Pulled pork and barbecue sauce go hand-in-hand. The tender juicy shredded pork soaks up the flavors of the sauce perfectly. But with so many options on the market how do you choose the best barbecue sauce to complement your pulled pork?
In this article, we’ll recommend some of the top sauces to try and discuss what makes them ideal for pulled pork.
What to Look for in a BBQ Sauce for Pulled Pork
There are a few key factors that make a barbecue sauce well-suited for pulled pork
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Thickness: Look for thick, sticky sauces that will adhere to the shredded meat rather than running off.
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Sweetness Pork loves sweet flavors, Choose a sauce with some sugar or molasses
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Acidity: A bit of tanginess from vinegar or tomato cuts through the richness.
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Spice: Pepper, chili powder, chipotle, etc can add warmth without overpowering.
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Smoke: Opt for sauces with smoked paprika or a natural smoky flavor.
Best Store-Bought Sauces for Pulled Pork
These sauces available nationwide check all the boxes for excellent pulled pork sauce.
Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Barbecue Sauce
This classic, all-purpose barbecue sauce strikes a perfect balance. It’s thick, sticky, and sweet with a blend of high fructose corn syrup, molasses, and honey. There’s just enough acidity from distilled vinegar and tartness from tomato paste and ketchup. Seasonings like garlic, onions, and chili powder round it out.
Stubb’s Original Bar-B-Q Sauce
Texas-based Stubb’s makes an exceptional barbecue sauce. Brown sugar and molasses provide a sweet and tangy backbone, balanced by ketchup’s acidity and spice from peppers. Worcestershire sauce and vinegar contribute flavor depth. It admirably coats pulled pork without overpowering it.
Jack Daniel’s No. 7 Original BBQ Sauce
Jack Daniel’s whiskey infuses this sauce with sweet, smoky, maple flavors that pair amazingly with pulled pork. Molasses and brown sugar give it a rich sweetness, while Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and vinegar lend tang. The whiskey’s oaky, charred taste comes through beautifully.
Best Regional Barbecue Sauces for Pulled Pork
Beyond the major brands, explore regional barbecue styles:
Allegheny Mountain Smoke Original Sauce
From Pennsylvania, this sauce has an instant cult following. Blackstrap molasses provides intense bittersweetness, balanced by ketchup’s acidity. The depth of flavor makes it fantastic with pulled pork. A touch of heat comes from chipotles in adobo.
Bone Doctors’ Alabama White Sauce
Alabama’s unique white sauce breaks the mold. Mayonnaise gives it a creamy base, with apple cider vinegar for tanginess. Horseradish and black pepper add spicy zip. It cools down rich pulled pork.
Sweet Heat Gourmet Carolina Vinegar Sauce
From North Carolina, this thin, vinegar-based sauce cuts through fatty pork. Distilled white vinegar provides a bright tang, mellowed by tomato paste and spices. Brown sugar contributes sweetness, and red pepper flakes bring on gentle heat.
Arthur Bryant’s Original Barbecue Sauce
Arthur Bryant’s legendary restaurant put Kansas City BBQ on the map. Their sauce shines on pulled pork. Sweet from molasses and honey, tangy from vinegar and tomato, spicy from peppers—it flawlessly balances flavor.
Best Homemade Sauces for Pulled Pork
Making your own barbecue sauce can be incredibly rewarding. Here are some outstanding homemade sauce recipes for pulled pork:
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Memphis-Style: Ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, and spices
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Lexington “Dip”: Ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire, pepper flakes
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Cola Barbecue Sauce: Cola, ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire, spices
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Bourbon Barbecue Sauce: Bourbon, ketchup, brown sugar, spices
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Honey Barbecue Sauce: Honey, ketchup, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire
Homemade allows you to customize the flavors to your taste and ingredients on hand. Endless variations can be explored.
Tips for Serving BBQ Sauce with Pulled Pork
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Offer several sauce options so guests can sample different flavors.
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Place sauces in squirt bottles for easy portioning.
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Let guests sauce their own pork to control sogginess.
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Sauces with some sweetness and acidity cut through pork’s richness.
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Balance intense sauces with cool, tangy coleslaw.
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Sauces with spice add excitement, but avoid overpowering heat.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right barbecue sauce can really take your pulled pork to the next level. Look for sauces that are sufficiently thick, sweet, tangy, and spiced to complement the tender meat. Brands like Sweet Baby Ray’s or regional styles like a vinegary Carolina sauce are sure bets. Making your own sauce allows infinite customization for your perfect match. With so many mouthwatering options, you’re bound to find a sauce that makes your pulled pork irresistible.
Liquid BBQ Sauces for Pulled Pork : Beer & BBQ
FAQ
Do you put BBQ sauce on before or after cooking pulled pork?
What is a good BBQ sauce for pulled pork?
A thin sauce, our recipe is a true example of the classic Carolinas BBQ sauce, a savory and tangy mixture with butter used to keep the meats moist; so it’s great if your pulled pork turned out too dry. Use a generous amount of butter and mix it with lemon juice, honey, salt, pepper, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
How do you make BBQ sauce with pulled pork?
It’s a BBQ sauce recipe specially made with pulled pork in mind! Simply place ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, molasses, worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, dijon mustard, garlic powder, chili powder, and onion powder in a pot, stir everything together, then bring to a boil.
Can you use a jar of BBQ sauce for pulled pork?
You could just grab a jar from the store, but these sauces for pulled pork will take your dinner to new heights. And no, they’re not all BBQ! The mark of any good pulled pork spread is options. So why not give your guests a choice between sweat-inducing spice and cool, creamy mayo?
Can you put hot sauce on pulled pork?
It’s perfect for those who love extreme heat and want to add a bold flavor to their pulled pork. These hot sauces can be used to add a fiery kick to your pulled pork. However, be careful not to overdo it with the heat, as it can overpower the flavor of the meat.