Sweet & Smoky Grilled Peach BBQ Sauce for Chicken

The Sweet, Smoky Flavor of Grilled Peach BBQ Sauce

As summer draws to a close, backyard cookouts often spotlight the last of the season's juicy, ripe peaches. Their sweet flavor and tender texture make them perfect for eating out of hand or incorporating into all kinds of dishes before they disappear from farmers markets and grocery stores.

One delicious way to capture the essence of summer peaches is transforming them into a thick, fruity barbecue sauce. The charred, caramelized flavors that develop when stone fruits kiss the grill grate meld beautifully with spices and pantry staples to create a sweet and smoky peach BBQ sauce.

Grilling Intensifies a Peach's Natural Sweetness

Peaches contain high amounts of natural sugars that intensify over heat, especially when exposed directly to a live fire. The sugars caramelize on the peach's exterior while the inside becomes warm and tender. This produces a wonderful contrast of flavors and textures.

When a grilled peach is pureed into a smooth sauce, those grill-kissed flavors get distributed throughout. The sauce takes on notes of charred wood and smoke along with plenty of peach nectar-like sweetness and a slightly jammy consistency.

A Simple Peach BBQ Sauce Formula

The basic formula for homemade grilled peach barbecue sauce includes just a few key ingredients:

• Peaches - Grilled until caramelized and softened
• Onion - Adds savory depth
• Garlic - Enhances aroma
• Olive oil or butter - Binds ingredients, carries flavors
• Vinegar and/or citrus juice - Brightens and balances sweetness
• Spices and herbs - Customize flavor profile

Within this straightforward framework, there's ample room for creativity and customization based on preferences. Change up the spices, sweeteners, smoky elements, and more to put a personal twist on peach BBQ sauce.

Pairing Grilled Peach BBQ Sauce with Chicken

A fruity, gently spiced peach barbecue sauce makes a natural match for chicken. Brushing the sauce onto bone-in chicken parts during the last few minutes of grilling allows the exterior to caramelize while keeping the interior juicy.

The sweet and savory sauce also complements grilled chicken's mildly smoky flavor beautifully. For extra smoky impact, use wood chips, chunks, or pellets in the grill along with the standard charcoal or gas heat.

Serving Suggestions for Grilled Peach BBQ Chicken

A few ideas for mouthwatering sides to serve alongside peach barbecue chicken straight from the grill:

• Corn on the cob - Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with chili powder before grilling
• Potato salad - Toss red potatoes with a tangy dressing while warm
• Coleslaw - Shred cabbage and carrots for a crisp, cool crunch
• Baked beans - Sweet, smoky, and savory
• Macaroni and cheese - Creamy, cheesy comfort food
• Watermelon slices - Juicy, sweet summer refreshment

Bonus Uses for Leftover Peach BBQ Sauce

Assuming there's any peach barbecue sauce left after basting chicken and serving it tableside, consider these tasty ways to use up the leftovers:

• Toss with grilled shrimp, veggies, or pork
• Stir into baked beans
• Top baked potatoes
• Swirl into meatloaf or chili
• Use as a pizza sauce
• Simmer with meatballs
• Drizzle over nachos

How to Make Sweet & Smoky Grilled Peach BBQ Sauce

This easy DIY peach barbecue sauce starts by simply tossing halved peaches onto a hot grill to caramelize. Then into the blender they go with supporting ingredients for a quick puree.

Ingredients

• 3 fresh peaches, halved and pitted
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2-3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1-2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat grill to medium-high. Brush peach halves with olive oil. Grill for 5-7 minutes per side until softened and caramelized.
2. In a small bowl, stir together vinegar, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper until combined. Set aside.
3. In a blender or food processor, combine grilled peaches, onion, garlic and olive oil. Blend until mostly smooth.
4. With machine running, slowly pour in vinegar mixture. Blend until fully incorporated and smooth.
5. Use immediately or transfer to an airtight container. Sauce keeps refrigerated for 1 week. Reheat gently before using.

Customizing Your Peach BBQ Sauce

Tailor the flavor profile of homemade peach barbecue sauce to your liking by mixing up these ingredients:

• Sweeteners - Honey, maple syrup, agave, etc. instead of brown sugar
• Savory depth - Soy sauce, Worcestershire, liquid smoke
• Spicy kick - Hot sauce, cayenne, chipotle chiles
• Herbs & spices - Cumin, ginger, thyme, cilantro
• Fruits - Mangoes, pineapples, berries
• Vinegars - Balsamic, red wine, rice wine
• Extras - Orange zest, sesame oil, mustard

No matter what flavors sound good, charring the peaches first adds an indispensable depth and sweetness.

Grilled Peach BBQ Chicken for Dinner

Armed with a batch of DIY peach barbecue sauce, it's time to slather it onto chicken fresh off the grill. Bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks work especially well here since they stay moist during cooking.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• Peach barbecue sauce (see recipe above)
• Olive oil
• BBQ seasoning rub (or salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.)

Instructions

1. Preheat grill to medium heat. Use a grill brush to scrape grill grates clean. Brush or spray with oil to prevent chicken from sticking.
2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Sprinkle seasoning rub all over. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Place chicken skin-side down on grill. Cover grill and cook 15 to 20 minutes until browned. Flip chicken and cook 10 more minutes.
4. During last 5 minutes of cook time, generously brush peach BBQ sauce on both sides of chicken pieces to coat. Grill sauce side down first to caramelize the sauce, then flip to coat other side.
5. Remove chicken from grill when sauce is caramelized and interior registers 165°F. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

For extra smoky flavor, try adding some presoaked wood chips or chunks to grill along with chicken.

FAQs

Can I use frozen peaches instead of fresh for the BBQ sauce?

You can use frozen peaches if fresh ones aren't available. Make sure they are very ripe before freezing. Thaw them completely before grilling and follow the rest of the recipe as directed.

Is it necessary to grill the peaches?

Yes, grilling is a key step. It caramelizes the peach sugars and adds that wonderful charred flavor that makes the sauce taste smoky and wood-fired.

What can I serve with the grilled peach barbecue chicken?

Great side options include corn on the cob, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, mac and cheese or fresh watermelon slices.

How long does the peach BBQ sauce keep in the fridge?

The sauce will stay good for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently before using it again.