Home » Blueberry Recipes » Blueberry Bourbon BBQ Sauce with Pork Chops

This robust blueberry bourbon BBQ sauce makes so many average dishes special, from the lowly burger to the Atlantic salmon to the expensive rib eye steak. How about a dipping sauce for wings or a spread on a grilled cheese sandwich? We’ve included a DIY recipe for this special blueberry BBQ sauce accompanied by pork chops.

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What Does a Blueberry BBQ Sauce Go With?

The sauce is quite robust and tangy so as a condiment or topping it is best used with stronger flavors, like smoked ribs or grilled pork chops. It is also a classic pairing with salmon, however, and adds a delightful flavor to gooey cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich. Here are a few other favorite pairings:

Grilled lamb chops
Sweet potato fries
Cheese boards
Chicken thighs
Pulled pork quesadilla
Pheasant or game dishes
Trout
Smoked brisket

Can you use Frozen Blueberries?

Absolutely. Blueberries contain minimal water and freeze beautifully. You just want to freeze them properly (no air) so they don’t get freezer burn, and the taste will be as fresh as it was in July.

We cannot keep up with our blueberries at the farm and freeze many of them for our preserves. The recipe below was tested with frozen blueberries.

Is the Alcohol Cooked Out?

While a good portion of alcohol is evaporated, or cooked out, not all of it is. The amount of alcohol left after cooking depends on three factors: concentration, heat, and time.

This recipe boils the sauce for 5 minutes and simmers the sauce for another 20 minutes, so the heat and the time will evaporate quite a bit of the alcohol. The concentration is a bit high, however (the recipe uses 1 cup of bourbon).

The amount of alcohol retained in food can range from 5 to 85 percent, with the lower end more applicable to baked goods that have a low concentration and cook for 1-2 hours. I would guess this sauce retains around 50% of the alcohol as a sauce but then loses another 25% to the high heat of grilling it with a protein.

Blueberries in a pot on the stove cooking into a sauce, with potato masher. — Cooking the blueberry sauce down

At any rate, the amount of sauce you actually “imbibe” is only a couple of tablespoons, so given the cooking time and the high heat, I would guess the alcohol percentage left to be fairly low. It is not non-existent, however.

Best Side Dishes to Serve with Blueberry BBQ Sauce

Because the blueberry bourbon BBQ sauce has such a dominant flavor profile, side dishes shouldn’t compete, but rather be a milder complement. I like to add something cool and refreshing (think cucumbers) to pair with the smoky robust sauce. Here are a few of my favorites:

Cool, creamy cole slaw
Smashed cucumber salad
Corn is a classic pairing with blueberries and corn on the cob works great with grilled foods
A Romano bean side dish
A cold Brussels sprouts salad
Finish the meal with these root beer float ice cream sandwiches

Creative vegetables for a low carb diet — Brussels sprouts, Cauliflower, Broccoli Medley

More Berry Recipes:

Strawberry panna cotta on a white plate with fresh strawberries and strawberry sauce. — Low-carb strawberry panna cotta

Grow Your Own Blueberries in a Container or Garden:

Did you know? You can easily grow blueberries in a container (and of course in your garden). As a long-time gardener growing both ways, my post below can inspire you to try it yourself!

If you have never gardened, (or even if you have), growing vegetables in containers on your deck, balcony, or patio can be surprisingly fun, rewarding, and even meditative. You just may get hooked!

Growing food in pots for decks, patios, or balconies

Blueberry plant in pot starting to fruit in July. — Blueberry plants in pots will overwinter in cold climates.

If you like my articles about cooking and gardening, subscribe to my weekly newsletter, where I share free recipes and gardening tutorials.

Blueberry Bourbon BBQ Sauce on Pork Chops

This sauce is great on any grilled protein for Summer BBQs. This recipe uses it on pork chops.

4 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 30

Cook Time 1

Servings

Calories 136

Author Dorothy Stainbrook

Equipment

Ingredients

1 teaspoon hot chile sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 cup catsup
½ cup balsamic vinegar
6-8 tablespoons brown sugar
6 tablespoons dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon allspice
1 medium onion chopped
5 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon oil
⅔ cup bourbon
4-5 cups blueberries can be frozen
4 thick pork chops

Instructions

Mix together the first seven ingredients in a bowl (the hot sauce through the allspice).
1 teaspoon hot chile sauce, 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, 1 cup catsup, 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, 6-8 tablespoons brown sugar, 6 tablespoons dijon mustard, 1/4 teaspoon allspice
Add the oil to a large pot and heat. When hot add the chopped onions and saute for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
Add the bourbon, and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes. Add the blueberries and the vinegar mixture, stir, and return to a boil.
Add the salt, lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until thickened to your preference
1 medium onion, 5 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon oil, 2/3 cup bourbon, 4-5 cups blueberries
In a skillet, heat butter or oil to smoke point. Sear pork chops on each side (about 2 minutes per side). Lower the heat and cook pork chops for 15-20 minutes until thermometer reads 140 F. Cooking time will depend on thickness of the chops.
When they are almost done, spread some blueberry sauce on top of each chop and cover. Cook for a few minutes until sauce starts to melt a bit.
Serve with a cooling side dish like cole slaw or cucumbers.
4 thick pork chops

Video

Blueberry Bourbon BBQ Sauce on Pork Chops #shorts

Watch this video on YouTube.
Watch the Step by Step Video for More Details

Notes