Featured Recipe

Cola BBQ Sauce Remix

Name: Cola BBQ Sauce Remix
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Yield: 3 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup cola; 1 cup tomato ketchup; 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh onion; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon chipotle powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 tablespoon honey

By Kate

Created on 31 January 2026

A tangy barbecue sauce base with reduced cola, tangier tomato base, and a sweet-smoky kick. Cooked until it thickens but still pourable — perfect brushed on grilled meat or veggies. Onion flakes swapped out for minced fresh onion to boost texture and flavor complexity. Honey replaces some brown sugar for depth and caramel undertones. Chipotle powder adds smoky warmth, replacing Liquid Smoke. Simmered gently until bubbles rise and sauce clings to the spoon, signaling readiness. Quick, straightforward, versatile with easy substitutes to recover kitchen missteps.

Prep: 5 min

Cook: 8 min

Total: 13 min

Serves: 3 servings

BBQ sauce grilling American cuisine

Introduction

Trust me—BBQ sauce is more than just sweet and sticky. It’s about layering flavors, balancing heat, sweetness, tang, and smoke. Hate Liquid Smoke? Replace it. Don’t like powders? Go fresh onion. Soda in sauce might seem weird but it adds caramelization and body. Less cola here than standard—too much just dilutes texture and messes with thickness. You’ll see bubbles forming, sauce thickening, changing color; that’s your signal, not a stopwatch. Using honey here changes the finish—adds a bit of glow and subtle complexity. The chipotle switches out that artificial smoky flavour for real fire. Sauce clinging to the spoon is what you want. If it’s runny, carry on simmering, but don’t lose patience or burn it. Quick to whip, great with whatever’s on the grill. This isn’t a delicate glaze. It’s hands-on, kitchen-tested, adjusted with substitutions in mind.

Ingredients

1 cup cola

1 cup tomato ketchup

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon finely minced fresh onion

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chipotle powder

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon honey

About the ingredients

Reducing cola volume by a third thickens the base without losing its caramel notes. Swapping ketchup here for pure tomato ketchup instead of fancy sauces cuts artificial flavors and gives a solid tangy anchor—makes the sauce more versatile. Fresh minced onion replaces flakes—flavor grabs and slightly crunchy texture when fresh, contrast to powder which is soft and uniform but can dull the profile. To sweeten, half brown sugar, half honey balances caramel-like sweetness with floral warmth from honey. That chipotle powder is the real replacement for Liquid Smoke, builds actual smokiness. Black pepper sharpens, keeps sauce savory. Feel free to substitute cola with root beer or Dr Pepper for different sweet notes but watch sugar accordingly. If no chipotle, smoked paprika works but less heat. Honey alternatives work but adjust quantity since sweetness levels vary. Avoid going overboard on garlic powder which can dominate the subtle layers.

Method

Start with a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add cola, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce. Stir until uniform—watch how the ketchup loosens and the cola foams slightly.

Add minced onion, garlic powder, chipotle powder, ground black pepper, brown sugar, honey. Stir to integrate everything smoothly, no lumps.

Turn heat up just enough for a steady gentle boil — not a full rolling boil. Tiny bubbles will rise consistently around the edges and across the surface. This is the cue to watch closely.

Simmer for about 8 minutes. Sauce thickens, darkens; clings when you dip a spoon and run finger down it. Too thin? Let it go a minute or two longer but avoid scorching edges.

Ready when you see those bubbles slow and the sauce holds shape briefly on the spoon. It’ll coat but still pour. Remove from heat.

Brush on grilled proteins or veggies. Holds well as a glaze, balanced with smoky heat and subtle sweetness. Cool sauce thickens in fridge—warm it slightly to loosen.

If fresh onion is too pungent, sweat it first in a teaspoon of oil until translucent before adding liquids. Avoid dry powder overload by sticking to spices listed.

Can substitute cola with root beer or Dr Pepper for flavor twists; adjust sugar accordingly as some sodas are sweeter.

Use honey alternatives like maple syrup or agave nectar if unavailable. Chipotle powder adds smoky depth; smoked paprika can replace but less heat.

Constant stirring during simmer avoids burning—a common error. Watch texture over clock time.

Serve with confidence. Comments welcome if variations tried.

Technique Tips

Heat management critical. Medium heat lets sugars dissolve and flavors marry without scorching. Small consistent bubbles around pot edge and surface are key visual indicators—too vigorous a boil risks burning and bitter taste. Stir frequently to avoid sticking but don’t overdo—it thickens with gentle simmer, not rapid boil. Watch texture closely by dipping a spoon and running a finger to check coat thickness. Sauce should cling but still flow. If too runny, wait and simmer longer. If too thick or sticky, thin with a splash of cola or water—thin sauces don’t build a good glaze on the grill. Stirring helps even cooking. Fresh onion requires a quick sweat in oil before adding to reduce raw sharpness and develop sweetness. This also prevents clumping in sauce. Timing is less important than visual and tactile cues: darkening color, thickness, cling. Sauce cools and thickens fast—warm briefly before use if refrigerated. Brushing on grilled meats or veggies while sauce is warm lets it set better.

Chef's Notes

💡 Start by reducing cola to thicken. It adds that rich caramel flavor. Use less to avoid watery sauce. Keep stirring to prevent sticking. Apply heat slowly.
💡 Swapping fresh onion for flakes boosts texture and taste. Cook it down first in oil for sweetness. Avoid raw sharpness. Balance flavors with spices only.
💡 Thickness matters. Watch for sauce clinging to spoon. If too runny, simmer longer to achieve right consistency. If too thick, splash in cola or water.
💡 Chipotle powder delivers real smoke flavor. If not available, smoked paprika is an option—less heat, though. Check seasoning throughout cooking.
💡 Substitute cola with root beer or Dr Pepper if needed. Adjust sugar carefully; some brands are sweeter. Experiment based on what’s on hand.