Recipe

Cola BBQ Sauce

A cola-based BBQ sauce built on a reduction technique that concentrates the flavor without making the sauce watery. Sweet, tangy, and smoky with an optional bourbon kick.

By Luis Ramirez

Prep

5 min

Cook

20 min

Total

25 min

Difficulty

beginner

Yield

Method

stovetop

Jump to IngredientsJump to Instructions

What You Need

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 1 bottle (12 oz) cola (any brand)
  • 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
  • 1 Tbsp mustard
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp BBQ rub (your favorite)
  • 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp liquid smoke

Optional

  • 1 Tbsp bourbon

Step by Step

Instructions

  1. 1

    Reduce the Cola

    In a medium saucepan, simmer the 12 oz bottle of cola until its volume is reduced to about 4 oz. This concentrates the flavor and prevents a watery sauce.

  2. 2

    Combine and Finish

    Stir in the tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ rub, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, liquid smoke, and bourbon (if using). Remove from heat.

Pro Tips

  • The reduction step is critical — without it the sauce is too watery
  • Tested with and without reduction; reduction was the crowd favorite
  • Bourbon is optional but adds depth
  • Works with any cola, though less-sweet varieties produce a more balanced sauce
saucebbq saucecolacondimentstovetopquick