in the freezer.

Choosing your bacon

When it comes to choosing your bacon, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you want to make sure you are using a good quality bacon that has a nice balance of fat and meat. This will ensure that your sauce has a good flavour and texture.

You can use any type of bacon you like for this recipe, from thick-cut to thin-cut, smoked or unsmoked, the choice is yours. However, if you want a really smoky flavour, go for a smoked bacon. You could also try using a flavoured bacon, such as applewood smoked or pepper crusted, to add an extra layer of flavour to your sauce.

When cooking the bacon, you want to render the fat without crisping the meat. This means cooking it over medium heat until the fat has melted and the bacon is just shy of crisp. This should take around 8 minutes. You also have the option to leave the bacon in the sauce or remove it and just use the rendered fat. Leaving the bacon in will give a stronger bacon flavour, while removing it will result in a more subtle hint of smokiness.

If you are using a cast-iron skillet, you may want to reserve some of the bacon fat to use later. This can be great for adding extra flavour to your sauce or for cooking other ingredients, like onions.

Preparing your bacon

Preparing the bacon is the first step in making your bacon BBQ sauce. The amount of bacon you will need depends on your desired yield and the type of bacon you are using. For example, one recipe calls for 4 ounces of bacon to make approximately 3 cups of sauce, while another recipe calls for 1/2 lb of bacon to make a similar yield.

Chop your bacon into small pieces. You can use a knife or a food processor to do this. If you are using a food processor, be careful not to overprocess the bacon, as you want it to be in small pieces, not ground into a paste.

Once you have chopped your bacon, place it in a large skillet or heavy-bottomed pan and cook it over medium to medium-high heat. Cook the bacon until it is browned and crispy, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking. This should take around 8 to 10 minutes.

After the bacon is cooked, you have the option to remove it from the pan and set it aside, or leave it in the pan to blend into the sauce later. If you choose to remove the bacon, make sure to reserve the bacon grease in the pan, as this will add flavour to your sauce. If you leave the bacon in the pan, proceed to the next step of adding your vegetables.

If you are removing the bacon, you will need to drain and discard all but a small amount of the bacon grease from the pan, leaving just enough to cook your vegetables. The amount of bacon grease you leave in the pan is up to your preference, but typically, you will want to leave around 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Now it's time to add your aromatics. Finely chop or mince an onion and add it to the pan. Cook the onion over medium heat until it is softened and translucent, stirring occasionally. This should take around 3 to 5 minutes.

Next, add your garlic to the pan. You can mince or chop the garlic, or use pre-minced garlic. Cook the garlic for just a minute or so, until it becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter.

At this point, you can also add other spices and seasonings, such as cumin, smoked paprika, or chili powder. Sauté the spices with the onion and garlic for a minute or so to release their flavours.

Now that your bacon is prepared and your aromatics are cooked, you are ready to move on to the next step of making your bacon BBQ sauce.

Adding vegetables and spices

For the vegetables, you'll need onions and garlic. You can also add some form of tomato product, such as fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, or ketchup. If you're using fresh tomatoes, chop them up, and if you're using canned tomatoes, you can blend them for a smoother sauce.

For spices, you can add some or all of the following: cumin, celery salt, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, black pepper, ancho chile pepper, and mustard powder. You can also add a spice rub, which you can make yourself by combining the following: sea salt, smoked paprika, celery salt, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

To prepare your vegetables, start by cooking your bacon in a large pan over medium heat. Once the bacon is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside. Leave about 1-2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan, and add your onions. Cook the onions until they are soft and golden brown, and then add your garlic. Cook the garlic until it is fragrant, being careful not to burn it.

Once your vegetables are cooked, you can add your spices and continue with the recipe.

Adding liquids

Now it's time to add the liquids to your bacon BBQ sauce. The first liquid you'll need to add is apple cider vinegar. This type of vinegar is commonly used in BBQ sauces, as it adds the right amount of tart and sour flavours to the sauce. You can also use white wine vinegar or regular distilled white vinegar as a substitute.

Next, add some whiskey or bourbon. If you're using whiskey, Jack Daniels is a good option. If you're using bourbon, go for a mid-range option that you like the taste of. Don't feel like you need to splurge on an expensive bottle, as it won't make a significant difference to your sauce.

Now, add some Worcestershire sauce. This will give your sauce a lovely salty and earthy flavour. You can also add some liquid smoke at this stage for an extra smoky flavour.

Finally, add some water if you need to thin out your sauce. Alternatively, you can use lemon juice for a bit of citrus and tart flavour.

Simmering and blending

Now that you've added all your ingredients to the pan, it's time to simmer the sauce. This is a crucial step in developing the flavour and texture of your bacon BBQ sauce.

Turn the heat down to low and let the sauce gently bubble away for around 20-30 minutes. Keep an eye on it and give it a stir every now and then to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. You'll know it's ready when it has thickened and can hold a line on the back of a spoon when you drag your finger through it.

At this point, you have a choice to make. Do you want a smooth or chunky sauce? If you prefer a smooth sauce, it's time to get out your blender. Let the sauce cool down a little, then carefully transfer it to a blender and blend until smooth. Be careful when blending hot liquids, as the steam can build up and cause a mess (or even a safety hazard). It's a good idea to remove the centre insert of the lid and cover it with a kitchen towel to let the steam escape.

If you prefer a chunkier sauce with bits of bacon in it, you can skip the blending step and simply let the sauce cool to room temperature. However, if you want to keep the bacon flavour without the chunks, you can strain the sauce through a mesh sieve before serving, discarding the solids.

Your bacon BBQ sauce is now ready to serve! It will keep in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for up to a month.

Frequently asked questions