Raspberry Chipotle Sauce Recipe | Girls Can Grill

This raspberry chipotle sauce is built for the “swicy” moment barbecue is having right now. It’s sweet fruit up front, smoky chipotle heat right behind it.

Fresh raspberries simmer down into a jammy base, then get balanced out with tangy vinegar, a hit of Worcestershire, and warm spices like cinnamon and ginger that round out the smoke instead of fighting it.

I’ve made a lot of sauces on this site, but this one earns its spot on the table because it does double duty. It’s just as good brushed onto wings straight off the grill as it is served over smoked cream cheese. If you’ve been chasing that sweet-then-spicy flavor everyone’s talking about, this is the sauce that delivers.

I’ve been a fan of raspberry chipotle sauce ever since I lived in Kansas and ate at this bar called So Long Saloon. They served this addictive Raspberry Chipotle Black Bean Dip with this sauce smothered over cream cheese with black beans. And now, I’ve finally mastered my recipe for raspberry chipotle sauce and I’m sharing it with you.

What Is Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

Raspberry chipotle sauce is a fruit-forward barbecue sauce that pairs sweet berries with the deep, smoky heat of chipotle peppers in adobo. The raspberries and sugar create a jammy, slightly tart base, while the chipotle and adobo sauce bring real smokiness, not just heat. A second round of savory ingredients (ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire, and warm spices) turns it from a fruit compote into an actual barbecue sauce with body and balance.

What you’ll need

• Raspberries: Fresh raspberries break down into the jammy base of the sauce.
• White Sugar: Balances the tartness of the raspberries and helps the sauce reduce properly.
• Chipotle Pepper in Adobo Sauce + Adobo Sauce: The source of the smoke and heat. You can find this in a small can in the Latin food aisle.
• Ketchup: Adds body and a familiar barbecue-sauce backbone.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Brightens the sauce and cuts through the sweetness.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savory depth.
• Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Cinnamon, Ginger, Red Pepper Flakes, Vanilla: This spice blend is what makes the sauce taste layered instead of one-note. The paprika and garlic powder lean savory, the cinnamon and ginger add warmth, and the vanilla rounds out the raspberry.

Substitutions: Frozen raspberries work here too. No need to thaw first, just add a few extra minutes to the first simmer.

See the full recipe card above for servings and a full list of ingredients.

How to Make Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

This sauce comes together in two stages. First the raspberry base, then the seasoning, so you get full control over how sweet, smoky, and spiced the final sauce turns out.

Step 1: Simmer the Raspberry Base

Combine the raspberries, sugar, water, chipotle pepper, and adobo sauce in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until the raspberries start to break down.

Step 2: Add the Remaining Ingredients

Stir in the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, cinnamon, ginger, red pepper flakes, and vanilla. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly.

PRO TIP: This is where you can control the spice level. If you want more heat, add another chipotle pepper or more red pepper flakes.

Step 3: Emulsify

Blend the sauce with an immersion blender (or in a countertop blender) until completely smooth.

Step 4: Strain

Pour the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer to remove the raspberry seeds and any remaining bits of chipotle, pressing with a spatula to push through as much sauce as possible.

How to Serve Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

This sauce is at home anywhere you’d use a sweet barbecue glaze. Brush it onto wings, ribs, or grilled chicken thighs during the last few minutes of cook time so it caramelizes without burning. It also works cold, straight out of the fridge, as a dip for grilled shrimp, a spread on a burger, or alongside a cheese board.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy homemade raspberry chipotle sauce is to pour it over a block of cream cheese that’s been smoked for 90 minutes.

On the competition circuit, I blend 1 part raspberry chipotle sauce with 2 parts regular barbecue sauce. That way the judges get the familiar barbecue sauce flavor with a touch of swicy.

Storage

Store the sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, and thaw in the fridge before using.