Southwest Chipotle Pepper BBQ Sauce

I first tasted this Southwest Chipotle Pepper BBQ Sauce at a local restaurant.  It was served as part of a Southwest Chipotle Pepper Chicken dinner.  One taste, and I fell in love.  Love I tell you!  It has the kind of flavor that is a part of dreams.  Literally.  Memories of this delicious sauce will fill your head as you sleep and haunt you until you make it, again and again.


Imagine my delight when I attended a cooking demonstration by the chef and owner of said restaurant, during which he demonstrated and shared the elusive recipe.  Oh, yeah baby, I was one happy camper!


Today I am sharing the recipe for this delicious barbecue sauce with you.  Make this for your friends and family and you will be a hero.  Your praises will be sung far and wide.  I kid you not!


Let's go...

The Chipotle BBQ Sauce Ingredients

Chipotle Pepper BBQ Sauce

• 1/2 large red onion
• 1/4 pound bacon, raw chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped garlic
• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 1 pound brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pureed chipotle peppers in adobo
•  sauce
• 1/2 cup liquid smoke
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes

Directions
In a large heavy pot over medium heat, saute the bacon until rendered and brown.  Do let your bacon get brown.  That means flavor!

Add olive oil, red onion and garlic.  Sweat until onions are tender.

Add all the other ingredients to the pot.  Stir to combine.  When you puree the chipotle peppers in abobo sauce you will have more than you need for this recipe.  Freeze the extra in 1/4 cup packages for later.

Simmer sauce for approximately 2 hours on medium low heat, until the sauce is deep red in color and is thick.  Be sure to stir often so that it doesn't stick to the pan and burn.

Cool and refrigerate or freeze the sauce.  I find that this makes enough sauce to serve for one meal with plenty left to freeze for later.  It is wonderful to have this in my freezer and ready to go because it can take a simple grilled chicken breast from bland to fabulous!


To Serve for Southwest Chicken

Southwest Seasoning

Mix together equal parts:

·         brown sugar

·         white sugar

·         kosher salt

·         cayenne pepper

·         cumin powder

·         chili powder

·         black pepper

·         onion powder

Add 1/2 part:

·         garlic powder

·         dried basil

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.  Use it on any meats and seafood that you want to have a zippy taste.

To make the chicken:

• 1 whole fryer chicken
• olive oil
• Southwest seasoning

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Rinse and dry the chicken.  Rub the outside of the chicken with olive oil.  Season generously with the Southwest seasoning, including inside the cavity.  Do you have some fresh herbs?  Go ahead and stuff some inside the cavity of the chicken.  I like to use fresh rosemary. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. 

Roast the chicken until browned and the internal temperature registers 185 degrees F.  Let the chicken sit for 15 minutes before serving.  

While the chicken is resting, warm the Chipotle BBQ Sauce.  When ready to serve, carve chicken and top with Chipotle Pepper BBQ Sauce.  Enjoy!

The Printable Southwest Chipotle BBQ Sauce 

Would you like a delicious corn muffin to serve with your dinner?  Try this savory white corn and green chili cheese muffin from fellow Rhode Island blogger, Lydia Walshin, of The Perfect Pantry.

For other recipes with Southwest flavors just click the links:

Grilled Southwest Chicken and Salsa
Oh My, Salsa
White Chili with Cornbread
Appetizers Anyone?

Enjoy!