As spring temperatures warm up, thoughts turn to spending more time outside. Specifically, cooking more outside. Grilling season is upon us! 

Whether you’re grilling chicken breasts, wings, ribs, or a Boston butt, you’ll want a finger-licking sauce to slather it with. Here’s a round up of some of our favorite sauces at the Rock Hill Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Cooking the Sauce

No matter which of these sauce recipes you choose, the preparation method is the same. Combine all the ingredients in a heavy-bottomed sauce pan. Over medium-high heat, bring the sauce to a low boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking for about 15 minutes. If you want the sauce slightly thicker, cook a little longer until it reduces to the desired consistency. Let the sauce cool for several minutes before serving.

Storing the Sauce

Pour the cooled sauce into an airtight container. The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for about 3 days.

Using the Sauce

Hold off on the application of the sauce while the meat is still on the grill. The sugars in the sauce are likely to char, leaving your bbq with a burnt flavor more than a tangy sweetness. Saucing too soon also makes a complete mess of the grilling surface, making clean up a real chore. Wait until the last couple of minutes, then apply the sauce. In most cases, you can wait until the meat if off the grill entirely.

Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce

• 1 cup Coca-Cola
• 1 cup ketchup
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ⅛ cup dark brown sugar, packed
• juice from ½ lemon (pips removed)

Sprite BBQ Sauce

• 1 cup Sprite
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup ketchup
• juice from 1 lemon (pips removed)
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Dr Pepper BBQ Sauce

• 1 can (12 oz) Dr Pepper
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons brown mustard
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Barq’s Root Beer BBQ Sauce

• 1 cup Bar’s Root Beer
• 1 cup ketchup
• ¼ cup orange juice
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown mustard
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder