This guava BBQ sauce is so good it will blow your mind. And with just 6 ingredients, it’s as easy to make as it is to eat! It’s sweet and savory flavor is perfect on grilled chicken, ribs, or burgers.
Guava BBQ Sauce: You’re Gonna Want to Make This ASAP
I just got back from a sun-soaked vacation in Miami and I haven’t been able to get my fill of tropical fruit ever since.
I’ve always been a big fan of guava, but I really fell in love with it on this trip. It’s delightfully sweet, with a slightly floral flavor and a hint of acidity. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it — it’s so good!
This guava BBQ sauce recipe was inspired by my trip and all of the amazing food that I are there.
I’ll tell you what — it was love at first bite. This barbecue sauce has a delicious balance of sweet and savory flavors and a touch of heat from jerk seasoning.
The sugars caramelize when it hits the grill and WOW. I can’t even come up with words to describe how good this sauce is. It’s basically the only bbq sauce I ever want to eat again.
What you’ll love about this barbecue sauce recipe:
- 6 Ingredient, 5 Minute Recipe – Making a batch of this homemade sauce barely takes any more effort than opening a bottle of store-bought does.
- No Cook – Soften the guava in the microwave, then mix everything together. No need to turn on the oven or stove.
- Versatile – Add a little Latin spice to all of your favorite barbecue recipes. It works well as a glaze, a marinade, or a dipping sauce!
Ingredients for Guava Barbecue Sauce
Miami is a place where cultures collide, and that’s exactly what I wanted to create with this barbecue sauce. Just like Miami, it’s sweet, bold, and a little spicy.
To make it, you’ll need:
- Guava. Here in New York it can be difficult to find fresh guava, but guava paste is available at almost every grocery store and on Amazon. Besides being easier to find, it’s also really easy to work with. It’s made from pureed guava that’s cooked down with sugar until it has a gummy texture that has a consistency similar to a gumdrop. Since the shelf-stable paste is already sweetened, you don’t need to add any additional sugar or honey to this recipe.
- Soy Sauce and Worcestershire Sauce. To add a rich, umami flavor to the sauce.
- .Ketchup. A little ketchup gives the sauce its thick body and a little bit of tang.
- Jerk Seasoning. A jerk seasoning blend contrasts with the sweetness of the guava and adds a little smoke and heat. Using a seasoning blend also means you don’t need to sauté onion or garlic. Use a dry jerk seasoning for this recipe, not a wet paste.
- Lime juice. A little bit of lime juice adds a citrusy pop. You can use fresh or bottled juice.
How to Make It
Step 1: Soften the guava paste. Cut it into cubes and microwave it for 30-40 seconds. This will make it easier to mix with the other ingredients.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients and mix until combined.
That’s it! Enjoy it right away, or pop it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Recipe Tips
- If you don’t have any ketchup, you can substitute a tablespoon or two of tomato puree and a spalsh of apple cider vinegar.
- If you can’t find guava paste, you can use guava preserves instead.
- If you prefer a thinner sauce to use as a marinade, whisk in 2 tablespoons of water.
- This barbecue sauce is great serves cold, but it’s even better if you slather it on meat while you’re grilling. The sugars in the sauce caramelize and give it so much depth!
Frequently asked questions
Store your sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Microwaving the guava paste makes it easier to mix, but you can make this barbecue sauce in a blender instead. Simply add all of the ingredients and blend for 30-40 seconds, until smooth.
The sweet and savory flavor of this sauce is unlike anything else you’ve ever tried before, but it works so well with anything you’d use traditional barbecue sauce on. Try it on:
chicken
ribs
pulled pork
grilled salmon
as a dipping sauce for fries (or air fryer sweet potato fries)
on a burger
Yes, this recipe scales really well and no adjustments need to be made. Just make sure you use a large enough bowl to hold it all!
The level of heat depends on the brand of jerk seasoning you use, but most will result in a mild to medium heat. This sauce is more sweet than it is hot!
More marinade and sauce recipes:
Guava BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 oz guava paste
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon jerk seasoning
Instructions
- Add the guava paste to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30-40 seconds or until softened.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients. Mix well to combine.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
