Hawaiian BBQ Sauce Recipe with molasses, pineapple, tomato paste and liquid smoke. Refined sugar free and much healthier than store-bought.
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So, from time to time, I like to make my own condiments. Last year I made simple healthy BBQ sauce which has been a staple in our fridge.
This summer I make this healthy Hawaiian BBQ sauce and keep in the fridge for weeks whenever I feel like grilled BBQ chicken breast, or an oatmeal pizza crust with BBQ chicken, or Instant Pot BBQ chicken.
I am not saying this is authentic Hawaiian barbecue sauce recipe but it’s just how we like it. It’s one of our favorite sauce recipes.
Ingredients for Hawaiian BBQ Sauce
To make Hawaiian BBQ sauce recipe you will need very simple ingredients.
- Pineapple: I used frozen pineapple chunks without thawing. You can also use fresh cut up pineapple.
- Molasses: I prefer to use unsulphured molasses, preferably organic. You can use any. You could substitute molasses for honey or maple syrup. I tried and the BBQ sauce was great. A bit better with molasses though.
- Tomato paste: Low sodium tomato paste. If yours is not low sodium, add less salt.
- Liquid smoke: You can buy it in most grocery stores or on Amazon.
- Apple cider vinegar: Or white vinegar, rice vinegar or white wine vinegar will work.
- Garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper
How to Make Hawaiian BBQ Sauce
Here is a quick overview how to make Hawaiian BBQ sauce at home. Full recipe card is located below.
- In a high speed blender or food processor, add pineapple, water, tomato paste, molasses, liquid smoke, vinegar, garlic powder, cayenne and salt. Process until smooth.
- Transfer to a medium saucepan, cover half way with a lid to prevent splashing and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
- Transfer to a glass jar and let cool. Use as you would use a store bought BBQ sauce.
Ways to Use It
There are so many ways you can use this Hawaiian BBQ sauce during the grilling season.
Make simple grilled chicken breast and serve it with the sauce. I simply coated cubed chicken breast, coated in BBQ sauce and grilled it.
Use it to make BBQ chicken salad, crockpot BBQ pulled chicken or this baked BBQ chicken breast. We also have this delicious grilled BBQ chicken breast where you can use this BBQ sauce.
Make Instant Pot baked beans, Instant Pot ribs or cranberry turkey meatballs with it.
How to Store
Make ahead and store: Refrigerate Hawaiian BBQ sauce in an airtight glass jar or any airtight container for up to 1 month.
Freeze: In an airtight freezer safe glass jar or container, leaving some room for expansion, up to 3 months.
More Sauce Recipes to Try
Hawaiian BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 6 oz can tomato paste low sodium
- 1 heaping cup pineapple chunks frozen or fresh
- 4 tbsp unsulphured molasses
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp liquid smoke
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a high speed blender or food processor, add all ingredients and process until smooth.
- Transfer to a medium saucepan, cover half way with a lid to prevent splashing and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
- Transfer to a glass jar and let cool. Use as you would use a store bought BBQ sauce.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in a mason jar for up to a month. Maybe can be frozen. Our BBQ sauce seems to be used faster than any of these recommendations.
- Honey or maple syrup would work but molasses are the best.
This recipient is great! I also added 2 T grenadine, 1 t of shoyu and 1/2 t of seasme oil for umami, but this will be my base from now on. Mahalo Olena😘
Sounds delicious, Ryan!
Can I leave out the Cayenne pepper?
Sure. You can also use hot sauce etc.
I love ur recipe it not totally sugar free, unless u find sugar free molasses. There is a maple sugar free pancake syrup.
I personally think Agave Nectar would work & better for diabetics.
Thanks for letting me offer my idea!
Very good!
I’m in on this variation too! I do make my own to avoid all of the garbage in store bought, or the high cost of organic, but a sweet tropical one would be a great change from mine! Thank you so much for doing so work for us.
You are welcome.:)
Nice recipe. It sounds delicious and worth a try!
Trying this too! I make my own usually, but, this looks like a nice change from my usual sauce that I make.
Love this!! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! It’s SO much healthier than the store-bought versions, which means I don’t have to avoid BBQ sauce this summer. 🙂 Can’t wait to try it!
You are welcome. No, no Baby Ray’s.