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    Home » Recipes » Southern Recipes

    How to Make Wild Blackberry Homemade BBQ Sauce

    Updated Mar 13, 2022

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    Wild Blackberry BBQ Sauce

    If you have ever spent a hot and humid afternoon picking through briars and brambles to get your hands on sweet-tart and juicy wild blackberries, then you know how precious this Wild Blackberry Homemade BBQ Sauce is. Mixed with a little blood, sweat and tears (optional), we are sharing this amazing BBQ sauce recipe with you.

    You can thank my husband for the idea. If it were up to me, these little beauties would have been in a blackberry cobbler. This is definitely one of those times when I am glad I listened to him. (Yeah, yeah, this is my way of saying he was right.)

    A jar of blackberry BBQ sauce.

    Wild Blackberry Homemade BBQ Sauce. The second best idea my husband has ever had.

    If you have any romantic notions about picking wild blackberries, forget them. They are a quite tricky fruit to pick, but well worth the pain and suffering.

    Wild blackberries are an excellent fruit for the perfect tangy-sweet taste in this homemade BBQ Sauce.

    Wild blackberry bushes

    These were the first batch of blackberries picked from my mom and step-dad's this year. So. good.

    Tips on picking wild blackberries:

    • Wear long sleeves and pants and shoes with covered toes. No matter how hot it is outside, you will thank me for this later.
    • Pick the berries in clusters by cupping them in your hand, careful not to grab a briar.
    • Only pick the ripe berries. Once you pick them they do not continue to ripen. Just tug a little and if it comes right off, it is ripe. If not, the berry isn't ready.
    • Place picked berries in shallow containers and don't pack them in. If they are weighed down by other berries they will start to bruise.
    • Squat down and look at the bush from all angles. You will be surprised at how many ripe, juicy blackberries are hiding in there.

    (About to head over there to pick more as soon as I finish this post. That means more blackberry recipes are coming!)

    A colander full of fresh blackberries

    The idea for making these fresh wild blackberries into the BBQ sauce of dreams came from my husband. He heard of someone using a blackberry sauce with pulled pork.

    After giving it just a little thought, I knew we could make an amazing sauce.

    This is a super-easy recipe that anyone can make at home. Get our complete homemade bbq sauce recipe and how-to at the end of this post. This batch will almost fill a quart-sized jar, and can easily be increased if you have a huge blackberry crop.

    Ingredients Needed to Make Blackberry BBQ Sauce:

    • Fresh wild blackberries
    • Water
    • Ketchup
    • Dark brown sugar
    • Honey
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Yellow prepared mustard
    • Sriracha hot sauce
    • Spices - See the recipe at the end of this post for the complete list.
    Sweet, fruity and tangy, our Wild Blackberry BBQ Sauce is lip-smacking good. Try it on ribs, chicken, more. Made with fresh hand-picked wild blackberries.

    One thing I knew for sure...I wanted people to know it was blackberry BBQ sauce when they tasted it. The vibrant color, fruit and seeds are my favorite part of this homemade sauce recipe.

    (If you aren't a fan of seeds, then...not sure you like blackberries anyway. But you can certainly strain the blackberry "mush" through a sieve first if you prefer.)

    Kind of looks like blackberry jam, doesn't it? Trust me...this is definitely a tart and tangy BBQ sauce.

    Sweet, fruity and tangy, our Wild Blackberry Homemade BBQ Sauce is lip-smacking good. Try it on ribs, chicken, more. Made with fresh hand-picked wild blackberries.

    How to Make Blackberry BBQ Sauce:

    1. In a medium sized sauce pan combine 2 ½ cups of the blackberries with all remaining ingredients except the water.
    2. Then, using a hand held blender, blend all ingredients to desired consistency. Heat to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
    3. Next, stir in the water and the remaining whole berries. Increase heat to a low boil, stirring constantly.
    4. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes or to desired thickness. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.
    5. Remove from heat and cool. Pour into a clean quart jar and seal. Refrigerate.

    TIP: If you do not have a hand held blender, place the noted ingredients into a standard blender or food processor before cooking. BBQ Sauce will thicken upon standing and refrigeration.

    More deliciously different Southern recipes:

    Sweet + Smoky Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs

    Tennessee Tomato Gravy

    Bacon Lover's Baked Beans

    Blueberry and Buttermilk Fried Chicken Salad

    Fried Green Tomato BLT's

    Okra Peppers and Vidalia

    We made the recipe thin enough to brush and baste your favorite grilling meats, but thick enough to stick.

    The sauce is sweet, but not so sweet and sugary that it burns easily.

    The first thing we put this sauce on? Ribs. So delicious!!

    Blackberry BBQ sauce being brushed on to smoked grilled ribs

    Look how gorgeous this Homemade BBQ Sauce is. And it tastes even better than it looks.

    The fruity bursting berry flavor combined with brown sugar, honey and spices...my mouth is literally watering thinking about it. You have to try this BBQ sauce recipe and let us know what you think.

    Warning, the next few pictures are graphically delicious.

    So good, I couldn't quit eating these saucy ribs. Not only did we baste the ribs while cooking, but we dipped them into more while eating.

    What can I say, I ♥ the sauce.

    Pork ribs on a tray with wild blackberry barbecue sauce

    P.S. This BBQ sauce is also excellent on chicken. (Yes, we had it again the next night.)

    Ok, this is the last picture of sauce-smothered ribs I will share.

    Sweet, fruity and tangy, our Wild Blackberry BBQ Sauce is lip-smacking good. Try it on ribs, chicken, more. Made with fresh hand-picked wild blackberries.

    Love this post? Sign up for the Buy This Cook That Newsletter for a weekly email of new content. You can also follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram for our latest + greatest ideas!

    Sweet, smoky and with a little spicy kick you are going to love our recipe for homemade blackberry BBQ sauce.

    Wild Blackberry Homemade BBQ Sauce

    Tangy, sweet and tart homemade barbecue sauce made with wild Tennessee blackberries. This sauce is great for grilling, dipping, and basting.
    4.66 from 38 votes
    Print Recipe Email Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 45 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American
    Servings 28
    Calories 40 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 ½ cups fresh wild blackberries rinsed and drained
    • 1 cup water
    • ¾ cup ketchup
    • ½ cup dark brown sugar
    • ¼ cup honey
    • 2 tablespoon cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon yellow prepared mustard
    • 2 teaspoons Sriracha
    • 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium sized sauce pan combine 2 ½ cups of the blackberries with all remaining ingredients except the water.
    • Using a hand held blender, blend all ingredients to desired consistency. Heat to medium heat, stirring occasionally.
    • Stir in the water and the remaining whole berries. Increase heat to a low boil, stirring constantly.
    • Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes or to desired thickness. Stir frequently to prevent sticking.
    • Remove from heat and cool. Pour into a clean quart jar and seal. Refrigerate.

    Notes

    If you do not have a hand held blender, place the noted ingredients into a standard blender or food processor before cooking.
    BBQ Sauce will thicken upon standing and refrigeration.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 40kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 96mgPotassium: 59mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 140IUVitamin C: 4.3mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jagruti

      June 25, 2017 at 1:58 pm

      This wild blackberry BBQ sauce looks incredibly tasty, little tart little sweet..oh my mouth is watering 🙂 just too good.

      Reply
      • Teri

        June 25, 2017 at 7:58 pm

        Thank you so much! It is one of the recipes I am most proud of. Can't wait to make it again, hope you have the chance to try it.

        Reply
        • Tracy Bruno

          July 15, 2017 at 8:25 pm

          Can this recipe be canned?

        • Trinity Parris

          October 29, 2017 at 10:37 am

          Did you try canning it?

    2. Dannii

      June 25, 2017 at 2:30 pm

      I just love fruity BBQ sauce. I have had cherry, but never blackberry and it sounds amazing.

      Reply
      • Teri

        June 25, 2017 at 7:57 pm

        OOOh...Cherry BBQ Sauce...that sounds awesome. I feel another BBQ sauce recipe post coming.

        Reply
    3. Garlic + Zest

      June 25, 2017 at 4:32 pm

      I haven't seen wild blackberries since I was a kid and your post really brought back memories for me. That barbecue sauce looks and sounds mouthwatering! I'm coming to your next cookout!

      Reply
      • Teri

        June 25, 2017 at 7:57 pm

        Hopefully they were the good kind of memories (and not the ones of getting poked by briars).

        Reply
    4. pattysaveurs80

      June 25, 2017 at 5:04 pm

      Love everything blackberry, most of all blackberry jam! Your blackberry bbq sauce looks so good, mouthwatering!

      Reply
      • Teri

        June 25, 2017 at 7:56 pm

        It turned out better than expected. Ready to make some more and try it on other food.

        Reply
    5. Tracy Bruno

      July 15, 2017 at 8:22 pm

      This sounds absolutely delicious! Is it possible to can this recipe?

      Reply
      • Teri

        July 15, 2017 at 8:26 pm

        I personally have not canned it but I plan on trying. Since it is cooked with sugars and vinegar, I bet it would turn out great. The only thing I might do before canning is not leave any of the berries whole. (Or possibly strain it.)

        This recipe made 1 quart. We used it all within a week, stored in fridge. If you do try canning it let me know.

        Reply
        • Trinity Parris

          October 29, 2017 at 10:38 am

          Did you ever try canning it? Looking for feedback before I try today...

        • Teri

          October 29, 2017 at 10:51 am

          No, I haven't been able to get my hands on enough blackberries to do another batch. I'm sure it would can great, especially with the high acidity of the berries. Are you thinking pressure canner or water bath?

        • Lori

          July 03, 2022 at 1:16 pm

          5 stars
          Thanks so much for the recipe, I have definitely saved this one to my files. I have made this twice this past week with Black Raspberries. I have canned it both times as well, using the water bath method. the second batch I did strain all the seeds out of. Both batches worked great. I also, took it a step further and used it in a Sticky BBQ Short Rib Recipe from another site, where they have you add 3/4 cup of BBQ to the recipe. I used this black raspberry BBQ to that and the Instant Pot Short Ribs were fantastic.

        • Teri

          July 06, 2022 at 3:05 pm

          Thank you so much for the feedback. I'm glad to hear that it cans well...and I'll definitely have to try it with some short ribs.

    6. Kim Williams

      August 29, 2017 at 4:17 pm

      My daughter just made this sauce - delicious!! Thank you so much for the awesome recipe, we never would have thought to use blackberries!

      Reply
      • Teri

        August 29, 2017 at 8:08 pm

        I am so happy you tried it and loved it. ???? As soon as I can get my hands on more blackberries I am making it again. Thank you for taking the time to comment

        Reply
        • Traci A Walker

          August 22, 2021 at 4:13 pm

          I do not like too spicy. Can you not add chili and siracha or is it not too spicy with it? We moved into a home with a 30 year old bush. I made freezer jam and thats it. I have 4 pounds still frozen from last year and now another 8 pounds. I am looking for any help on making great things.

        • Teri

          August 23, 2021 at 9:12 am

          You can absolutely leave out the spicy ingredients. 🙂

    7. Rachel Stuart

      October 08, 2017 at 3:12 pm

      Delicious! My husband and I picked some of the tart invasive blackberries that are all over Seattle, and made this jam. We subbed 3 tsp of chipotle chili adobo sauce for the sriracha, and it is perfect.
      Next time I'll put it through the food processor and see if I can't remove some of those seeds, but other than that this sauce is perfect! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Teri

        October 11, 2017 at 10:42 am

        I am so thrilled that you tried it and love it. I definitely will be making it again and maybe strain it through a fine sieve or cheesecloth for a smoother sauce. (I love the berries and seeds, but I could see where having a smoother sauce would be enjoyable for most people.) Thank you for trying our recipe and taking the time to let us know how it turned out.

        Reply
      • Tina

        August 25, 2021 at 12:47 pm

        Hi Rachel
        Do you know how long this could be stored in the refrigerator? Thanks!

        Reply
        • Teri

          August 26, 2021 at 10:00 am

          10 to 14 days.

    8. Diana

      February 07, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      You're so lucky to find wild blackberries. They don't grow where I live! Love this recipe, looks and sounds amazing.

      Reply
      • Teri

        February 07, 2018 at 9:00 pm

        I've made it with store bought berries as well, just as good, although turns out a little sweeter than the wild ones.

        Reply
    9. Veena Azmanov

      February 07, 2018 at 4:27 pm

      5 stars
      I love wild berries and they are so tart they make a perfect combination with meat. This looks so good. Love the pictures. Saving for later.

      Reply
      • Teri

        February 07, 2018 at 9:00 pm

        Oh I do hope you have a chance to try it. Very good, I think you will love it.

        Reply
    10. Dana

      February 07, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      I love love love using fruits in savory sauces like this! Bringing sweetness to meats is so clever, and I love when unsuspecting fruits are involved 🙂

      Reply
      • Teri

        February 07, 2018 at 9:01 pm

        Thank you so much! This is one of our favorite sauces to use. (Great on chicken too.)

        Reply
    11. Emily

      February 07, 2018 at 5:13 pm

      5 stars
      I am for sure pinning this BBQ sauce recipe. It sounds so delish!

      Reply
      • Teri

        February 07, 2018 at 9:02 pm

        I hope you get a chane to try the sauce. Let me know what you think.

        Reply
    12. K.C.

      February 07, 2018 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      I remember picking wild blackberries. ..and the stained fingers and face! We ate more than we took home. That sauce is to die for! I'm still drooling over your pics.

      Reply
      • Teri

        February 07, 2018 at 9:02 pm

        Thank you so much! We did eat our share, I had to keep my husband out of them so I would have enough to make the sauce. lol

        Reply
    13. Adam R Stevens

      July 10, 2018 at 8:00 pm

      This is my new signature sauce to accompany my pulled pork smoked in my homemade barrel smoker. I just picked a bag full of fresh wild blackberries on my property in Central Virginia and used them in your recipe. Absolutely delicious. I am so glad I found your recipe.

      Reply
      • Teri

        July 11, 2018 at 4:23 pm

        That is so awesome. I am glad you tried it and it turned out great for you. I'm ready to make another batch very soon. (Also I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and let us know. Thanks!)

        Reply
    14. Chad Baker

      August 18, 2018 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      Every August we have a hillside nearby with a bumper crop of large wild blackberries. We plunder them then go looking for recipes to try them with. Came across this article and gave it a try. It tastes amazing by itself. We can't wait to try it over our favorite meats. Thanks so much for sharing this one!

      Reply
      • Teri

        August 18, 2018 at 2:07 pm

        First of all, thank you so much for trying the recipe and taking the time to share your feedback.

        Second of all, I'm SUPER jealous of your blackberries! I wish we had more.

        Enjoy your meal, I think you are going to be very happy. 🙂

        Reply
    15. Rose

      September 01, 2018 at 12:29 am

      5 stars
      What a delicious sounding barbecue sauce recipe! Wild blackberries are wonderful.

      Reply
      • Teri

        September 04, 2018 at 8:10 am

        Thank you so much, it really turned out great and is one of my favorites. Can't wait for more blackberries.

        Reply
    16. J Weaver

      June 09, 2019 at 3:32 pm

      Would love to hear from someone who has canned this

      Reply
      • Teri

        June 14, 2019 at 10:18 am

        I haven't tried canning it yet, but I think I'm going to give it a shot this summer. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I was thinking of canning in pint jars and process in a water bath. (Gift idea!)

        Reply
    17. Brigid

      July 14, 2019 at 10:10 am

      Can you use tomato sauce rather than ketchup?

      Reply
      • Teri

        July 16, 2019 at 2:00 pm

        Absolutely. It might change the taste a little bit because of the thickness and spices / flavorings that are in ketchup. But you can adjust to your own taste.

        Reply
    18. Pat Marrion

      August 26, 2019 at 5:23 pm

      Did you ever try canning this? Our berries are abundant this year and I would love to try making it.

      Reply
      • Teri

        August 26, 2019 at 6:26 pm

        I have not had enough berries to can it yet. I have had several people ask, and I can't wait for someone to try it. I think it would do well with a water bath canning for 10 minutes.

        Reply
    19. May

      January 25, 2021 at 11:00 am

      4 stars
      Made this yesterday. The sauce was very thick until I added the full cup of water. Even after 40 mins, it was still thin. So recommend adding the water slowly. The sauce had an interesting flavor. Almost like Catalina salad dressing.

      Reply
      • Teri

        January 25, 2021 at 6:29 pm

        Great suggestion on the water. I will update the instructions to word it to "add water gradually until you reach desired consistency"? Oh, it does have a bright flavor like catalina (which I also love). Glad you tried it! Thanks for the feedback, I sincerely appreciate it.

        Reply

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