Green Enchilada Sauce

Hatch chiles can be hard to come by here in Indiana. And when they are here, I grab a big batch of them. I love roasting them. They are great in lots of lots of dishes, and specially in green enchilada sauce. The flavor the chiles add is amazing. This is not an ordinary enchilada sauce. It’s fantastic!

Green Enchilada Sauce

If you are unable to find and roast Hatch chiles, roasted green chiles from a can are a fine substitute in this green enchilada sauce. You may want to drain the chiles first if they come in a lot of liquid.

As far as the amount of cumin in this recipe goes, I’d say use your own tastes as a guide. I rather like cumin, but my wife does not so I cut back on it quite a bit. The sauce was still fantastic.

Green Enchilada Sauce
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4 from 1 vote

Green Enchilada Sauce

Hatch chiles are great in lots of lots of dishes, and specially in green enchilada sauce. The flavor the chiles add is amazing. This is not an ordinary enchilada sauce. It’s fantastic!
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword sauce, southwestern
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 cups
Calories 58kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Hatch Chiles roasted, stems, skin, membranes and seeds removed, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 onions chopped
  • 2 jalapeños stems, membranes and seeds removed, chopped
  • 1 head garlic cloves peeled, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin I used 1/2 tablespoon
  • 3 cups water
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in the large saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the onion and jalapeno and cook until just starting to soften.
  • Add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes, stirring.
  • Add the chiles, cumin and water. Stir and let simmer 10 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  • Working in batches, blend the mixture in a blender or food processor until the desired texture is achieved.
  • Store in the fridge for 2-3 days or freeze for later use.

Nutrition

Calories: 58kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 418mg | Potassium: 97mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Zax Sauce

It was one of those days where I just needed a bit of a kick of inspiration. It was cold out and I just wanted to eat something out of a box. I didn’t want it to be blah though, so I made a batch of this copycat Zax sauce from Zaxby’s. Sure, I just dipped chicken fingers in it at first, but after that I used the sauce on sandwich wraps and hamburgers. It’s great no matter what you slather it on. Or dip in it.

Copycat Zax Sauce

I was going to add some heat, some kick to this copycat Zax sauce, but I talked myself out of it. And I’m glad I did, too. It’s really quite good just as it is. And it does get better as it sits in the fridge so let it have that time.

Oh did I mention you can dip French fries in this too? Why aren’t mayonnaise-based dipping sauces for fries aren’t more popular in the US? It’s such a welcome change from ketchup. We need a campaign here to show people how great creamy sauces are for dipping fries!

For dipping sauces, try my copycat of Chick-fil-A’s dipping sauce, firecracker dipping sauce or my chili dipping sauce. All are great for dipping my crazy-good chicken fingers.

Copycat Zax Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Zax Sauce

Sure, I just dipped chicken fingers in it at first, but after that I used the sauce on sandwich wraps and hamburgers. It’s great no matter what you slather it on. Or dip in it.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, sauce
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 1 cup
Calories 840kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together all ingredients until smooth.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using as a dip for chicken fingers, fries, or slathering on a burger or chicken sandwich.

Nutrition

Calories: 840kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 84g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1271mg | Potassium: 268mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 393IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoked Sausage with Sriracha Mustard Sauce

I just wrapped up a smoke session on my Weber Smokey Mountain, and since the fire was still burning hot, I decided to toss a few fresh sausages onto the smoker. While they were cooking I stirred up a very quick, but definitely spicy, mustard dipping sauce that is loaded with Sriracha goodness. Smoked sausage with Sriracha mustard sauce…. you know it was yummy.

Smoked Sausage with Sriracha Mustard Sauce

I used Italian sausage, bratwurst and andouille sausages when I made smoked sausage with Sriracha mustard sauce. My wife’s favorite were the Italian sausages. They had a nice spicy taste to them. My favorite? Andouille, of course. I could eat andouille all day. The spicier the better and andouille always packs that nice little kick that I really enjoy.

The Sriracha mustard sauce definitely isn’t just for dipping sausages. It’s great on sandwiches, subs, hot dogs, and hamburgers. It is creamy smooth, with a real kick to it thanks to the Sriracha and smoked jalapenos (chipotles), which also add a bit of smoky flavor. I think you could definitely use this same sauce for dipping chicken nuggets or chicken tenders. It’s different than those usual dipping sauces that are, frankly, boring!

Also try making my delicious beef summer sausage.

Smoked Sausage with Sriracha Mustard Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Sausage with Sriracha Mustard Sauce

Smoked sausage with Sriracha mustard sauce…. you know it was yummy.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword mustard, sausage, smoked
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 4
Calories 563kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 4 sausages kielbasa, etc
  • Sriracha mustard sauce from below

For the Sriracha mustard sauce

Instructions

  • Fire up your smoker for cooking at 225-250 F.
  • Add your favorite wood (I used cherry).
  • Add the meats once the smoker is ready and cook until the internal temperatures reach 155 F. Start testing a single sausage after 1 hour (no need in poking them all and letting all of the juicy goodness drain out). Cooking time should be 1-2 hours total.
  • Remove from smoker and cover in foil until ready to use.
  • Serve with Sriracha mustard sauce, for dipping.

For the Sriracha mustard sauce

  • Whisk together all ingredients.

Nutrition

Calories: 563kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 55g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1610mg | Potassium: 278mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 264IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Pepper Onion Beer Sauce

I had a bunch (and I do mean a bunch!) of ham leftover from cooking a big ham on my Char-Broil Big Easy. I could’ve made more sandwiches. Or I could dice up some ham for omelets. Instead, I decided to warm up some nice thick slices and top them with this wonderful pepper onion beer sauce. It looks like your pretty standard vegetable topping, but with a twist: orange marmalade. Whoa! I wasn’t expecting that!

Pepper Onion Beer Sauce

This pepper onion beer sauce really goes well with ham, but I also think it’d compliment grilled chicken just as well. Don’t like orange marmalade? I bet you could substitute your favorite marmalade or preserves.

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this sauce and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Pepper Onion Beer Sauce
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4 from 1 vote

Pepper Onion Beer Sauce

I decided to warm up some nice thick slices and top them with this wonderful pepper onion beer sauce. It looks like your pretty standard vegetable topping, but with a twist: orange marmalade.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword beer, sauce, vegetable
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 177kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
  • Add the bell peppers and onion and saute for 5 minutes
  • Add the beer, orange marmalade, soy sauce and hot sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and continue simmering until the vegetables are softened and the sauce is reduced.
  • Serve over sliced ham or grilled chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 280mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 546IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Hot Pepper Jelly BBQ Sauce

Oh, what a wonderful BBQ sauce this hot pepper jelly BBQ sauce is. It has the perfect consistency. Not too runny, not too gloppy. Consistency is important. A small bit of heat and a little tang from vinegar and mustard. Perfect for any pork BBQ dish. For me that means smoked baby back ribs. But it’s great on pulled pork, brisket, chicken… you name it! Any time you want a bit of heat (which for me is always), this is the BBQ sauce you should make and use.

Hot Pepper Jelly BBQ Sauce

You can substitute any kind of jelly for the hot pepper jelly, really. It doesn’t have to be a pepper-based jelly. You can even use the ‘classics’ like grape or strawberry. But don’t be afraid of hot pepper jelly. Out of the jar, sure, it’s got some kick. It’s supposed to have some! But in this hot pepper jelly BBQ sauce that heat gets a little mellowed. You still get great pepper flavor though. It’s still a great sauce whether you use hot jelly, mild jelly or ‘classic’ jelly! Just slather it on your meat good and thick and dig in!

Want something even spicier? Try my atomic BBQ sauce on ribs.

Hot Pepper Jelly BBQ Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Hot Pepper Jelly BBQ Sauce

Oh, what a wonderful BBQ sauce this hot pepper jelly BBQ sauce is. It has the perfect consistency. Not too runny, not too gloppy. A small bit of heat and a little tang from vinegar and mustard. 
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, sauce, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 482kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Whisk until all ingredients are combined.

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 116g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1110mg | Potassium: 535mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 83g | Vitamin A: 481IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce

I was busy. Way too busy to even think about making a lunch that took more than 5 minutes of my time. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I heated up some pre-made chicken nuggets. Don’t judge me, I had to do it. Plus, truth be told, I like them. I can’t help it. But I wasn’t just going to dip them in ketchup or mustard. No, I took an extra 30 seconds and whisked up a copycat of the Chick-fil-A dipping sauce and tossed it into the fridge so that the flavors got happy while the chicken was heating.

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce

For a nice twist on this copycat Chick-fil-A sauce swap out a spicy BBQ sauce for the smoky hickory BBQ sauce. Or just add a few splashes of hot sauce to the recipe below.

Love chicken fingers like I do? Try my copycat KFC Twisters.

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce

For a nice twist on this Chick-fil-A sauce swap out a spicy BBQ sauce for the smoky hickory BBQ sauce.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, copycat, sauce
Prep Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 1
Calories 927kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk all ingredients together until smooth.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using as a dip for chicken fingers, fries, or just slathering on burgers!

Nutrition

Calories: 927kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 84g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1006mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Basic BBQ Sauce

I have a bit of an addiction to buying pre-made BBQ sauces. Mostly the obscure ones that you can’t get in stores. The ones you have to order directly from the BBQ joint that makes them. Well, that’s not the cheapest hobby in the world, so I set out to make my own basic BBQ sauce (based on one from Myron Mixon) and I’m very happy with the results. It’s not a complicated or fancy sauce, but it has the perfect consistency and taste. I can add more hot sauce for a spicy version, or I can add more liquid smoke for a more hickory-flavored sauce.

Basic BBQ Sauce


I’m going to call this basic BBQ sauce ‘done’. It’s my go-to basic sauce for everything from pulled pork to ribs to brisket to chicken or my favorite, rib tips. I also slather basic BBQ sauce on my grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. It’s also fantastic on BBQ chicken pizza!

Also try my basic BBQ rub. Like this sauce from the legendary Myron Mixon, it’s great as is or use it as a base for your own flavors.

Basic BBQ Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Basic BBQ Sauce

This is not a complicated or fancy sauce, but it has the perfect consistency and taste. I can add more hot sauce for a spicy version, or I can add more liquid smoke for a more hickory-flavored sauce.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, sauce
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 cups
Calories 304kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Myron Mixon’s Smokin’ with Myron

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a blender and process until smooth.
  • Transfer to a sauce pan over medium heat.
  • Heat thoroughly. Serve or use warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4850mg | Potassium: 733mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 2373IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Apricot BBQ Sauce

Oh my goodness. I wasn’t even looking for another BBQ sauce to add to my list of homemade, fantastically-good sauces. I actually made this apricot BBQ sauce only because I found a jar of apricot preserves in the back of the pantry that needed to be used up. It was a sign because this is one of the top BBQ sauces I’ve ever made or tasted. The perfect combination of sweet and heat and just the right consistency to squirt or slather onto to a rack of St. Louis-style smoked ribs without being too gloppy or too thin.

Apricot BBQ Sauce


The apricot preserves add a light fruity flavor to the apricot BBQ sauce, but it’s there in the back with lots of other great flavors and isn’t so in-your-face. Now, if you want to have a more apricot-like sauce, feel free to add more. Since apricot (or peach for that matter) goes great with pork, add more sauce if you’re cooking pork. If you’re using this sauce on say chicken, you might want to use a little less.

Remember that if you have to refrigerate any leftover sauce, let it sit out on the counter for at least 30 minutes before using. You don’t want to ‘shock’ hot, food with a cold sauce.

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5 from 1 vote

Apricot BBQ Sauce

This is one of the top BBQ sauces I’ve ever made or tasted. The perfect combination of sweet and heat and just the right consistency to stick to a rack of St. Louis-style smoked ribs without being too gloppy or too thin.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword apricot, barbecue, BBQ, sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 1 cup
Calories 881kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  • Stir and heat until the butter is melted.

Nutrition

Calories: 881kcal | Carbohydrates: 213g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 1742mg | Potassium: 792mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 154g | Vitamin A: 1598IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

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Peach BBQ Sauce Version 2.0

I do love a fresh peach BBQ sauce. Nothing screams winter is over like fresh peaches being available in our local grocery store. I’ve made a great peach-based BBQ sauce before, but this time I was looking for something that was a little bit different. Something with a smoky flavor and a little sweetness. More like a typical bottled sauce I might find at the grocery store. Nothing wrong with those store-bought sauces. Many of them are outstandingly good.

My original sauce was more like a traditional Kansas City sauce. This version 2.0 sauce one brings a little kick to any grilled meat, like the split chicken breasts I made recently on my Char-Broil Big Easy.

Peach BBQ Sauce

As with any BBQ sauce, don’t apply it until your food is basically done grilling and almost ready to pull off the grill. Squirt it or slather it on right at the end. Any sooner and the molasses and peach nectar may start to burn. Just put it on and let the food grill a bit longer until the sauce has set. Then enjoy! And if you prefer the flavor of apricot over peach, try out my apricot BBQ sauce.

This sauce is also great on my sweet-and-sour meatball skewers.

Peach BBQ Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Peach BBQ Sauce Version 2.0

I do love a fresh peach BBQ sauce. Nothing screams winter is over like fresh peaches being available in our local grocery store.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, peach, sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 2 cups
Calories 217kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
  • Remove from heat and let cool slightly before placing in a food processor or blender. Process until the desired smoothness is achieved.

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 755mg | Potassium: 734mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 1120IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smokehouse BBQ Sauce

I’m always on the lookout for a different sauce for my smoked ribs, pulled pork, or whatever meats I’m cooking on my smoker. It’s not because I don’t already have a good collection of sauces that I love. It’s because sometimes you just want something different. This smokehouse BBQ sauce intrigued me when I first saw it because it had both chile peppers and lemon juice. I thought, well, that’s new. So I made it and it came out great on a nice big rack of smoked spare ribs!

Smokehouse BBQ Sauce

Thick but not too thick, this smokehouse BBQ sauce has a hint of spiciness, a hint of smokiness, and a slight vinegar kick. In a way it’s a combination of many BBQ sauces, from Kansas City to Memphis to the Carolinas. Different, but different in a very good, very tasty way. And it has the perfect consistency for sticking to my ribs, my chicken, my pulled pork…. anything!

I like to keep my sauces in squeeze bottles. I love squirting sauce onto burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches… Anything that can be squirted! I write the contents and date-of-mixing on painter’s blue tape and put that on the bottles so I can keep track of them.

Smokehouse BBQ Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Smokehouse BBQ Sauce

This smokehouse BBQ sauce intrigued me when I first saw it because it had both chile peppers and lemon juice. I thought, well, that’s new. So I made it and it came out great on a nice big rack of smoked spare ribs!
Course BBQ Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword barbecue, BBQ, sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 cups
Calories 236kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the chiles and toast for 2-3 minutes. Turn and continue toasting until softened.
  • Add the water and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes.
  • Remove peppers to a cutting board, but reserve the water.
  • Remove stems and seeds from the peppers and chop lightly. Transfer to a blender and add the reserved water. Puree until smooth and return to the skillet.
  • Add the remaining ingredients except for the lemon and butter.
  • Bring sauce to a boil and reduce to a simmer and continue simmering for 30 minutes until the desired thickness is achieved.
  • Stir in the lemon juice and add the butter and stir until melted.

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 893mg | Potassium: 589mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 977IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.