Easy Sweet and Sticky Apricot Dipping Sauce

Impress your grilling friends with an amazing sauce made from apricots! This sauce recipe is so simple that we’re using apricot preserves and a few simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry. This recipe is pulled from my Great American Grilling cookbook. I tweaked it especially for BBQ Dragon grilling gurus!

This recipe is easy, packed with flavor, and perfect for grilled chicken, pork, and many other dishes. Prepare the sauce prior to grilling. Double or triple as needed depending on how many people you’re serving.

Photo by Kent Whitaker

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• 1/2 cup your favorite barbecue sauce
• 1/2 – 2/3 cups apricot preserves
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

Directions:

1. Combine the water and bouillon cube in a sauce pan and warm over medium heat allowing the cube to dissolve. Add in the remaining ingredients. Simmer while allowing the sauce to reduce slightly and thicken.
2. If using with chicken, pour some of the sauce in a separate bowl to avoid cross-contamination with the raw chicken.
3. Baste the chicken, cover, and chill until you’re ready to grill.
4. Grill the chicken over hot charcoal, turning as needed, serve hot when the internal temperature on your instant-read thermometer reads 165°F (74°C).
5. Baste lightly again, serve hot with your barbecue sauce on the side ready for dipping.

Apricot preserves – pixby

Apricots and Alexander the Great? The Apricot tree can be found in many parts of the world from Armenia to China, Japan, Turkey, the entire Middle East, and points in between. Alexander the Great is credited with adding to its popularity. He is believed to have been one of the rulers that brought Apricots to Greece. The first major crop in California dates back to 1792 according to California Apricots.

Author Bio: Kent Whitaker, also known as “The Deck Chef,” is an award-winning culinary writer and cookbook author. He’s also penned Young Reader, NASCAR and History titles. The former winner of the Emeril Live Food Network Barbecue Contest also covers football, motor sports, and bass fishing. Kent currently lives in East Tennessee with his wife, son, and a couple of dogs that love when he fires up the smoker or grill. You can reach out to Kent at www.thedeckchef.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.