Forged with Flavor | Sunny-Day BBQ Sauce Guide: Mix & Match Flavor Combinations with Monin
Nothing says ‘hello, sun’ like a smoker working low and slow in the backyard. What began as a method of preserving meat has evolved into one of barbecue's most celebrated traditions, rewarding patience with rich, smoky flavor. And while perfectly smoked meat is the star, the right sauces and sides are what make the meal unforgettable.
That's why we partnered with Monin Gourmet Flavorings to put a fresh twist on classic barbecue sauce. Their fruit purees make it easy to incorporate bright fruit notes without sacrificing texture, making it easy to create bold, balanced combinations that complement, rather than compete with, everything fresh off the smoker.
America is home to several iconic barbecue sauce styles, each with its own signature ingredients and flavor profile. Understanding what sets them apart is the first step to creating your own custom combinations.
Kansas City BBQ Sauce is perhaps the most recognizable. Thick, sweet, and tomato-based, it often includes molasses, brown sugar, and spices, making it ideal for ribs and pulled pork. *This is the regional style we're riffing on
Texas BBQ Sauce tends to be thinner and more savory, with bold flavors from tomatoes, vinegar, black pepper, and smoky spices that complement smoked beef brisket beautifully.
Carolina BBQ Sauce is famous for its tangy vinegar base. Eastern Carolina versions focus heavily on vinegar and pepper, while South Carolina introduces mustard for a distinctive golden color and zesty character. Smoked chicken wings pair perfectly with this style!
Memphis BBQ Sauce strikes a balance between sweet and tangy, often featuring tomato, vinegar, and a blend of savory seasonings that pair well with pork. Think of each one as a starting point. Once you know what makes a style unique, it's easy to build on that foundation with new ingredients and flavors.
Kansas City-style barbecue sauce is a natural match for Monin Fruit Purees. Its slightly sweeter profile lets each puree shine, adding layers of fruit, acidity, and aroma while caramelizing beautifully on the grill. The best part? Every puree transforms the sauce into something completely different. Better yet, every puree creates a completely different profile. And why choose just one when you can have multiple options? Try a few and discover your favorite combination!
So, how did we choose our fruit purees? One of the most rewarding parts of recipe development is asking ‘why’. Why does an ingredient belong? What does it bring to the dish? Rather than selecting flavors at random, we took inspiration from one of barbecue's defining ingredients: the wood.
Fruitwoods have been a pitmaster's secret for generations, each lending its own subtle sweetness and character to smoked meats. Cherry wood is a natural match for beef, peach wood shines with pork and poultry, and apple wood is a longtime favorite for everything from ribs to chicken. That same thinking guided our choice of Monin Black Cherry, Monin Peach, and Monin Granny Smith Apple Purees.
A great BBQ spread needs more than just meat and sauce. Well, some might argue otherwise, but we like a little something to balance things out. That's why we created another backyard staple with a fresh twist: Hot Honey Sweet Onion Slaw. It's crisp, crunchy, and adds a bright, refreshing contrast to rich meats.
One Last Thing... Want to keep things simple? Grab a bag of buns, your favorite smoked meat, and whip up a bowl of the Hot Honey Sweet Onion Slaw. Mix and match with your three sauces to create a lineup of sandwiches everyone can customize and turn one barbecue into three completely different meals!
To round out your barbecue spread, invite these ingredients to the party:
Potato salad
Baked beans (try stirring in a spoonful of fruit puree!)
Corn on the cob
Pickle spears or coins
Mix, match, and make it your own! Enjoy!
BBQ Sauce 3 Ways
YIELD: 1-¼ cup
ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
BBQ Sauce
½ cup ketchup
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
¾ teaspoon chipotle pepper powder, ground
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¾ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Pinch of MSG (optional)
5 oz Monin Black Cherry Puree (or Monin Peach Puree or Monin Granny Smith Apple Puree)
Smoked BBQ chicken or smoked pork shoulder, BBQ pork ribs, for serving
Hot Honey Sweet Onion Slaw, for serving
PREPARATION:
Into a medium mixing bowl, measure and combine ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chipotle pepper powder, garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and MSG (optional). Stir well.
Mix in Monin Black Cherry Puree, or Monin Peach Puree, or Monin Granny Smith Apple Puree until well combined. For the best results, let it sit overnight in the refrigerator (optional).
Serve as a dipping sauce or baste onto proteins near the end of cook time. Try it on smoked chicken, BBQ ribs, smoked pulled pork, and more!
Hot Honey Sweet Onion Slaw
YIELD: 8-12 servings
ACTIVE TIME: 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
⅓ cup Monin Hot Honey
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
¼ cup ground mustard
1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 large Vidalia or sweet onions, sliced thinly
½ large green cabbage, sliced thinly
1 large carrot, ribboned
1 small Thai Chili, sliced thinly (optional)
PREPARATION:
In a medium bowl, combine Monin Hot Honey, extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, ground mustard, black pepper, and kosher salt. Whisk well to combine.
In a large mixing bowl, combine thinly sliced Vidalia or sweet onions, thinly sliced green cabbage, ribboned carrot, and Thai chili, if using.
A couple of spoonfuls at a time, add the prepared hot honey dressing to the slaw. Mix well, taste, and add more dressing, if necessary.
If you like what you see, check out Monin Gourmet Syrups for beverage and culinary inspiration! More coming soon.
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