There are sauces… and then there are sauces that make you feel like you could just eat them with a spoon. This honey-chipotle barbecue sauce is one of those.
It’s sweet from honey, smoky from chipotles in adobo sauce, tangy from apple cider vinegar, and grounded by a deeply savory spice blend—my Zippy Everything Rub, scaled here into a small batch just for this recipe.
This lip-smacking barbecue sauce originated to jazz up my Spicy-Sweet Honey Chipotle Pork Spareribs and the recipe is tucked into that one, but it deserves its own place in the kitchen. Because once you taste it, you’ll start finding reasons to use it on everything.
Recipe: Honey-Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
Yield: 1½ – 2 cups; Prep and cooking time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
Small-Batch Zippy Everything Rub (makes ~2 tbsp + a little extra)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1½ tsp coarse salt
- 1½ tsp ancho or chipotle chili powder (or paprika for less heat)
- ¾ tsp ground cumin
- ⅜ tsp black pepper
- ⅜ tsp white pepper
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
Barbecue Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ⅔ cup honey
- ¼ cup chopped chipotle peppers in adobo* (with sauce)
- ⅔ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup catsup
- 2 tbsp Zippy Everything Rub (from above)
Cooking Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for the Zippy Everything Rub and stir to blend.
- Add the olive oil, honey, chopped chipotle peppers with their sauce, apple cider vinegar, catsup, and 2 tbsp of the rub to a small, heavy saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer.
- Cook at a steady simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces and thickens to your desired consistency, about 15–20 minutes, although it could take longer.
- Optional: for a smoother sauce, give it a quick blitz with an immersion blender after cooking.
- Let cool slightly before using—it will thicken a bit more as it rests.
Notes and Suggestions
- Make a full batch of the rub (highly recommended): This small batch is perfect for this sauce, but the full version of Zippy Everything Rub is a pantry staple around here—wonderful on pork, chicken, roasted vegetables, and even sprinkled over popcorn. There’s a longer list of uses in the recipe, which you can find here.
- Heat level: Chipotle peppers bring a smoky, slow heat. They are integral to this recipe and there’s no substitute for the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. If you can’t find them in your local grocery store, here’s an Amazon link to the San Marcos brand.
- Don’t over-reduce: The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools—pull it off the heat while it still has a little movement.
- Make-ahead: This sauce keeps well in the fridge for a week or more. Reheat gently before serving.
- Use it everywhere: This sauce goes with ribs (of course), grilled chicken, pulled pork, burgers, wings, roasted veggies, or as a dipping sauce for fries or sandwiches.
- Take it with you: When I go to a potluck where there will be barbecue, I often take a spicy-sweet jar of my honey-chipotle love to adorn it with. Here’s the label I stick on the top.
Enjoy! And if you make a batch, let me know what you do with it—I’m always looking for new ideas. ❤️🌶️
©️ 2026, Glover Gardens
